Can’t keep doing this !!

[Jodz]

So I woke about 40 mins ago and I felt like I wanted to vomit , hands where sweaty . Got up to go to toilet and my heart rate was off the scale . Once it reached 150 on my fit bit it stopped working , wasn’t showing reading . After about 3 mins it started to come back down . Laying in bed it’s now 70 but I feel just yuck . Any ideas ? Please

[Janieliza]

Hi there. Isn't it frightening? We are so conscious that it's increasing that it takes over any rational thoughts and actions. How I managed was through breathing techniques. Now there are a few and I found 1 that worked for me. As soon as my heart rate started to beat faster I'd take in my first breath, through my nose and count like this...1 dot dot 2 dot dot 3 dot dot 4 dot dot and out through your mouth 5 dot dot 6 dot dot 7 dot dot 8 dot dot and repeat until you sense your heart rate calming. I used to grab my bp machine...i stopped doing that and it will help you to do the same, not right now but you will at some point not reach for something and you'll hopefully be able to slow it thro breathing. Another thing I used to do was write....like my life depended on it. It's incredibly difficult when your hearts racing but it's about focusing. My goodness I look back now and almost need tena ladies with what I did write....i was hardly in a fit state but it worked which is the main thing...by the time id finished writing my heartbeats had slowed down. I feel for you...its a frightening experience but please believe me when I tell you that it can be sorted. It's not a quick process and it's scary and a lonely place to be but you will get there. The breathing is paramount...some count to 4 and hold on 5 then 6 7 8 and 9 thro the mouth are quicker (so one dot not 2) and doing a whooshing sound at the same time as exhaling. I've heard that's a great one. You will find what works and calms you. Another of course is coming on here...which you did. It's helped me thro some tough wobbles and I hope it does the same for you. This rollercoaster of emotions and fear isn't understandable to some ppl and why we can't just "snap out of it" is a phrase I've heard many a time. We get each other on here so if I haven't helped much then I'm certain the other amazing peeps on here will. Take care. Janie

[Jodz in reply to Janieliza]

Janie THANKYOU . I must try the breathing as I have been told that before but havnt really done it as I couldn’t focus . It’s so bloody hard . I’m really struggling atm with all these heart issues .

[Janieliza in reply to Jodz]

They are numbing aren't they? Golly I know...i know. Mine would race then slow...then race again. I also suffered with palpitations for days on end. Telling myself it's anxiety Janie...youve had every test known to the human race and they were fiiiiine. Get it together!! Didn't help. But...the breathing did. If you need a chat...give me a nudge x

[Hope83]

Hi Jodz

This sounds like how my panic attacks start but it does sound like you managed to get a hold of it as well which is really positive. I agree with what janieliza said in that finding a breathing technique that works for you would be helpful if it happens again. Be careful not to overbreathe though because that can sometimes make it worse. I just find that long calm breaths help and I repeat the mantra ‘these symptoms are uncomfortable but not harmful’ in my head which helps. I like the approach of accepting it and just letting it pass rather than trying to fight the panic attack, it works best for me. I watched some YouTube videos of Dr Harry Barry which covers this technique and explains why it works so I’ve bought his book now. Different things work for different people though so just keep trying different techniques and you will find your way. It is such a horrible thing to experience and it is difficult for people who haven’t experienced it to understand but just know that you aren’t alone!!

[Jodz in reply to Hope83]

Hope 83 I have had anxiety for a long time . But these symptoms are hear and so strong and constant over the last 3 weeks . I feel just crap . Wake with symptoms and then get them most of the day of late . Thanx for your advice it means a lot .

[Hope83 in reply to Jodz]

I think the physical symptoms are the hardest ones to cope with, because they are real and for me the most frightening. Maybe go and get yourself checked out by the Dr to be sure. I did this and it did make it easier for me to accept the symptoms for what they were - horrible but not harmful to me. I think experiencing these symptoms constantly can be mentally and physically exhausting as well so make time for yourself to do things that make you feel good - self care is so important. Sending lots of positive thoughts to you and wishing you lots of luck.

[Jodz in reply to Hope83]

Thanx heaps . Yes it’s debilitating most of the time . It knocks me for six as it makes me worry more .

Do you get high BP spikes as well as racing heart ?

[Hope83 in reply to Jodz]

I have never checked my bp, just my heart rate with my Fitbit. If I’m honest, I try not to even check my heart rate anymore as I find that when I see it going up it makes me panic more. There was a point when I was constantly checking my heart rate, pressing bits of my body to check for pain and googling symptoms - one of my targets in CBT was to try to stop these things, I’m not saying that I never do it now but I do it far less and I think that it is helping to make me less anxious generally. You can become very sensitive to the way your body feels and pick up things that you wouldn’t do if you weren’t anxious. This is in part what I think caused my panic attacks. Like I said, it may be best to get checked first then that’s your reassurance and you can start trying to manage the panic then. You’ll get there x

[Ronig1234]

It sucks ! I know feeling as I have become a cardiac neurotic as I call . I can feel every little heartbeat and it’s annoying

Yes when I take my blood pressure during an attack it can go through the roof-my husband Literally took the blood pressure machine from me and locked it up in his gun safe because I would see these horrifically High numbers and freak out more

Vicious cycle 😥

[Gattinko in reply to Ronig1234]

Gun safe?! Do you really have these in US? As an European i feel really weird About it, anyway good thing that your husband took it from you, blood pressure anxiety is my best friend for many years...

[Ronig1234 in reply to Gattinko]

Yes he has one -he target shoots for sport and keeps them locked up and I can’t remember the combination so that’s why he put the machine in there LOL-So what did I do ? Went to Walmart to take it guess what it was 200/80 and my pulse was 110 !

And I freaked out just like I thought I would

Got out of there as fast as I could-I calmed down in the process and when I Got home I begged him to let me take my pressure just to make sure it had come back down to normal

Literally begging like a drug addict !

ridiculous

I said I’m calm now and I just need to ease my mind that when I’m calm it returns to normal-he relented and of course it had already come down to 140/80

A few more minutes I’m sure it would’ve come down to the 120s-ridiculous behavior but I have a glitch in my brain that I can’t control it - Panic disorder has made my life unbearable at times! I have an appointment tomorrow with the cardiologist for a small irregular heartbeat and trust me -at that drs office I will be flipping out

It’s quite embarrassing

[Jodz in reply to Ronig1234]

That sounds like me . I’m constantly checking it .

[Jodz in reply to Ronig1234]

Ronig1234 what was your readings and symptoms please ?

[Ronig1234 in reply to Jodz]

Same as yours ! Constantly monitoring my pulse and noticing every change in my heartbeat

[Ronig1234 in reply to Jodz]

190/90 200/80 170 /90

Then when I’m calm

120/70 130/80 117/81

This is why you never ever take your blood pressure during a panic attack because it’s supposed to spike up because your body thinks it’s in danger and it’s to give you energy to fight or flight

[Hopeful-Tinkerbell]

I suggest you discuss that with your doctor. The positive is that it is short lived. I had to start taking a sleep Med. My mom did too. Along with an anxiety pill. She controls her anxiety during the day. She just stays busy. At night our defenses are low and we aren’t able to control our anxiety. Hers was really hard on her already bad heart. She had no choice. It’s common though. Nights and right when I wake up are the worse for me when my defenses are down. I do think you should make sure your doctor is aware. I always think it’d better to be safe than sorry. With it going back down quickly I would not think it’s emergent. You could have had a bad dream and not remembered it that woke you like that too. Happens to me.

[Jodz]

Hopeful tinker bell . I’m over it as it’s making me so stressed .

[Ronig1234]

Same as yours ! Constantly monitoring my pulse and noticing every change in my heartbeat

[Jodz in reply to Ronig1234]

Ronig1234 yep mine goes that high and bloody scary . My legs go like jelly, I want to vomit , heart flip flopping and once it does come down I’m completely washed out for the rest of the day . Do you get this as well ?

[Ronig1234 in reply to Jodz]

Yes but I may visit the bathroom once or twice as well LOL-I get irrational thoughts and start writing out a last will and testament because I’m sure I’m going to die-We feel washed out because our body thinks that it has just fought a good fight-all that adrenaline pumping out through her body is the same as being in a fight-It doesn’t know that we brought it on ourselves with our mind

It’s exhausting and for me I feel embarrassed and mad at myself because after all these years I should be used to it

But when I’m in a phase of constant anxiety all reason and rationalization goes out the window

[Jodz in reply to Ronig1234]

Oh gez it’s great to read what you just wrote . Yes bathroom a few times , mind racing etc etc . And I’m the same after all these years I’m still questioning it and wanting other people’s support as it puts me at ease . I just can’t get my head around how horrible a panic attack can make me feel . Also I do know before I have it as my body starts to show symptoms but I do try to ignore it and shoulder on but I can’t . And then bang it’s got me . Thanx for your support 😁👍