Palpitations

[Sunshine29]

Does anyone else get heart palpitations? If so is there anything that you can do to help get rid of them?

[treyjeff]

Palpitations are a common physical symptom of anxiety.

I suffer from them myself, among other things.

In my experience, keeping my mind occupied was the best thing to do other than just trying my best to ignore them.

All the best.

[Sunshine29 in reply to treyjeff]

Thanks for the reply! I have noticed that they happen more often when my mind isn’t occupied! It’s a scary thing though

[treyjeff in reply to Sunshine29]

Indeed it is very scary but thankfully this forum is full of great helpful people willing to help us along in this journey.

Best of luck

[Hidden]

I once had a doctor tell me to force myself to cough and it would help. It sometimes does.

[Sunshine29 in reply to Hidden]

I do actually sometimes cough after I feel them and I’m never really sure why I do it. Thanks!

[Hidden in reply to Sunshine29]

Yes or if you can’t cough he said bear down like you are having a bowel movement???!!! I always trying coughing cause when it’s a panic attack bearing down might cause unwanted results. Lol. Like you’re not already going thru enough!!! I hope that helps you.

[Sunshine29 in reply to Hidden]

Lol I know! Thank you! Always worries me that it’s something more serious. I didn’t used to get them either, it was the dizzy head that was the worst and now that’s got a bit better something else happens haha

[Hidden in reply to Sunshine29]

I know. I get them a lot!!

[Hidden in reply to Sunshine29]

The dizzy head is scary and the numbness! Yikes!!

[Rosepetal60]

The last and fairly recent time I had one of these palpitation episodes, was after a coughing fit. Fortunately I had just retired to bed. And soon realised there was no way I was going to be able to lie down to try and sleep. So I sat up and concentrated on breathing in and out through my mouth with my mouth drawn in, in the shape if one was going to whistle ( not that I can) and did this for at least an hour whilst I concentrated on playing spider on the tablet. Also took 2 paracetamols. Eventually all was well again and I was able to lie down, rest and finally fall asleep for a few hours. Next time it happens, I'll do this procedure again. Think it was the concentration of the breathing in a different way helped and concentrating the brain on solving free cell and spider games.

[rachel913]

I get them almost everyday.. haven’t found a cure to get rid of them yet. I tend to get them during periods of higher stress and anxiety. They’re harmless it’s just your bodies way of telling us to relax more and take a breather.

Try meditation, yoga, or practice any type of self care. It always helps relieve some tension and eases the mind and body ❤️

[saturn2k]

One of the most common causes of heart palpitations is anxiety. Hard to believe that that's all it is as it feels so bad. The fact that it does pass is what you need to say and that nothing dangerous is going on. I do breathing techniques that can stop my anxiety most of the time now... and slow my heart down... sometimes when I used to collapse into a heap I would let myself bawl my eyes out ! It too would stabilise my heart as I was breathing deeply while sobbing my little heart out.

Calming Breath technique which has actually eased me out of a full blown panic attack in the past.

Take a long, slow breath in through your nose, first filling your lower lungs,
then your upper lungs.
Hold your breath to the count of "three." 
Exhale slowly through pursed lips, while you relax the muscles in your face, jaw, shoulders, and stomach. 
Do this until you feel relief. Can take up to ten minutes ... just give it a try.

I can get relief within a few minutes. I often have a nice warm shower which helps me.

[Sunshine29 in reply to saturn2k]

Thank you the reply I really appreciate it! Breathing techniques have worked for me before when I feel over whelmed in a situation before. It could literally be at any time the palpitations come even if I’m just sat on the sofa watching tv - did know that could make me anxious!

[Labban11]

Yes its very scary I don't know which is worse having dizziness where as you feel like you'll fall or having palpitations and feeling like your heart will give out taking deeps breaths and drinking water helps a bit . I wish us all well

[designguy]

Here is a copy of my response to another health anxiety question:

Yes, it's quite common, especially with people who are suffering from health anxiety. Your psychiatrist is correct about your being hyper-aware of your body/physical sensations and your anxious mind blows it all totally out of proportion then you start ruminating about it and the anxious cycle continues. It's a habit and a distorted means of trying to stay in control. It's also common for people with anxiety to have it change to different types, for instance general anxiety becomes health anxiety, health anxiety becomes agoraphobia, etc...

The way to recover is to educate yourself about health anxiety, learn to accept the anxious feelings and thoughts and surrender to them. Learn to surrender to life and death and accept what you truly have real control over.

A good book to read is: "It's not all in your head" by Gordon Asmundson and Steven Taylor. Also, any books by Dr. Claire Weekes are very helpful. They're available on Amazon as a kindle and hardcopy version.

I had social anxiety disorder and health anxiety disorder for years. Once I recovered from the social anxiety, recovering from the health anxiety was much easier.

[Cwoods]

When i feel them i always go on youtube and listen and do the exercises for yoga for panic attack this always always calms me down

[Cwoods]

youtu.be/9jU6ASkhdsQ(Not working as expected?)

[Champ1975]

I suffer from Palpitations and they had gotten so bad at one point I tried everything, but their was only one thing that helped mine and stopped them pretty much completely and that is Magnesium. Heart Calm on Amazon is a lil expensive but it does wonders and really helps. Magnesium is good for anxiety, stress, and will help relax muscles. It is also great for heart palps.

[laruecharles]

Mine were caused by the "smart" meter the power company installed. I was in emergency 5 times to get the adenosine shot to slow it down. After I had the power company replace the meter with the old fashioned analog meter, the palpitations have mostly disappeared. Do a google search on "smart" meter and heart damage. You'll be amazed. Go to this link to view an analog meter. If your meter doesn't have a rotating disc and dials across the top, if instead it has a digital display, then you have a "smart" meter. Tell the power company you want to exercise your right to opt out.