Getting better

[borahae]

My health anxiety has slowly been getting better, my palpitations are getting less noticeable and I'm not so obsessively checking my pulse and heartrate anymore which is yay! I still have some physical symptoms that come and go but it isn't as bad as it was last month. Though I still have some off days where I just feel like I'm back to square one... but overall, I can definitely feel an improvement!

However, my main concern now is my insomnia.. I'm going to my gp soon so hopefully I can undergo a sleep study. I've never taken any sleep medicine other than melatonin (which did not help at all).

So my sleep usually goes like this; I either get no sleep at all, I sleep for around 4 hours then wake up and can't get back to sleep, I sleep at 7am, I get restless, non-deep sleep. Overall, I'm just really sleep deprived...

Here's to hoping all will be well soon enough!

[metaworrier]

What you're going through sounds very similar to me. I have crazy health anxiety always related to my heart. I can always feel my heartbeat when resting and especially at night. I usually check my pulse and even bp. When my health anxiety isn't so bad, I measure myself less. When it's worse, measure myself more. And my biggest issue these days is sleep too. I'm obsessively worried about sleep--and the lack of sleep obviously doesn't help with the health anxiety! I'm also going to do a sleep study, but fear I won't be able to fall asleep! Anyway, you're not alone.

[borahae in reply to metaworrier]

Me too! its a horrible cycle. To be honest I feel like my anxiety would significantly be better if it weren't for the palpitations in the first place!

I also dread sleep in fear that something might happen whilst I'm asleep, with its completely counterproductive..

[mel-waukee]

Hi!

Do you mind me asking: have you been prescribed any anxiety medications by your gp? I also struggle with health anxiety and have recently started taking 10mg lexapro which has been making me struggle to sleep and our sleep patterns sound very similar. I also have had the heart palpitations you're experiencing and i know how troubling they can feel, and how you always feel the need to check your pulse. Hang in there!

[borahae in reply to mel-waukee]

Hi~ No, I haven't been prescribed any medications (my gp thinks I might be too young, and as I've only just recently developed the health anxiety around two months ago).

I've been taking vitamin d supplements and just recently fish oil. Other than that, I've been gradually changing my lifestyle habits and perspective of anxiety.

Hope all is well with you!

[Cwoods in reply to borahae]

you can add magnesium as well its really good and also helps with anxiety hope you will get the sleeping pattern all figured out good luck.

[Hidden]

I can definitely relate. My doctor suggested Benadryl. She said it’s perfectly safe and non addictive.

[metaworrier]

Magnesium helped me with some weird arrhythmias but sounds like you only have palpitations. Yes it's really tough when you get in this vicious cycle of worrying about sleep, which causes you to sleep less, which increases the physical symptoms of anxiety (palps) and the worry (health anxiety). Just know I'm right there with you.

[kalif in reply to metaworrier]

I have really bad anxiety at the moment,the problem being a thumping heart and missed beats Its frightening the life out of me.you mentioned you have had problems,how did magnesium help..hope you are feeling ok at the moment...

[jodary in reply to kalif]

I am currently lying in bed with thumping heart and missed beats which are scaring me and no doubt msking them worse . I feel like going to A and E but I have had an echocardiogram and am just waiting ffor the results so I feel like I should persevere until I see my gp tomorrow. Not sure how I will get through today though

[kalif in reply to jodary]

Let us know your results tomorrow..take care..

[Stephanie89]

I hope u are doing better I feel this same way and I’m always checking my pulse and oxygen levels all the time I get terrified of sleep when my anxiety is high thinking I might not wake up and I hate the palpitations and heart pains I get it scared me u are not alone