Can someone please help/advise

[L1974]

Hi having a down spell have done for last couple of weeks since anxiety counselling discharged me as I am not scoring high enough on the questions. My heart has been all over the place the last few days constant flutters in my chest though my pulse is fine? I’m also really full of wind in my ribs? Going to go to docs tomorrow but was trying to give them a break from me! I’m back in the cycle of health worries and need to break it .

[Kkimm]

So sorry to hear you are feeling like this. I have certainly been there myself.

[L1974 in reply to Kkimm]

Thanks for responding just so worried something is wrong with my heart

[Kkimm in reply to L1974]

I'm sure there won't be, it will just be anxiety as it was in my case.

Kim

[L1974 in reply to Kkimm]

How did you get through it? I’ve had every anxiety symptom going except this!!

[Kkimm in reply to L1974]

Hi

What you're describing does sound very similar to my only remaining symptom of anxiety. I get it most mornings. I know the key is not to allow myself to be worried by it. Definitely fluttering and what does feel like wind under my rib cage. The fluttering is one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. My chest also feels tight at times and at other times it feels like indigestion. I no longer have fluttering but definitely have tightness and indigestion feeling in my ribs. As my last remaining symptoms I see them as just the last remenents of my condition and that I am almost fully recovered. If you are able to ignore them you will perhaps be able to see them in the same way.

All these symptoms are so normal in anxiety that I know it is not anything serious. I have had my heart checked out in the past anyway and had the all clear. It may be either to do with over breathing or swallowing air apparently. There was a post about this by someone else on this website who gave it a name and finds he did it himself. He also had some recommendations about it which I cannot remember now. I did not take note of them at the time because it did not seem to make sense that I was swallowing air without realising it but he may have been right. You will find it if you do a search on it. My advice however is not to focus on it at all.

He and everyone else is clear that it is not harmful. Mine is passing off on it's own and apart from first thing in the morning I am very unlikely to get it unless I focus on it.

It is so important to make a clear decision not to Google or worry about symptoms as well. I was doing this to excess and not only was I sure I had lots of serious things my body seemed to actually create new symptoms I read or heard about.

The way I stopped was to decide to think so what if I am seriously ill, I will live with whatever I have got. I was able to stop fully after that and have never gone back to it. From this website I have learned that the anxious mind can create the full range symptoms which mimic every serious disease there is.

It is easier said than done to just stop worrying or googling, but it really is the only way because otherwise you will be back on the cycle of health worries as you said.

I also have the support of antidepressants to help me by the way.

Very good luck, I feel sure you can do it.

Kim

[L1974 in reply to Kkimm]

Hello Kim really appreciate you responding to me at such length it has eased my mind. I had a big health MOT last December which was fine so surely that means everything is working ok. But logic doesn’t always work when you are so anxious. I have tried sertraline twice and it didn’t help either time. I have also re referred for counselling. Just want this to stop I can’t even settle at night at the moment! Thanks again x