Getting over fear of having BP taken -either at your house or dr office

[hippieebbbz09]

Hi!

I was wondering has anyone had a panic attack while getting your BP taken , or has it felt like you weren’t calmly breathing as you should, you did more shallow breathing? Like , idk why I’m so hyper-aware of things but I am. Literally, I tense up AS the cuff tenses up too. Trying to calmly inhale and exhale while that’s going on , seems aggravating. I kind of get nervous, doing my breathing exercises while having it done , because I get nervous of the pressure the machine brings . I know the machine can’t harm me, but in the back of my mind , I think it could. I turn to shallow breathing , then get a misreading. They try it again, it’s more and more in normal-ville. Same thing at my house, I’ll get nervous, or neglect to take the doc’s suggestions , and will forget to empty the bladder, take it as soon as I get up OR...the cuff isn’t where it should be. Annoying myself with this , I become fixated on taking it often then , and wonder why I get misreadings. My arms are still tense from having this done lol the other several times. Lol.

I had a legit fear of getting my BP taken. Truly . I avoided the doc because of it. NOW? Now, I’m obsessed/fixated (whatever you wanna label it) on getting a perfect reading, knowing darn well it fluctuates throughout the day, AND during autumn/winter season . My focus should be anxiety and treating that, regulating hormones , and eating and exercising well . But, here I am. I’m slowly doing the things I mentioned but anxiety pulls me in different directions. Now, it’s obsessing over a perfect reading, no matter how many times I take my BP improperly, by not shallow breathing, sitting up , not crossing legs , making sure I’m warm (sometimes the window gets left open in the house ) , emptying the bladder , ah and my favorite one smh ...being calm overall....not thinking any anxious thoughts while getting it done.

This anxiety thing is truly ridiculous... I tell ya. You could learn all the tips in the world but if you don’t CONSISTENTLY apply them , it’s as if you’re going through anxiety like it’s all new to you. I’ll have certain issues come to me, and I know it’s anxiety but it still affects me. I’ll tell someone about it, simply confiding in them , and I’ll say “Yeah, so this and this happened , but I know it’s anxiety , maybe if I approach it this way (insert proper/effective solution here) it’ll be better (it will) ..” WHY THE HECK WON’T I APPLY THE MILLION SOMETHING SOLUTIONS THAT I KNOW, CONSISTENTLY, SO I CAN HEAL? Whyyyy not?? I’m so annoyed with myself. Like this is showing how powerful the mind is, and how US getting a better grip on it , makes such a difference. Dammmiittttt . Ok sorry , venting lol. Whew, this is making me feel emotionally better.

[hlacovara]

Yes anxiety can be ridiculous when it is in excess, causing these hard times. I enjoy getting my BP checked. It wasn't always that way! I would worry when they would come in to take vitals starting with the BP. One thing that should help you is learning how BP works. Learning to take yours yourself can also help you. Many people experience what you do. It is expected n an office setting the top number (systolic) will be higher than usual as a result from nerves. My breathing is always "weird" when someone else does it probably bc it is too quiet in the room lol

[hippieebbbz09 in reply to hlacovara]

Yeah I am completely ignorant when it comes to how it works , and because of that, it’s a cycle of panic and worry. I do take my own but ....I’m a bit obsessed with doing so. My nerves get frazzled every time I take it, because I obsess over wanting a good reading. My mind is like not truly focused , and I do have to practice better breathing skills. I have palpitations when nervous , so feeling that while getting it done, drives my nerves crazy

[hippieebbbz09 in reply to hlacovara]

I can also relate to exam room jitters at the dr. It’s quiet.....cold .... and they talk to you , while you get it done ....plus some don’t mind you keeping the sleeve on . So , yeah....I’m trying to wean myself off of checking BP often. I know it’ll fluctuate because of nerves , I just want to manage it better. My bf is so amped to toss my 2nd BP machine ( honestly he wants both out ) lol. I want to hold onto this habit so much , because I think I’m making my health better, when really I could be adding to nerves...and screwing up. Who knew healing from a mental health disorder would be such a journey lol.

[marsbarr]

hello my friend how are you? I can totally relate, I just made a post on this a few days ago, "hiding in the shadows" I am so glad to read this; Not that you are going through this but to know someone else experiences this. I thought I was the only one in the world that goes through this. I tried to explain this to the Assistant the other day, she looked at me like I was crazy. Shoot I felt like I was going crazy. I was sitting there; I was ok and as soon as she rolled the machine toward me looking like a giant monster; I started, I sat there aware of what was happening and i could feel it in slow motion starting, she placed the cuff on my arm and the breaths started, as the thing started closing in on my arm, I tried to breathe, 4 counts what? Box breathing? couldn't do that either and my mask was not helping at all. I felt i was hyperventilating. I tried to think good thoughts, please what good thoughts; all i could think of was the pressure on my arm feeling like it was strangling my arm, like any moment it was gonna burst. I know that that it won't but in my head it just might, you know the what ifs. i sat there feeling like any moment i was going to jump up and freak out and the noise of the machine; I HATE that sound; it bothers me just as much as much as what is on my arm. I had a full blown anxiety/ panic attack right there. She read the numbers which she wanted to do the other arm like she was punishing me. there was no way, I am in a full visible, no holes barred PANIC. I want to get pass this, pass the fear. I am so glad you posted this, and I am sort of relaxed to have found that someone else reacts like me. I hope you and i can get it together and have successful blood pressure tests.

[Agora1 in reply to marsbarr]

Hi marsbarr, I've always felt that our blood pressure is only as good as the person taking it.

(This includes both doctors and nurses) In my experience, this isn't the time to be chit chatting about what brings me here etc. Positioning the arm in a proper way can make a big difference on the numbers. Not having your legs crossed but both feet planted on the floor are ideal. Taking it manually, is even worse because they tend to zip through the procedure super fast. Even though they do this everyday, it still should be taken with thought and care.

I feel I can say all this because I was responsible for taking weekly blood pressures at the

Fire Station. When people came in, especially if they walked over, I wouldn't call them in until they sat for 10 min. I would then place their arm on the table even with their heart, slow moves while placing the cuff around their arm. I made sure their feet were planted on

the ground, took their pressure manually and breathed with them while taking it.

You can get a truer accurate reading following some of these steps. It's ironic in how

the people who don't have a clue about their b/p or any symptoms can be the ones who

have a problem. Try not to worry because that will alter your numbers. Bring your shoulders down away from your ears before the reading and just breathe naturally.

You will be okay xx

[marsbarr in reply to Agora1]

I wish you would take it, You are so calming

[Agora1 in reply to marsbarr]

xx

[hippieebbbz09 in reply to marsbarr]

Oh no problem. We are all here venting to either let that anxiety go , or do that PLUS hope there’s someone, somewhere out there ...that can relate. Most people do look at me crazy too , when I tell them this , as well. The only person who listened yet also gave me firm, and factual advice is my mother, who’s now transitioned on. But, my boyfriend has been SO helpful. He’s like - “ so what , ....it’s not gonna hurt you, you define how you want your health to be, and your vitals will reflect that. You attach to anxiety , vitals are bound to fluctuate “ He wants to me be able to reassure myself I’m fine - ANYONE with health anxiety knows, that’s like a victory feat, when WE can reassure ourselves. I’m not there yet though lol.

But, yes, what you go through in the exam room ?!! I can relate lol. Like that exact scenario . I would be waiting in the waiting area , did my calm exercises on the way there, heck probably yoga too haha. Anyways, so I’ll hear my name , the nurse asks me some info , then WHAM. The machine haha. I feel like it comes it slow motion for me, too. I’ll try to do certain exercises as well🤭. The machine comes on , I forget everything , and there’s a misreading , they let me calm down , then all is well .

I’m hoping for the same for us , as well !! Truly ...honestly lol.

We have to remember the machines CAN NOT hurt us, I think ( don’t quote me now lol) I think the machines simply reflect how WE already feel. Like ...if you are already anxious , the cuff will be more tense, thus matching how you feel...if you are relaxed , it won’t hurt that much . Only reason I think of this is because ....I had some amazing readings after better sleep, and the cuff didn’t get that tense at all.

[marsbarr in reply to hippieebbbz09]

I like that "you define how your vitals will be"