Hi, I’ve recently been having episodes that I can’t quite figure out what they are.
It starts with a hot flash/heat washes over my body, it’s followed by panic and shaking, my heart begins to race and pound.
When the hot flash comes over me I instantly think my heart has stopped beating and usually try to feel for my pulse on a few occasions i haven’t felt it (where I always do) which causes more panic my gp said I probably can’t feel it because I’m in panic mode.
It’s frightening me the episodes are becoming more frequent and I’m terrified my heart is stopping.
Was wondering if anyone suffers panic attacks that maybe feels how I feel ? I know they are different for everyone and that’s what’s scaring me, can a panic attack come on suddenly and begin with a flushed/hot flash sensation ?
Written by
Jrlt
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Sometimes I can’t quite work out if the hot flash precedes the “my heart stopped” thought or vice versa but I’ve had it hit me today just whilst talking to my sister and I don’t remember thinking “my heart stopped” I just felt the heat and thought “her it goes again” tried to find my pulse but couldn’t but I found it in a different area beating normally then suddenly faster and pounding as the shakiness started to.
My gp and a nurse I’ve mentioned it to both said panic attacks and that your heart won’t just stop then restart 🤦🏽♀️
I have health anxiety and it’s all focused on my heart x
Thank you, I have pvcs (skipped beats) diagnosed by a cardiologist after a 24hour monitor so I know if they feel.
This is different at the time the hot flush comes over me I generally am not aware of my heart doing anything I’m not sure if that’s where the fear that it’s stopped comes from or not, I think if I had one of these attacks whilst wearing a monitor that could then show me my heart never stopped I would feel so much better about it all and accept it’s panic and breathe through it.
I ordered that dr Claire’s book I’m still waiting on it to arrive I was recommended it and told it was really good to help you understand anxiety so thought it was worth a read.
I was never an anxious person before and generally didn’t ever notice what my heart was doing it all started after my baby was born sleeping she had a server heart condition so I can understand why I’m so anxious but it doesn’t help the physical symptoms 😔 x
I will have a look at the videos, hopefully the book comes soon!
No unfortunately my little girl was born very early she only had half of her heart a few other conditions that she couldn’t survive 😔
The only reason I was given an echo was because I begged them and said I can’t get her condition out my head and what if I caused it because there is something wrong with my heart!
It’s all anxiety I never worried about it before! But the anxiety brought a while load of physical symptoms that I can’t just ignore and then causes more anxiety 😔 x
Thank you, it’s funny that though as so many people suffer anxiety and panic yet you do feel so alone 😔 it’s scary when it’s your heart causing the distress, this morning I had shaking sweating and racing a slow build up of it I’ve had this lots before and again because it only happens in the morning I was told it’s anxiety and panic which I believe as it only seems to happen when I’ve not had a good nights sleep and wake up with the feeling of dread/worry I know I was anxious last night so doesn’t surprise me this morning my heart rate got upto 140-150 🤦🏽♀️
I believe this is an anxiety attack and when the hot flush hits me it’s a panic attack or atleast I hope that’s what it is and nothing serious with my heart x
I’ve and a monitor for the pvcs and been in a&e when they see bad but have always been told I’m ok and they aren’t concerned about them 🤷🏽♀️ They feel awful though and being on a lot of anxiety!
Yes I believe this is where my anxiety all comes from, I’ve always been scared of death but was able to brush it aside and enjoy life not constantly worrying something bad is going to happen to me, anxiety took hold and I’ve not been able to shake it, it’s gotten better or atleast more manageable but it can still take hold and lingers everyday 🤦🏽♀️
Classic anxiety. I had panic attacks triggered while sitting in the doctor's office waiting to be seen. Would pound out of my chest and up into my neck and face. Had the 'flushing' of the face, too. I don't get them anymore. Studied anxiety and found out I could put it into remission with natural modalities. It didn't happen overnight .......... but it worked!
Did your start with a sudden rush ? I’m thinking it’s the rush of heat that throws me into thinking it’s something more serious if that makes sense. It’s the feeling that my heart has stopped that’s frightening me but I’m sure that thought comes as I feel the hot flush starting if I could have proof /evidence that during one of these my heart is fine I think I would be able to deal with it better and accept what it is and work on overcoming it.
I remember the face flushing and pins and needles feeling in my cheeks. When I told the doctor ... he said we have to do an MRI scan for MS. It was negative .... but that's not something an anxious person wants to go through.
In most cases .... no matter how strange you feel .... IT'S ANXIETY. So, you learn to discount it ....... ignore it. Doesn't mean it will get better right away. Just means it isn't 'fooling' you anymore by keeping you wondering ..... searching for what's killing you.
That's the evil scam that anxiety plays on people. But ..... at some point ..... you have to ask yourself: How many times will I let anxiety be successful with this scam?
This happens to me various times throughout the day and there isn’t anything wrong with my heart according to the ecg I had.So sorry to hear about your little girl. Sending you lots of love
Thank you, do you to feel numb like everything inside has stopped and the flash has taken over ? I think I need to get it in my head it’s a hot flash not that everything has stopped but that’s how it feels 😔
Hi Jrlt, I just got on for the day and was reading your concerns about your heart. I see you
have been to a cardiologist and have been monitored (as well as the ER) But until we ourselves can believe there is nothing physically wrong with our heart, the symptoms perpetuate the fear. The fear perpetuates the symptoms and around and around we go.
After all, our heart is the center of our being and it is normal to feel anxious when we don't
accept the correlation between the Mind/Body Connection. Our minds are powerful enough to cause erratic physical symptoms. I'm hoping once you listen to Dr. Weekes'
theory on accepting anxiety as non life threatening, eventually you will start to accept your
doctor's diagnosis.
I've been there and know how hard a road it is in believing the good doctors are missing something. Another thing Jrlt is inactivity can settle in which causes us to baby our heart which combined with our thoughts produces more symptoms.
Hydration is super important for the heart to function properly as well.
It sounds like you suffer from morning anxiety which can start your day off on the wrong foot. The anxious body is so sensitive to the rise of Cortisol and Adrenaline each morning that we tend to feel the exaggerations of the skipped and extra beats. Once we put an
"Oh Oh" thought to those feelings, panic settles in. Once you have read Dr Claire Weekes' book on the path and lies Anxiety takes us on, it will help you to better understand just how
anxiety works and that it can be beaten at it's own game.
Hang in there my dear. You are not alone, even it if it feels like it at times. You have this
safe place to come to where we all understand. One day, this will all be in the past for you.
P.S. Are you seeing a therapist? Wishing you Calm & Peace today xx
I have good days where I feel I’ve got this under control then something happens and I’m right back in the merry go round 🤦🏽♀️
Hopefully the book arrives soon it says it’s delayed so I’m a bit frustrated want to get reading it 🙈
I have an appointment in a week with my gps mental health team so hopefully can get somewhere.
You are so right that anxiety feeds us lies 😔 honestly of it was all in my head I would be able to cope just fine it’s the physical symptoms it produces that cause me more worry and fear.
I only have the racing heart etc on mornings where (the night before) I have had heightened anxiety or I’m stuck in a cycle of heightened anxiety when I feel ok my mornings run smoothly no racing heart etc at first I didn’t believe it was anxiety but then I started to connect the dots, once I accepted it it stoped happening every morning and now only happens when I’ve been really anxious and I can actually say to myself it’s going to happen but I will be ok.
The pvcs are the scariest i just can’t seem to shake them, I have had days and at most 2 weeks where they were non existent and in those times my anxiety was fairly low so I know anxiety stress worry etc is a big factor but again stuck on that merry go round the more I feel the more anxious I get so the more they happen 🤦🏽♀️
I think these “panic attacks” or assuming that’s what’s happening are happening more frequently just now because I’m feeding them and worrying about them even though they show up at random times I know the thought is always in my head about the next one 🤦🏽♀️
Jrlt, you understand how anxiety takes hold of us but as long as there is that bit of
hesitation in assuming this is what's happening, anxiety will continue to have it's grip on you. I so understand that it's the symptoms that get you going with fear however...it's the thoughts, the fear of fear and the "what ifs" that put you into that physical outcome of fight or flight.
Take a look at "Jeff1943" posts. They are the closest thing you will find to Dr. Weekes writings. And don't forget until you receive her book, YouTube has her videos.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
xx
Anxiety, depression and panic attacks! 
Anxiety or more? 
Is it going to happen 
I can’t tell if I’m anxious because of my symptoms or if my symptoms are making me anxious.
Is it health anxiety or something more serious?
