Hello everyone. Anxiety struggler here.

[NewOne2023]

Hello everyone. I've been a memeber of AFib support group here for few years but I feel I need to join this one as well now.

Long story short, I'm struggling with anxiety on every day basis lately after I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (oct'23) for which I did ablation procedure almost a year ago. So far I didn't have any afib episodes with my heart but in the last year I slowly developed cardiac anxiety which lately is preswnt most of the day. I did some psychology sessions but it didn't made a lot of difference, currently waiting psychiatric first session although from the intro meeting the doc wrote I have adjustment disorder due to my heart condition.

My anxiety would flare up every few weeks but last 2 months its almost daily. I have prescribed anxyolitics (diazepam and bromazepam) but I'm really reluctant to take them more than cca. 5 times a week (once a day and the smallest dose). It really helps with anxiety for that day, like wipes it out 99percent but still, I fon't want to make this a habit because I don't want another problem on my mind with getting hooked. Even though I don't know if I could get addicted with sporadic take and such low dose.

I basically flinch on every heart palpitation I get. I super aware of my heart and everytime it skips a beat I go into anxiety overload probably thinking that its afib again. I also have rare panic attacks (2 per year) but I had them even before my heart issue. No smoking, no alcohol since first diagnose, just switched coffee for matcha, bit overweight with high cholesterol but I try to eat as healthy as possible last few months. I also had few short tachycardias in the last 3 months but Im not sure about the trigger. Is it due to anxiety, heart or something third.

3 months ago I was still managing my anxiety and fears but lately it consumes my whole day and I constantly check my pulse, feel scared and it started to interfere with my day activities and work.

In short I struggle a lot lately.

Any advice from someone who has/had health or cardiac anxiety?

Thanks for reading.

[Jameshuh]

Hi sorry to hear about your condition but glad to hear your physical health is improving. As to health anxiety I can relate to that and there are two excellent sources of advice one is Paige Pradko (she specialises in health anxiety) youtube.com/@PaigePradkoThe.... The other is Dr Harry Barry drharrybarry.com/resources/ who has excellent advice on general anxiety. You can even mention these sources to your therapist which might help you get on top of the anxiety faster. Wishing you peace and health.

[NewOne2023 in reply to Jameshuh]

Thank you, I will look into it.