Had a big anxiety attack this morning. Diagnosed with tachycardia a few months back. Heart rate through the roof. I’m so scared. I feel like I am just going to drop dead. I’m struggling to calm down. I’ve been like this since 5am 😭 I just want to feel okay. Constantly checking my pulse I’m exhausted. I feel so defeated. They keep telling me to go over to the hospital but every time I do they make me feel so stupid for going there for an “anxiety attack”I’m so fed up 😭 how do I calm myself down. I’ve suffered since being 15 (with anxiety) and I thought I had it under control until I got diagnosed with the stupid heart condition. Worst thing to ever happen to me. I’m avoiding things like exercise, fizzy drinks, alcohol, because I’m scared. I had 2 glasses of Prosecco last-night I thought I’d be okay 😭 I was wrong obviously. The mind is a powerful thing. I really wish I was strong enough to snap out of this. I have a phobia of dying and a phobia of anything heart related. I’m so drained. I hate feeling this way.
Heart anxiety: Had a big anxiety attack... - British Heart Fou...
Heart anxiety
Sorry to hear this in one so young.Maybe a good friend to come and have a cuppa and chat and hopefully take your mind off the anxiety a bit.Good luck .
Thank you ❤️
I understand your concerns completely. Have you considered asking your GP for referral to a psychologist specialising in health related anxiety. They do exist and can be helpful in giving techniques to handle such health related anxiety. They talk you through catastrophising, visualising, calming techniques etc etc. its all in a calm environment. It can help greatly.
Its quite normal to feel anxious when the heart plays up and I know only too well how absolutely dreadful tachycardia feels. At its worst my heart rate has reached 298 beats per minute recorded in hospital and it was dreadful. The heart playing brings anxiety with it for many people as its physically and mentally very unnerving.
Calm deep breathing can help with anxiety and slowing the heart rate. Keep well hydrated, stay clear of alcohol if it is a trigger for you and take sensible exercise, eat healthily. Do something positive by taking steps to keep control of the situation and get help. I hope you have a good medic in your corner for both your physical heart issue and mental health. Please take positive steps to get both the condition and anxiety under control, I trust you have family and friends there to support you too. Best wishes.
Ps have you considered ringing the BHF nurses they may well point you in the direction of useful help information. Its worth a try.
Thanks so much for your reply. I self referred myself for help with the health anxiety. I’m on the list but it’s wait time is 18 months 😭 it’s going to be so hard waiting that long. I have thought about private. I’ll need to look into it. I did ring Samaritans this morning they really helped calm me down but I’m still lying in bed now exhausted. Anxiety is on loop. Keep calming down then it’s going crazy again x
Good idea re the Samaritans. Another thought and I would only consider this if my medics thought it helpful, is hypnosis. My daughter is currently undergoing hypnosis with a highly researched and qualified person, recommended by her GP, for a anxiety issue. It is really helping her. She feels and looks better and in a better head space for it. Maybe worth looking into. Its costing her money but her life is being impacted for the better for it. Its just a thought, it may or not be suitable for you.
I have EUPD so been advised not to do the hypnosis. I looked into it, I was fully ready to do it. So guttering x
298 is fast. Was this an SVT?
Yes it was. It was horrendous and led to having iv flecainide pumped in one arm, iv morphine in the other and a cardiac registrar sitting on the bed watching the momitor and telling me when the next faint was coming immediately before it happened. I thought I was going to die and as it went on and on. Quite frankly at that time I would have welcomed it. I have never been in such excruciating pain throughout my entire body not to mention the passing out and returning to consciousness on and on. I fear it happening especially if it kicks in out of a hospital setting.
hi Emily, I had a lot of anxiety 30 years ago and found huge help in reading a book by Dr Claire Weekes on Essential Help for your Nerves. She explains the physiological process that the fear circle manifests itself in your body. I was diagnosed with AF 10 years ago and now have bouts of tachycardia and feel the old panic feelings surfacing but I can calm myself by reading and listening to what she says as You can also find her on YouTube. Just a thought, she is dead now but has a big following and is thought to have been the instigator of CBT.
Thanks so much I’ll definitely give this a go x
Sorry to hear you are going through all this. I can totally relate as I too have suffered from anxiety most of my adult life. At the moment mine is through the roof. I have AF, but have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Dr advised me to refer myself to Talking Therapies, which is a free service offered by NHS mental health services. You can go online & do this yourself or speak to your GP who can help. I have had my first two sessions recently over the phone with a lovely therapist, who totally understands what I am going through. There are also YouTube videos which have really good anxiety self help coping techniques. Anxiety & overthinking everything just make things twice as bad (I should know 😵💫)
Good luck & best wishes. Aly.
It’s on a loop I’ve had another attack just now. I did put on a YouTube video ! It really helped me. I referred myself. I have a 18 month wait for intense CBT therapy unfortunately
x
I hope you’re okay aly. I just got a chance to really read your message properly as I was just so lost in my anxiety attacks when I wrote the last reply. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I am so sorry to hear about the C word. ❤️ I really hope you’re okay xxxx
CHF and health anxiety
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Health Anxiety
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Struggling mentally after heart attack.
