high blood pressure and anxiety

That's a long time. Did you take the reading yourself? or was that at the Dr.? You're so right, anxiety most certainly does drive the numbers UP.

You saw proof of it. Nobody knows better than I, about what you're going through. I can be fine at home, get very reasonable readings, but the moment I step into the Dr.'s waiting room, I become nervous, & anxious which means that when the nurse takes my bp reading, the 

numbers are much higher than at home. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my doctor is very well aware of what happens in the office, but I monitor my readings at home, & he accepts those. BP spikes from moment to moment, which is normal. I'd be willing to bet that once you're totally relaxed, etc...your reading would be where they should be. You said you were due to go back to the Dr. soon for a checkup, & yu're very nervous. You're already worrying about something that's happening 'down the road'. Try your best to get out of that mindset.

Yes, you may be a little anxious the day of the appointment, but don't let the appointment get to you now. 

You're bigger than the machine..you can do this. Remember, the key here is to completely relax. If you feel yourself becoming anxious..walk away from it. 

Still having phobia with BP machine! Had a panic attack when the GP tried to put the 24 HR machine on me, the machine said error and wouldn't work, the nurse said it was because my bp was so high! I am so scared. Still don't know if I have true hypertension or if I panic, any advice you can offer would be great. Thanks

Naturally, that would make you even more upset. Did they ever get a machine for you that was working???? Truly, you need to learn to relax, 

or to learn some relaxing techniques.

If my memory serves me correctly, do you not have your own bp monitor? Usually, we are far more relaxed in our own homes, without the white coat symdrome. If you feel anxious, do not take the readings, as most likely they will be rather high. Only take the readings when you're relaxed..never after drinking tea/coffee, exercising, showers, etc...unless at least 30 min. have passed. That also includes smoking.

I don't know what else to suggest..but if you have any further questions, feel free to ask. I'll help as much as I can.

If you don't mind my asking...what type of post traumatic stress do you have? Did you have a terrifying experience, or does it all have to do witht he bp machine. You never know, hypnosis just may help you...the hypnotist or whoever would do the hypnotising would make you believe the machine will not aggravate you...you won't feel uncomfortable about it...but it's something you eventually will have to overcome, else you'll never get accurate bp readings. I think I know what happens to you...you can feel absolutely fabulous,..exercising, etc.etc...then when the idea comes to mind that it may be time to take a reading, you feel yourself becoming very tense, yoiur heart beats faster, & you're almost to the point of shaking. In your mind, you're worrying that the numbers will be high. Am I correct? THAT my friend is most definitely anxiety caused by the very idea of having your bp readings taken. Perhaps hypnosis is the way to go. To keep pumping you with bp meds truly isn't the answer because your readings may not truly be as high as they are on the machines all because of anxiety. 

My readings have been quite good of late...yet when I saw the GP last week, I was nervous; anticipating what was going to transpire, etc. Yes, the reading was elevated (a little) but theGP knows about my anxiety once I attend the office, & he looks over the numbers I give him that wre taken at home. In fact he said to me..."no need to feel self-conscience about the white coat syndrom. It's more prevalent than you think".

There you go!

Please let me know how you get on. Cheers!!!

Hi Hails, I just started having this issue aswell. I'm 26 years old, extremely active otherwise healthy dude and it started 3 days ago. I went in for some shots in my back but my BP read 160/100, because i had little sleep and ate really salty food the day before and was nervous to get injections in my spine, I had also been taking medication that can increase blood pressure. So i immediately went to my PCP and they said i should see a cardiologist for my heart and that my EKG was abnormal, more stress... Yesterday i saw my PCP and he said that i should start a very low treatment of BP medicine. Later last night my friends came over and we were supposed to go out and drink for the holidays and before we went out i felt anxious and just wanted to check my BP to be safe before we drank, it was like 174/100, cue me freaking out but decided to just hangout with my friends and be D.D.. Anyways good night out but chest pains all night and burping the whole time. Get home at 4 am, check my BP just cause i'm worried, 184/104, immediately freak out and have my dad take me to the E.R. once in the e.r. its 202/114... After about 30 mins check again and its at 165/95 then 160/90 so they release me with new BP meds. Ever since then, i've had chest pain and been extremely anxious all the while trying everything i can to get it off my mind... Found a friend who had some Xanax took that chest pains subsided but just checked my bp, 184/100ish. I just don't know what to do... checking it raises my bp... i can't help it.

thats exactly what I feel. i was told by a cardiologist that I cause my heart to stress out.

anxiety is no good and i think my Hypertension not being controlled is through my uncontrolled anxiety.

off to psychiatrist today . need this sorted out.

best of luck my friend