Need advice, do I have an anxiety disorder? losing my mind here :(

Hi, 

It definitely sounds like you have anxiety, more specifically health anxiety. Going to your GP about this would be a good idea, they can advise you on possible treatments. I.e. Cognitive behavioural therapy. They'll also be able to show you some relaxation techniques to help when you feel panicky, so that hopefully it shouldn't turn into a full panic attack. 

Definitely go and see your GP. He may put you on some medication to calm your nerves. 

I too had arrythmia and my young daughter as well. I was put on meds because I didn't have three normal beats in a row. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. My daughter was not given medication because although the occasional bang, bang of beats was noticeable, she could still carry on normally. She didn't feel faint or anything like I did. The cardiologist said that many, many people have arrythmia, many don't even realize it and if it doesn't interfere with whatever you are doing, you don't need a beta blocker. You just live with it. I was on beta blockers for 1 1/2 years. I knew it was necessary but they made me feel sleepy...and like I was a cardiac invalid.

One day I decided to join a gym hoping that it would 'push' my heart into normal rhythm....with my doctor's encouragement. I was 46 btw. I did aerobic activity for 35 minutes and another half hour of stretches and weights. After a week, again with my cardiologist's permission, I started to slowly taper off the beta blockers. Week after week, I was able to lower the dose and my heart stayed stable. I was so excited. I had tried it in the past because my cardiologist wanted me on a lower dose (I was on the maximum of 320 mg per day) but each time I reduced the beta blocker by a tiny bit, my heart would fly out of control..with not even 3 steady beats in a row as I said earlier.

When I was off the beta blocker completely, I was still going to the gym 6 mornings out of 7. I went to see hte cardiologist and gave him the good news and he couldn't believe it. But he told me, "You will be back in here soon with arrythmia." Well, it's 19 years later and guess what?...no atrial fibrillation! 

When he first diagnosed me, he told me that i was NEVER ever supposed to drink coffee, tea, colas or energy drinks with caffeine in them, never have any stimulant of any kind such as in some cold remedies or at the dentist's. He also said to keep out of cigaratte-snokey environments. On a rare occasion I have had a coffee...and my heart starts to feel wobbly and starts to speed up. So I steer clear of ANY caffeine.

Do you know what to do if your heart starts to race? You bear down as if you are having a BM...or having a baby. That is what the cardiologist told me to do. That will often stabilize your heart. My friend;'s heart tended to race and she told me that it does work. 

Don't worry so much about it. But do get to a gym or get involved in some sport or activity where you work up a sweat. Always check with your GP first. At least go for a brisk walk every day. That might just do the trick...and stopping any caffeine or stimulants...forever!

Robin

Hi J

Wow, this sounds like me a couple decades ago .  

I only found out about 10 years after first experiencing this that the initial sensations that I felt that led to huge anxiety about my heart was actually just bubbles of air passing just under the area of the heart which can mimic strange heart beats.  I have more recently found out that the state of your gut health can directly be connected to anxiety and anxiety symptoms - google the gut brain connection. 

It is good that you went to see a cardiologist and you were given the all clear and my advice is to trust that.  

I always advise people to look for an EFT Practitioner, preferably FasterEFT.  I don't know where I would be if it was not for using it.  Great thing is that once you know what to do you can use it on your own and consult with a Practitioner once a week for a few weeks.

Look forward to hearing how you are doing.  Learning how to breathe is also very good.  I use the Heartmath breathing techniques.  The other thing that also helps get you out of the fight, flight, freeze is to practise something called Periferal Vision - you can google that too.

Hope this all helps.

Hi the majority of symptoms Ur experiencing I have had over the years I was diagnosed with GAD generalized anxiety disorder have a little read up about it its a little bit different from just Ur "normal" anxiety I used to check my blood pressure every hour, if I had a pain in my chest I thought it was a heart attack pins an needles, feeling rizzy i was goinf to collapse palpitations made me panic thinking ny heart woyld stop have terrible anxiety over my health then it effected my social life I don't socialise with friends find it hard to be in crowds crossing roads being in public in general ... I'd definaitly go and see Ur Dr to get a diagnosis so they can help you before it gets worse I've fed my illness with constant negative thoughts its never too late to make a change just have to remember u haven't always been this way and this does not define u as a person u is still hiding in there just have to break down the walls no matter how long it takes xxx