Pulse-health anxiety, panic and pulse checking

I constantly check my pulse and I constantly freak out. If I check it on my neck, it seems fine. Is the neck the same as the wrist? Please don't post anything that will scare me. I am so bad about health anxiety.

Thank you so much.

Thank you Kitt. God bless.

Glad to be of help and Percycat is right a pulse ox will change continously.  Just like a cardiac monitor...........Have a good day.

Kitt

Hi greyhound...
I can relate to the pulse checking...Went thru a really bad stage doing that..came to the conclusion that a beating heart is always a helpful thing lol...
Sometimes I still get the urge to check my pulse when I am feeling stressed...I use this in a positive way now - if my heart rate is elevated I know I have to calm and take control - nice steady breathing works a treat :) If my heart rate remains steady and I am feeling stressed - I know it's just me getting upset/anxious and it's time to distract myself from whatever is upsetting me, and once again - steady breathing is good :)
You are not alone greyhound.
Maree

Hello -

( A special hello to Kitt.....How did you get so smart? I love your words of encouragement and care that you give people. Thank you for this site. It is a true blessing to be able to talk to people with the same conditions I have.)

I was a mental heath nurse for twelve years before panic attacks overwhelmed me and I couldn't work anymore. So there I was anxiety stricken every day and not really knowing why it had gotten so bad. I had my first panic
attack in my youth. We just didn't know what it was then.

First official diagnosed? Age 21. Horrifying and I remember every detail like it happened an hour ago. As time went by I got a little better and it seemed to go away. I went to nursing school and ha fun and relationships.

Then during my career it hit again and started me on a path of trips to the ER several times a day and self medication ( Benzo's ) that escalated into an addiction that would almost kill me.

Now life is better. I am not anxiety free and I still have the panic attacks now and then. I am off all meds now except the low dose of xanax. I will probably continue to use them as directed by my doctor until they come up with

with better ways of treating this frightening condition that can sometimes lead to disability.

The pulse checking, the stomach spasms, hyperventilation, feeling of choking I have been where some of you are right now. Anyone that has questions or concerns about anxiety or panic attacks or other mental heath issues should keep one site bookmarked.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.

These people are on the front lines of battle. The are the scientists that are discovering and uncovering answers to our problems.

Check the site every few months or sign up for the news letter.

Trust me...if they come up with something wonderful to help your condition? Your doc may not ever hear of it. We may have these conditions. We may have to live with these conditions. But in our time now? We don't have to let it control our entire life.

May we all find peace of mind in our lives.

Christine

THank you everyone! I am going to go to the NIMH site now.

I really hate checking my pulse. Sometimes I feel a "flutter" or a "skip" and I really go wild then. Anxiety is not my friend. I try to tell myself I had an EKG 4 years ago before surgery and 2 (I think) since then. My nurse tells me that these things don't creep up overnight and I need to remember that I had good results or they would have never done the hysterectomy in 2004.

You all are so wonderful. Thank you.

Greyhound,

I just wanted you to know you have a kindred spirit in me! For me, the health anxiety is about breathing, and I went out and bought myself so many "gadgets" when it was at its worst that I could practically open my own hospital. Now things have settled down a little, and I hope they will for you too. A medication change and a couple of really good and supportive doctors have made a big difference for me lately (although I still can't put away ALL of my gadgets yet).

Hang in there and try to remember that the body doesn't run on precision. It will have lots of little variations that can spook you but can't actually hurt you. There was another thread on this forum a bit ago where someone (I think it was Cassandra?) said her doctor really helped in one situation. She had just pointed out some unusual blip on a monitor or test and said to the doctor, "See, that's not normal!" The doctor replied, "You're right, but it's not harmful either." I find myself thinking about her story a lot when I start to freak out about my minute-to-minute health; it helps.

If anyone remembers what thread that was, please point it out again. It really was helpful.

percycat