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Posted 5/29/2009 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
redface  Well, not sure how to explain this but I'll give it a shot. Most of you know my main problem is a racing heart and/or skipped beats. It's been affecting me for months. So much so, that I camp on the couch and only leave the house when absolutely necessary.

Like everyone else who gets symptoms, I ask myself, "why is this happening?" "Where is all this anxiety coming from?" "What if this never stops?" "The doctors must be wrong, this is leading to something bad." Just to name a few thoughts that go through my head.

Today was another day of non-stop crying. I had two episodes of racing heart and the same relaxed breathing, positive self talk, etc.

I spoke to my friend on the phone and she said my heart symptoms could be fear-based. It could be there's no anxiety bringing it on, at all. It's just that I'm so terrified of the racing and feelings that come with it that my thoughts bring it all by themselves.

This makes total sense to me and I will let you guys know if it's the answer. The answer sounds so simple and I'm surprised I didn't think of it myself. Does anyone else have anxiety symptoms that they think occur only because you're terrified of them?

Posted 5/29/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
I agree. A lot of symptoms are a cause of being scared of them. You work yourself into an over active state. Which causes things to happen. That is part of what causes anxiety. Then Panic attacks is the thought of said fear is coming true.

I to have the racing heart and skipped beats. But I narrowed it down to garlic. Fresh garlic sets me off. So anything made with fresh garlic I avoid like the plaque. I still cook with it but it but it is dried.
Things as simple as that can cause "symptoms". I found out about this through family history.

NOW with that said. It may not actually be garlic. It could all be in my head. And this was my "fix" of the problem As long as I keep thinking that it is the garlic. I do not have racing heart or many skipped beats.

A lot of times when I feel like my heart is racing. Its actually not. Its all made up in my head. I "feel" it but pulse wise its fine. Until I over think it and start to worry. Then my mind makes it happen.
Posted 5/29/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi again. I had a heart test (can't remember its name) because I was so sure something was wrong. Also blood tests and of course it's anxiety. My dr says its classic. Even when I'm well, if I get a bit nervous or get a pumping heart from walking up stairs I will start to worry that I'm getting anxiety again. So yes we definitely can get scared of being scared. I try to take slow breaths but boy is that hard to do when i'm anxious. I'm so sorry to hear you've been crying today. you mentioned your daughter in another post, have you got family around? i find that helps, it doesn't fix, but it helps. Maybe some slow breaths, the trick is to fully empty the lungs then allow our body to breathe in naturally. Keep posting, and I'll be here
Posted 5/29/2009 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to tell you I understand completely. My anxiety is all the signs of a heart attack. I started getting attacks a few months after I had 4 family members died within 3 wks of each other. Three of them was from either heart attack or heart failure. When I first went to er I thought I was the next one to go from them. I have had every test over the last 8 yrs and physically I am fine. Thankfully my attacks come and go and I could go yrs without them. I have learned recently unfortunately with the death of yet another brother they are triggered by death and loss. This knoweldge has helped tremenously. I can absolutely identfy to your fear and it makes complete sense. It is amazing that our bodies can react in the manner in which we fear the most. Good luck and take care, hopefully you can find your trigger and I hope this info is helpful
Posted 5/29/2009 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hey friend, I'm sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. I totally agree with your friend in saying that this is fear based. When I'm with family and friends and having fun I am PA free (unless I had a bad day before hand) but when I have time to sit back and think about my problems I throw myself into a full blown PA. Don't let this get the best of you. (((Hugs)))

Nelle
Posted 5/29/2009 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
I wanted to say thanks for your kind words and for replying. It means a lot.

I'll know in the morning if these heart symptoms are fear-based. It usually happens within a few minutes of opening my eyes. I can't believe how much time I spent wondering where the anxiety was coming from and going through the "what-ifs."

Maybe some of you will find some symptoms that you're causing just by fear. I'll let you all know!
Posted 5/29/2009 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
Aries,

Bless you for this thread! I am having exactly the same issue around my breathing today. Feels like I'm light-headed, but I'm genuinely not. Feels like I can't breath in, but I really am doing do. I hate this, and wish it would stop, but that kind of thinking definitely just increases my fear about it.

It's so helpful to hear from others who experience the same thing. Now back to my mantra from the other day: "I am safe at ALL times." *sigh*

Aries, I hope you're off to a good start today, and that you don't have to go through another day of crying and fear.

Hugs to you,
percycat
Posted 5/29/2009 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Aries

I have the same thing Aries. Half of my symptoms are fear-based. I fear a lot of things and that triggers my symptoms. Crazy isn't it? It's a very vicious cycle. This is why when I am busy doing other things, and my mind is occupied, I don't focus too much on myself and my body. When I have more time, I tend to overanalyze and that's when my symptoms get worse. I hope you feel better Aries, and always remember you are not alone!!

Melodee
Posted 5/29/2009 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
I use to have a lot of skipped beats also. It's a terrifying feeling. It would scare me everytime which would then lead to a racing heart just from pure fear. My mom mentioned that she had these a lot too and brought it up to her doctor. He assured her that they were benign and actually pretty common. I think they are especially common in people with anxiety.

It really is difficult to accept that anxiety can cause so many real symptoms. But it can. It's when we get into that "what's really wrong with me" thinking that we really drive ourselves crazy.
Posted 5/29/2009 2:31 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Aries

Great thread, kudos to you. I do not have the rapid heart beats but I sure do have the fear of anxiety.................

I have tried to accept that I have anxiety and that I am a survivor so I will be fine.  There are times like the present where I will go through several weeks of high anxiety and I hate waking up in the morning as I do not know what to do to stop the anxiety.

I have all the tools and know what to do but the fear of the anxiety just "being there" and that I will always have to deal with it kicks the anxiety into high gear and then, like you, the tears of fear and frustration. 

Then I will have weeks where I feel very good and  I can kick the anxiety to the curb.............

As the saying goes "The Only Thing to Fear Is Fear Itself".

Bless you my friend,

Kitt

Posted 5/29/2009 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your replies! It helps so much!

As soon as I woke up I told myself "it's fear-based, it's fear-based." I thought in my head it won't happen because I can see now that it's fear-based. Well, duh. It's going to continue to happen for awhile at least. I stayed calm. I wrote in my journal the same thing over and over, "My Heart is Healthy".  I focused on a marble, describing it in my mind, feeling it, etc. The attack lasted about 10 minutes.

I'm not going to let this get to me anymore. If I die during an attack, then I die. There's nothing I can do about it. Docs say they can't find anything. So, it's up to me.

Jo, I will be doing the meditation. I do take meds but I'm adding meditation. Thanks for the advice! Yesterday I did my biofeedback and I felt great.

Percycat, so sorry to hear you're still having issues with the breathing. It will go away as soon as you get over your fear of it, just like me and my heart. I'll be thinking about you!

Kitt, I know what you mean. I have the tools to get through this. I've read the books, taken the classes and I still hit a brick wall. Thank you everyone!

Posted 6/3/2009 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've been practicing biofeedback for years but not on a daily basis. It really makes a difference when I do it.

I bought a new book, "HeartMath." There are new and different techniques in it. I'm enjoying the book and hoping it will help me.

Most mornings I still wake up with the racing heart/skipped beats but I'm working with it. I allow it to happen and find something to do. I know eventually they will go away. Knowing they are based on fear helps a great deal. Thank you everyone!
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