Obsession with the Heart

How do I get pass this?

It's been two/three weeks of constant thoughts involving my heart, and a lot of weird chest feelings because I know I sometimes force myself to breathe, rather than breathe subconsciously (like we're suppose to).

Has anyone had to deal with this part of anxiety?

-S.W.S

Heart palpitations can be caused by anxiety, stress, fear and many other things. Reducing stress and anxiety can help lessen your heart palpitations. Try breathing exercises or deep relaxation (a step-by-step process of tensing and then relaxing every muscle group in your body) at the time of your heartbeat sensations. Also, consider practicing yoga or tai chi on a regular basis to reduce the frequency of your palpitations.   Breathing exercises are a wonderful way to learn how to control anxiety, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. Studies have shown that anxiety sufferers tend to breathe shallowly and from their chest. Learning to breathe deeply and from the belly can bring great relief and control to anxious individuals. You may want to try the following exercise that SC has post to members before. The Divided Breath: Imagine your lungs as having 3 parts. The bottom third, the middle, and top third. On the inhale fill the bottom third first, then the middle and finally the top third. Make sure that this is one continuous breath, but divided, with a slight pause in between each third. Hold the breath in for 3-5 seconds if possible. Exhale in reverse. First blow out the top third, then the middle, and finally the bottom third of your lungs until all air is expelled. (Remember the pauses) Repeat several rounds for a total of about 10 minutes. Practicing this every day will not only give you control and structure to your breathing, it will strengthen and loosen the thoracic muscles, allowing better, more productive breathing, and relieving the chest tightness! I know you will be OK and trust that we know where your coming from and what you are going through. Kindly, Kitt

It is something I picked up either from Pilates, or Yoga...I can't remember which now...so it probably has some Easten-Medicine origin I would guess.

I am not really a huge fan of either form of exercise I must confess (I like more of a fast paced routine)..but I am sooooo glad that I at least got this breathing exercise out of it...it has saved me from many, many near panic experiences, and reverses almost all of my physical symptoms when they pop up!

S.C.

The Divided Breath exercise was provided by SC and I have found it to be very helpful as well as several other breathing exercises I use.  Many of our members favor SC's version so I post it from time to time. 

 

I hope things are going better for you now.

 

 

 

 

cheeterky said...
Alwaysworried.....cardiophobia....classic and exactly what I have as well mate.

Sorry you have this too, but always nice to hear that you aren't alone in your fears I hope yours gets better!!

Isn't it weird how when anxiety is temporarily removed from one area of the body, or life circmstance...it just shifts to another?

It is also strange that even if our rational mind 'knows that there is nothing wrong', it doesn't keep the worry from happening!

We can relate to what you have posted akhi. Keep up tha good work though...the medication and CBT are going to help you so much...hang in there!

S.C.

i too have suffered with heart palpatations for years and i also worry about my heart all the time. I went to the doctor when it first started years ago and wore the heart moniter and all came back normal. Cardiologist says nothing wrong and forget which I did at the time up until a couple of months ago. There back largely due to stress caffine and smoking. Went to ER and was checked out bloodwork normal EKG normal .Told to quit smoking which i have not been able to do but did back way off caffine. Stress was another big factor also. I like most others are having a had time getting past this cause it terrifies me. I dont notice them or have them when im occupied but when the thoght gets in the back of my mind here we go again. Thats my bigest problem.

Well this was a little bit of a surprise.

I was just coming here to vent my frustrations. I am another health anxiety person. My heart. I worry about the same thing 24/7. The only time I have relief of my worry is when I'm asleep. I had an ekg done some time ago and it came back just fine. Now that my doc has moved to cali I haven't went and seen another doc yet.

My health anxiety is so bad it keeps me from leaving the house. I worry that I'll be driving and something will go wrong. Or I'll be some place else and something will go wrong and the medical team wont make it to me in time. I live less than a mile from the fire station. So I have some relief knowing they are so close if I need help.

I'm so sick of this worry. I honestly am. You try your hardest to ignore it. But that just doesn't work. As soon as you try and move on something freaky happens. I get palpation's when I stretch or clear my throat. So now I don't wanna do either. I do not do caffeine anymore since it just makes me worse. Tea is even worse then coffee. I don't even wanna sleep in my own bed because my anxiety is worse just before I fall asleep. I have associated my room with anxiety. In the last 6 years I have probably slept in my bed maybe 10 times. I have to fall sleep with the t.v on so my mind if focused on whats on instead of anxiety.

I was just outside having a smoke, and started crying. I don't wanna worry like this anymore. I honestly dont. I dream of the day I can take that road trip. Get out of town. Take my kids places.
Enjoy life before I can't. But the fear.. keeps me from doing just that.. ugh..

Anyway. You are not alone. I hope that brings comfort to you. I know it does me. Even if I do not have people near me to relate to, or friends to speak with. This is the best place to come for comfort!

Cary

Hello, im new here joined today.. I had my heart attack 8yrs ago and had a stent put in, ever since that day I havent been able to stop the anxiety or panic attacks, depression set in after a time and iv lived alone in my house ever since. But, as time went by I learned that I needed to fight this fear because it wasnt going to go away for me, it was here to stay. I dont want to die and thats why I panic and have anxiety attacks, because of the fear of death, we cant do anything about a heart attack, but in todays medical field, its like putting on a bandage or having a tooth out, ur awake for the whole procedure then ur home the next day, afew weeks later ur back to work and u feel better than u ever felt before ! : my fear is that fine line between life and not coming back. I cry alot because its a natural thing to do when ur afraid day after day and sleep is the only reprieve. The point to this is...DONT LIVE IN FEAR, it will always be there, go do things you like, make your lives count, we cant forget the fear that we feel but, we now understand how precious our lives realy are DREAMS ONLY WORK IF YOU DO..I pray to god daily and thank him for my extention of my life that hes allowed me to have up to now, I thank him for giving me understanding to my fear, panic and anxiety and with his guidance and trust I live my life through him. He allows me to leave my home and go do the things I need to do, see the ppl I want to see, share my life with those that meen so much to me. I cant go back to the way I used to be, but through gods help I live my life to the fullest, even though I still get the same symptoms as u guyz, through gods help I fight it and push on. Cbt, counciling and other therapy didnt work for me nor did meds, so after so many yrs of trying different helps and meds I trusted in god. For most of us the only great relief is sites like this one that allow us to be with ppl that understand wat we're going through, we feel safe here, even though its hard every day, I dont give up, I keep on trying like all of u do. I wish u all the best and I hope u find peace and solitude. Tc

Thank u M will reright in new topic

Edit - you can copy and paste your original post into a new topic thread of your own.  Easier than rewriting.

Kindly,

Kitt

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 4/21/2014 11:33:58 AM (GMT-6)

Paddycake77....
Going out is always a fear for me too, but if I dont I would never be able to fight my panic, at the moment I am feeling lots of anxiety and some minor chest discomforts wat they call angina. I try to keep an open mind on my symptoms and try to keep grips on my anxiety and panic at the same time, even though im scared. I have a feeling that I may need more surgery cos things dont feel right at the moment and feeling like this brings on lots of panic, anxiety, fear and shaking as well as tension, trying to relax is a great effort wen u feel that somthing is or may not be right or may happen. I focus on trying to control my anxiety, panic and try to bring it back on track. The fear of having another heart attack is overwelming and everything is just a constant struggle all day. You have done great though, managed to get out in ur car is a great achievement and have the courage to fight ur fears is a big step into the future of ur life and ur daughters life, I congratulate u. Some days maybe harder but if u despair u will loose the confidence u built up and have to start again...and u dont want to do that, no matter the feelings u feel, fight the fight, win the race and live ur life to the fullest with ur family and daughter...god will always walk with u and help u if u only ask him...believe in him..and he will give u all the courage u need to over come ur problems..tc my friend

Ur prognosis is far worse than anything I am worried about..! How u have the strength to deal with it is just amazing..! I feel rather childish now, with my anxiety, but ur strength gives me the ability to understand how strong we can all become through knowing ppl like u. Ur an inspiration to us all, and I wish u all the best for the future. Btw..I hope ur here for a while, u give us hope and strength. Tc and god bless

W.S. 57 said...
How do I get pass this?

It's been two/three weeks of constant thoughts involving my heart, and a lot of weird chest feelings because I know I sometimes force myself to breathe, rather than breathe subconsciously (like we're suppose to).

Has anyone had to deal with this part of anxiety?

-S.W.S

Just wanted to comment on this. I believe the condition is a form of Thanatophobia which is the constant fear of death. I suffered with your exact problem for approximately three years. I was a prisoner inside my own anxiety, constantly focusing on the idea that at any moment my heart was about to fail. This in turn caused countless panic attacks that ultimately resulted in me having to take time off work (the worst thing you can do, ironically!)

Whether you are fearing death by heart failure or death by falling sheep from the sky, it all falls under the same bracket of anxiety and my only advice would be to understand that when you are doing it to yourself, you're doing it BECAUSE you know as a rational person that you suffer from high anxiety. Rationalise it, and take the power away from it. You'll find the thoughts and focusing on your heart begins to subside.

That's from a sufferer who has managed to stop doing it, so please remember I know how unsettling it can be.

Be well.