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Palpitations when not stressed...perfectly fine when I am stressed?

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Posted 5/18/2012 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I really don't understand this. I started getting palpitations a lot last April while I was actually on Pristiq for migraines/anxiety which is bizarre if you ask me since that should have been keeping my anxiety levels lower right? I felt more evened out and then once the palpitations kicked it I was in full swing with my anxiety again! I've continued to have them pretty frequently. It totally baffles me.

Anyway, I'm starting to realize that while I do think a lot about my palpitations and have anxious thoughts a good bit, my palps come out of the blue when I'm relaxed or not even giving them any thought. I rarely get them when I'm anxious and if I do I get them and then they're gone. Does this happen to anyone else? Could it possibly be that I've been so stressed and so anxious for such a long time that now my body is fighting back against me and presenting its years of stress this way? I just don't know what else it could be sad
Posted 5/18/2012 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
This is just one of my (hairbrained!) theories...but I think that it has something to do with adrenaline.

Here is an example. Adrenaline is used throughout the body when we are presented with a stressful situation and our performance level (mentally, physically or both) has to increase. It gets us through whatever we need it for and masks our feelings and symptoms of anxiety temporarily...therefore you do not feel the palps when you are 'adrenaline rushed'.

Then you come down from the anxious situation, and you start to feel the effects of the extra adrenaline in your system that you are no longer burning through...enter the palptiations.

An example that I personally experienced recently:

I had a huge Spring Performance for my dance studio recently, with over 100 students performing and over 400 people in each show attending! I not only have to remember almost 20 routines and get my students through them...I have to host/MC the whole event! It is a huge responsibility. I was absolutely fine throughout both shows and had a great time...but when I got home I felt really anxious and my heartrate was high for the rest of the afternoon...(which is weird for me). I suffered anxiety fallout, after the fact.

This is not so unexpected if you think about it...it kind of makes sense and is an effective defense mechanism. Get through the tough stuff...but then fall apart later at a convenient time ;p

Like I said, this is just conjecture on my part...take it or leave it, but I hope that it helps!

Take care,

S.C.
Posted 5/18/2012 8:25 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with your theory and that happens to be sometimes most definitely. The thing I don't understand is why I get these palps at random times even when adrenaline has not been released. I can wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and have them. I guess its possible though to be so stressed and upright all the time that you don't even realize it anymore and it becomes the norm so to speak. Whatever the cause, I need to get to the bottom of it because these have become life altering and I'm extremely frustrated.
Posted 5/18/2012 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
A couple more thoughts, b/c you bring up a good point...

My doctor told me that everyone gets palpitations...but only some people will feel them. Maybe those of us with anxiety are more in tune with our bodies, and react more to stimulus within it...then of course we react with anxiety, which exacerbates the palps, and on goes the cycle.

Also, I do believe that we with anxiety get used to feeling under stress, and though we may not register it as acute panic...out bodies may be pumping out more adrenaline than the average person. There are even those who get adrenal fatigue. Everyone is different, with their own unique body chemistry, so what makes one person have zero reaction, could cause another to have symptoms.

The bottom line is, the less you focus on the palps, the better. Many people have lived with them for years, and while unpleasant, they are usually benign. As long as you have been checked out by your doctor to make sure, you can focus on breathing and relaxation exercises to help with this.:)

S.C.
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