Obsession with the Heart

Hello my friends.
I had a heart attack 8 yrs ago, had a stent put in and developed probably most anxiety, panic, fear attacks ur all experienceing at the moment..let me put u at rest about ur hearts...first off..ur body will tell u if there is something realy wrong with ur heart..dizzyness, full vomiting, restlessness and UKnowing theres something wrong, because ur body has a safety mechanism that tells u ur in danger, u dont have time to question it, u suddenly kno u need help..! Secondly..wen a heart attack comes, it just happens! Like mine did. The great thing about heart attacks is that u will very rarely die from it..! The medical professionals of today can bring u back from death, ( if u die ), an hour AFTER u died..! But u will never even kno u died, so dont dwell on that. We all suffer from holding our breaths unconsciously, we did it from birth, now that we r older we sometimes take more notice of it..the reason..? Because the body is telling u to breath..! It needs the oxygen to keep u alive, otherwise, u will faint..! U cant die from it, u will just faint. Again if u take to many breaths thinking ur not getting enough air, u will make urself faint, thats another safety mechanism ur body has. Exertion is the best solution for that, do abit of running, cycling or swimming and try not to "think" about how u breath, ur body can look after itself, all u got to do is feed it, water it, give it a good time and rest it..! I,v gone through alot of issues with panic, fear, anxiety, depression and how I can overcome them, my answer..? To help others that need the help who r having the same issues. If something happens to me, we have a very advanced medical team that can do miraculous things..if not..GODS got my back..I hope some of this helps.. tc god bless

Paddicake77 said...
Billy Bob,

I really like your rationalization of this. I have health anxiety, because I constantly fear I'm going to die. Most of my health anxiety is always about having a heart attack, never mind that I could get into a horrific accident, or the fact that I could get run over, etc. It always comes back to being worried about my heart. Sometimes I work through it, and other times I get exhausted after dealing with it. I fear Death, not because of dying itself, I have been turning my life around to the lord once again. I lost faith for a while, and this has all brought me back. I want to see my daughter grow up, and watch her live her life. That's more my fear of Dying. I know we all die, and it will happen. I try to rationalize that I have had all these issues over and over and I'm still around. But sometimes I still think that this time it is not anxiety. Thank you for the advice to us all.

You're extremely welcome. Anxious people are *usually* creative in some way, whether they're artists, songwriters, web designers, architects, or even interior decorators. The nature of the creativity isn't quite relevant but more the fact that when our creative and active minds get bored if you will, they begin to look for sustenance and entertainment elsewhere. I know that sounds very cavalier, but I'm sure we all know the power of the mind over the body is incredible, hence why the symptoms (or more accurately, the 'sensations') we experience are so distressing. Although I'd never, ever dare to disregard how uncomfortable it is, what we're effectively doing is embellishing the perceived symptom in to something much more grandiose.

PS - joeyboyy, that was comforting to read as my father is about to go in to hospital for a triple bypass.

Hi AD and welcome!

I am sorry that you are currently experiencing this fear in regards to your cardio health.

Read enough around here however, and you will see that you are far from alone!

Health anxiety is a common concern to those with anxiety, but there is hope.:)

You have taken a good first couple of steps by getting some meds to help relieve the anxiety...and by reaching out for support here...great work!

Now you may want to also pursue the options of therapy and/or self-help.

Your GP can make a therapy recommendation for you if you need a place to start, or you could simply look into possibilities on your own.

In our Resources here (link below), we have great self-help ideas to learn and try. They are effective if practiced daily! There are even a couple of book recommendations specifically on health anxiety.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Continue to post with us if you find it helpful. Support is key!

Scaredy Cat

You know, I've said it before, that my Dad died of a Massive Heart attack. I know that is one of the biggest things that keeps me thinking I'm having a heart attack. But, unlike my dad, I have gotten checked in all areas, and so far so good. Not saying I won't ever get it, because it's in our genes. But he went to the doctor when he absolutely had to, and he had very high blood pressure. Also he could barely afford his medication, so he didn't take it properly. No matter how much I try and make myself see that it's not my heart, I will think every single pain is my heart..An older gentleman that I see at the resturant where I work, just had blood clots in his legs, and they went to his lungs..he caught them and he is fine now. But anytime I have pain in my legs now, yep, I think I have a bloodclot. Forget the fact that I'm on my feet all the time, and I'm sure other things can cause leg pain, dehydration, and low potassium. So I understand how the fear of thinking it's always my heart.

Anxious,
I stopped looking up symptoms because I always read nothing but the bad, and then I would focus on that. I would start having every symptom, of a heart attack, or a stroke. I have often wondered the same thing, because anxiety symptoms often mimick a heart attack. I always wondered when would I really know? I don't know how to answer that. When I my stomach issues, I also had similar symptoms to a heart attack, pain going into my shoulder, chest, and even my jaw. For women, such as myself, perimenopause symptoms have alot of stuff that could be mistaken for a heart attack, and anxiety. I'm hoping that my body will tell me for sure. I do know that I have gone into the E.R. numerous of times when I have been sweaty, clammy, dizzy, chest pain, numbness and tingling. I know that each time my heart was fine. The last time they even did the cardiac enzyme test, and It showed no damage to my heart. The nurse was incredible as she ran it again 2 hours later, because she said she wanted to be sure. I just keep telling myself that I have felt this way before. I work at a resturant where most of our customers are older people, and they all tell me that when they had their heart attacks, it wasn't anything like I described with my anxiety. Most of them tell me, that you will definetly know for sure..

Hello
Iv suffered from anxiety, panic, fear of death and depression for over 8 yrs now, the reason for my problem is that 8yrs ago I had a massive heart attack. All the symptoms u have described are all correct and there are different types off heart attacks..my was a very sharp severe squeezing of the heart pain which collapsed me to the floor in agonising pain, I knew I was going to die and I called out to god to save my life, he did...as soon as I had called him the pain, panic, anxiety and fear left me there and then, straight away..! I felt calm, relaxed and void of fear..but I could still feel my heart dieing because I could feel it wobbling about trying to pump..it felt as though someone was manually pumping it to keep it alive..! It stayed like that untill the ambulance reached the hospital and then I was injected in the chest with a new drug which they needed my concent to do and I dont remember anything really after that.but what I do know is that someone kept me alive and that someone was god..! The point to my story..? Your body will tell u if there is something wrong with u, it always has done, then u either go doctors or self medicate at the pharmacist. Our minds on the other hand is just one of gods universal mysteries that will never be understood, what we create in our minds...we become..! Fear, anxiety, depression, happiness, laughter, joy, good, bad...etc. we are what we make ourselves. Our lives belong to god, he created us and all things and his judgement is just. Believe in him and his laws and commandments and through him your life will be saved. Dont waste your lives in fear or anxiety, go enjoy your lives, if god wanted you to die he would of taken your life by now with all the sins we have committed against him..! But he hasn't, so go and enjoy what he has given to you, he will let you know if somethings wrong. DONT LIVE IN FEAR...LIVE IN GOD.

Pc77
Keep god close, and he will free u with..understanding of your fears and yes these trials have been given to us by god and now we have a choice, change our ways, love, trust and obey in him and find freedom from our tribulations or be like we were and keep suffering. When I started to believe in him after my heart attack, I had lots of questions for him, he answered them all..! He taught me and gave me grace to the afflictions he set upon me of fear, anxiety, panic, fear of death and depression and the more I trusted in him and learned how to pray, the more understanding he gave me so I could fight and overcome my tribulations I caused for not believing in him. My pain and suffering has been reduced alot from what I used to be like. After some yrs I was able to stop taking my anxiety meds because god had given me the understanding to cope with my problem and through pray, listening to god and doing his will every day has got better and better. I see the world differently now, I dont want material things anymore, im more kinder to ppl, I have understanding that they cant see what I have been shown, I pick my words more carfully and I make no judgement on anyone, if I slip and fall, I ask god to forgive me for im still learning. Im so grateful for my second chance of life and to be able to learn that..when I thought I knew everything..! I really knew nothing and my advice and so called logic I gave ppl before my heart attack only brought pain, lies and suffering to them. If u pray, trust in god each and every day, your lives will prosper and become good, you will see the goodness of god in all things that are his and your lives will prosper in his name..god bless

Hello... I'm new here. 29 years old... and I'm afraid to die.. I've been like this for a months now. I've always been afraid of my symptoms like I'm having a heart attack. My left arms is always aching up to my back my neck and a sometimes in my chest almost everyday. And I always burp even when I'm not eating. When I woke up in morning I burp.. my stomach feels soar and hot up to my chest... I think thats heartburn... and oh when I burp it has a sour taste too... I quit smoking for about 3 months now and I've been to cardio 4 times this year and 6 doctors from ER...I've had 2 2d echos and a lot of blood test... and all came back normal. Except for my last echo my cardio said I had triscupid regurtitation mild.. wich she said is not life threatening... but still I feel like I'm dying everday because the symptoms wont go away... so Im back to my cardio yesterday and told her about that... I told her that I'm so nervous everytime I feel the symptoms and I'm so tired about it. I can't do yhe things I do before. I can't leave in my house for I'm afraid that I'm having a heart attack out side. I can't take care of my children as much as I want too. I want to be me again there are times that when I can't take it I just cry and cry... my cardio told me yesterday that I'm in a low risk ofl heart attack so there's nothing to be afraid
Of so she reffered me to a physcologist. I hope I would be better when I met this doctor I'm so tired of this heart attack thing. I want to be me again..
.

Hi All!!

I'm new to the forum but I also share similarities with my type of anxiety. I was diagnosed with GAD two years ago (haven't been on any meds). For the last two years, I've been suffering with thanatophobia, more specifically - Cardiophobia. It all started with a diagnosis of "Costochrondritis" - which has gone away in the last couple of months. I do believe it was associated with a Vitamin D deficiency (eventhough doctors haven't stated that - I read it on my own in medical journals).

I am well aware that my anxiety is causing the physical symptoms but I have no clue as to how to stop the obsessive worrying and checking for symptoms. I'm committed to my overall well-being and recovery, as I feel I will be 100% recovered before my 32nd birthday, which is in March (a hope/wish and goal I'm aggressively working towards). I'm starting individual therapy this evening for the first time in over a year (my first stint was to talk about the relationship I have with my mom - and the anxiety I have regarding it).

I'm starting to learn that my fears/anxiety are associated with the way I handle stress in general; the fact that I'm an Highly-Sensitive only with PTSD from watching my mother battle Paranoid Schizohrenia (in which is now able to live on her own and is healthy), I've had my share of stress. Not to mention, I was a part-time caretaker of my mom who worked full-time, went to college full-time, all while trying to be a wife as well (no children). My fear started when I had my first panic attack in 2011 - in fear that I might end up like my mom, which scared me half to death. It morphed into thanatophobia after I developed Costochrondritis in then Cardiophobia once I started having palpitations. My PCP/Internist is also a cardiologist and she's tested my blood, gave multiple ECG/EKG's and a heart sonogram and assured me that my heart is healthy.

Three weeks ago I started developing palpitations on a consistent basis and it totally freaked me out. I was completely stressed that I may have really developed a problem this time. I went to see my cardiologist again and she made me wear a heart monitor for 24 hours - in which I'll receive a response either today or tomorrow (I'm sure it's benign) but at this point, does it really matter? LOL.

Last week Friday, after eating a meal, my began beating rapidly (but steady) for about 20 minutes. I noticed that in that particular moment, I became calm - a little concerned but calm. Normally, I would've been panicked but I couldn't stress anymore and I thought, "If this is really happening, there's nothing I can do about it now.." and just like that, my heart rate started slowing down. I thought to myself that I can control this but I need help - now!

So, I'm proud to say that I'm committed to my own recovery, now more than ever because I'm tired of feeling this way and I owe it to myself to try be as healthy as I possibly can.

Are there any recovered people on this forum who can offer motivational support and success stories?

Hello and welcome!

I am sorry you are dealing with this fear regarding your cardio health. It is understandable how it was triggered...

...but unfortunately, the phobia has stuck around, and continues to challenge you.

When anxiety is affecting your quality of life and preventing you from doing things you want and need to do...it us time to seek help.

I would recommend returning to therapy, and working specifically on your cardio phobia. Health anxiety can be effectively treated with CBT...so be sure to look for a professional who can facilitate this.

For now, we have self help for health anxiety in our Resources at the top of the main forum page here. It is very effective if the suggested exercises are practiced daily.

Keep posting here as well for understanding and support!

Scaredy Cat

Hello afiktrn and welcome,

Thank you for joining in the discussion and support here. We seek to be a group of peers who care and understand our common challenges, as well as celebrate our progress and victories.:)

I do notice this is your second posting with the url of panicattackhelper.com., and would like reassurance that this is not a vested interest site on your part...as this would be a breech in our forum rules for you to include it in your posts.

I await your response in this matter,

Scaredy Cat

Scard1,

Hello and welcome! We are glad you've joined us, though sorry that you are currently dealing with these concerns. We know how difficult this is.

Heart rate varies depending on our activity throughout the day....and it sounds like your doctor is simply trying to rule out any/all physical possibilities before giving you a definitive dx of anxiety to account for your symptoms.

So, it's likely you don't have POTS...

...but even if you do, this is a benign condition...that is easily managed.

If you find that anxiety mamangent is the thing to focus on, I hope you can get set up with therapy a.s.a.p. This will help you immensely.

Self help is another great tool, and one you can get started with right away by checking out our Resources at the top of the main forum page here.

Keep talking with us as well if you find it helpful. Start a new thread for yourself anytime you feel comfortable doing so.

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat