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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 7/23/2015 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
Whew had a rough night last night. Had a panic attack and I havent one of those in months now. Thankfully I was able to calm myself relatively quickly. I'm exhausted today though despite having slept all night.

I brought myself a fitbit the other day so I could keep track of my steps and workouts. Silly me got the one that tracks your heart rate, thinking oh I'll be fine. NOPE! I found myself checking it constantly. Especially when I wore it at night and saw that my heart rate would get down in the low 50's high 40's when I slept.

Yesterday after I got home from work I was sitting on the couch watching TV with my husband when I started to feel lightheaded. This had been happening off and on all day and I chalked it up to stress from work. I tried to ignore it. It got worse and I started to feel like I couldn't breathe. But I didn't feel like my heart was pounding so I checked my heart rate on the fitbit. It showed as 195!!! I've never seen my heart rate that fast before. I checked it again and it showed 125. Of course the panic had already set in by then. I got up and walked around and breathed deeply.I had taken a Benadryl before all this started for some allergy symptoms I had so I couldn't take my Lorazepam. Finally got my heart rate back down to the high 80's.

I'm guessing maybe there was a glitch with the fitbit that showed my heartrate that high. I've been to the doctor within the last 2 months and had bloodwork and an EKG and everything came back perfect. Needless to say I'm selling that fitbit and getting one that doesn't track your heart rate.
Posted 7/23/2015 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, goodness. I'm sorry that happened. I'm sure it was a glitch with the fitbit.

Glad you were able to think logically through the event, and come out on top of it.
Posted 7/23/2015 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that it most likely was a glitch, however great idea about getting rid of it and buying one that doesn't track heart rate. Us with anxiety disorder surely don't need to add anything extra for us to have anxiety over.

Good job on breathing and calming yourself, keep using those coping skills they really do help.

Hope you are feeling better now!
Posted 7/23/2015 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
L.,

I back up your idea of ditching the fitbit...sometimes devices of this kind can just be triggers...

...and I am dubious about their accuracy as well on certain things.

As a general guide for counting steps, ect... they can be helpful for some, but it is not a medical device, and readings should not be considered, like your recent good check up results!!

...and since it's causing you more stress than health benefits, it's time to be free of it.:)

Good job on keeping calm and making the decision to sell!

S.C.
Posted 7/23/2015 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Everyone. I feel a little better today, heart rate is still a little higher than normal but I am at work so that's probably why. :) I'm just exhausted but that's probably just the "hangover" from the panic attack.

I'm returning the fitbit when I leave work and getting a different one. Definitely wasn't a good idea on my part.
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