Tachycardia causing anxiety - or anxiety causing tachycardia?????

I have GAD (apparently). Although, I think there are aspects of health anxiety in there also as I'm convinced my heart rate issue is serious and I will die - even though the Dr has assured me many times, I will not die from it. I suffer from tachycardia and usually, notice that first then the anxiety levels go through the roof. Does anyone else have this issue? How do they stop the tachycardia? Mine can go on for days and it terrifies me. The highest that it's been lately (that I know of) was 136bpm. I am really trying not to continually take my pulse, but I'm so sensitized to it, I can feel it everywhere and see it in my stomach etc. I really hate this. I hate the thought that someone else might be suffering this too, but I also hate the thought that I'm alone. I'd love to find a friend that I could chat with about it, so we can help each other out? Just found this board, and thought I'd post.

As for medications, I'm on 47.5mg of Metoprolol and have only been on Effexor since 25 January. I stopped 20mg paroxetine on the 22nd of January (I'd been on that about 15 years). I'm now on 225mg of Effexor and the Dr added in 12.5mg of quetiapine (seroquel) yesterday. I'm also taking 5mg of diazepam twice daily at the moment until the Effexor kicks in.
Anne,
New Zealand.

Post Edited (Annathie) : 2/20/2015 12:54:03 AM (GMT-7)

Hi Ann and welcome!

I am sorry to hear of your tachy/anxiety issues. This is a scary issue to experience for sure.

I have had short runs of tachy, but not the extended type. However I know several people who have this condition.

I know that two of them have had the ablation procedure. Has your cardiologist discussed this with you? This may be something to consider for a long term treatment option.:)
(you may also want to check in with our Cardio Forum if you have not done so yet.)


Hibee's advice regarding treating the anxiety through options such as therapy and or self help coping techniques for relaxation is also valuable and something to pursue if you've not done so already.

Keep talking with us as well. I am sure you will be hearing from others regarding your topic. We care, understand and are here to listen anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, I have such a real fear of it, it makes it worse. I need to somehow get over the fear and just accept it for what it is. I got up this morning, took my drugs and went back to bed and have only now got dressed and it's just after midday here in NZ. I can't live like this. This is no way to live. But I am not suicidal - death frightens me, so no risk there.

Oh my goodness , I have every possible palpitation there is to have , pulse in the stomach ( I can actually see my stomach move ) pulse in the head pulse in neck and fingers and I can physically feel it ,
Im so scared of high heart rate that I don't run or I can't even go up too many stairs cuz I'm scared of my heart going too fast, I'm on a beta blocker and I'm only 27 so that kinda sucks but my heart rate goes so high cuz of my anxiety 170s during panic attacks , the beta blocker helps it .
Im not sure what you mean when you say high heart rate for days , do you have pulse of 130 for two days none stop it never gets lower even in your sleep? Or do you have some episodes of hight heart rate for a few days?
My resting is in the 80s when I go to sleep its on the 60s , but when I walk around even the house at slow paste it can be 110 , I constantly think about my pulse and take it all the time ,
I'm trying to break the bad habbit as its ruinging my life too , but I started taking Zoloft (SSRIs ) hopefully they help with the panic attacks and anxiety which then if anxiety lessens then hopefully heart rate lowers .