Heart palpitations. Don’t these two words make you shudder with anxiety?
Well, maybe the words don’t, but the sensations caused by heart palpitations certainly do scare people.
In fact, it’s the main topic of emails that I get from people who contact me with questions.
And given that this anxiety symptom is so common among anxiety sufferers, I thought it would be helpful to do a “how to” article on palpitations.
First, a few basics. A heart palpitation is an abnormal beating of the heart AND your heightened awareness of your heart beat. Palpitations can cause your heart to beat fast (tachycardia), slow (bradycardia), flutter, or to even have ‘skipped’ heart beats (PVCs).
Heart palpitations can be caused by electrolyte imbalances, adrenaline, anemia, heart disease, arrhythmias, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and of course, anxiety disorders. There are more causes, but the ones listed are common.
Now, because heart disease could be involved, it’s always a good idea to see your doctor if you’re experiencing new or ongoing heart palpitations.
No need for fear, this is mainly a precaution to safeguard your health and your sanity. When you go to your doctor he/she will run an ECG and take some blood. If the results come back negative, then you can start your efforts to stop your heart palpitations without having to worry about having a heart attack.
How Palpitations Work
When related to anxiety, heart palpitations are triggered by the fight or flight response. If you’ve had problems with anxiety for any length of time then I highly recommend that you get acquainted with this term.
This is because the fight or flight response is the source of much of your misery, and a detailed understanding of it can help you to reduce stress. Because with knowledge comes less guess-work, more facts, and less anxiety.
So then, the fight of flight response is essentially your sympathetic nervous system gone wild. When you become scared, nervous, and worried, your brain will trigger a fear response, which, in turn, causes your body to undergo a few changes, like:
- Palpitations
- Cold/Hot flashes
- Dilated pupils
- Urge to urinate
- Diarrhea
- Tunnel vision
- Muscle tension
It’s also important to point out that palpitations are almost always accompanied by anxiety and panic.
Part of what also happens when the fight or flight response is triggered is that the brain signals the body to release stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, in preparation for violent action. But, in your case, there is no action to be taken.
The adrenaline and cortisol however still get injected into your bloodstream, where it acts on the nerves of the heart and causes palpitations. So, in most cases, it’s adrenaline causing all the havoc but, there could also be other causes.
One such cause is electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes are electrically charged ions. They include elements like: sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, sulfate, phosphate, bicarbonate, and magnesium.
These elements are important in maintaining proper voltage levels in the body, and are also critical to muscle function. The heart, as we all know, is a big muscle. If these electrolytes become imbalanced then palpitations can occur.
This is because electricity and contraction are what makes your heart beat and keep a rhythm. If there is a disruption in the electrical impulse, or the contraction of your heart muscle, then you get things like a fast, slow, or weak heart beats.
How to Stop Heart Palpitations
There are several ways to stop palpitations. If you’ve been cleared of heart disease by your doctor the following techniques can be effective.
1. Balancing electrolytes: When it comes to matters of the heart, the four most important electrolytes are potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. If any of these electrolytes become too high or too low then palpitations may result.
A simple blood or urine test will tell your doctor if this is the case. If you have excessive/deficient levels of electrolytes then you can speak with your doctor about how to bring them back into balance.
In general, this would mean taking supplemental vitamins or increasing/decreasing the consumption of certain foods.
List of foods rich in the four major electrolytes include:
Potassium – See full list here.
- Bananas
- Apples
- Milk
- Orange Juice
- Potatoes
- Raisins
- Wheat bread
Calcium – See full list here.
- Dairy Products
- Almonds
- Beans
- Tofu
- humus
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Oatmeal
Sodium – See full list here.
- Meats
- Dairy products
- Frozen foods
- Snack foods
- Canned food
- Spices
Magnesium – See full list here.
- Nuts
- Cooked soybeans
- Peanut butter
- Yogurt
- Milk
2. Diet: Diet is an important part of any anti-palpitation strategy. Here are a few more examples.
Foods that you want to eat more often would include:
- Grapes
- Guava
- Honey
- Fresh fruit and Vegetables
- Whole wheat foods
Foods and activities that you should try to avoid include:
- Foods that contain caffeine like chocolate, soft drinks, etc.
- Sugar
- Alcohol
- Smoking
3. Hydration: Water is a fundamental part of what you are. If you don’t drink enough water then even mild dehydration can create palpitations. You don’t need to go overboard and start walking around with a gallon of water, either. Many of the foods you eat already have water in them, but it’s still a good idea to drink about 5-8 8 oz cups per day.
4. Medication: You may also want to talk to your doctor about medications. Doctors will usually prescribe beta blockers, which block the effects of adrenaline on the body. This would be a good option after experiencing palpitations for a prolonged period of time.
5. Valsalva Maneuver: This technique can be used to stop a fast heart beat. First, pinch your nose and close your mouth. Next, breath out forcibly. The idea is to strain as if you were trying to defecate while holding your breath. This will cause a quick spike in heart rate, followed by a slowing of the heart rate. If you have heart disease, or are advanced in age, please do not try this maneuver.
6. Coughing: Coughing vigorously causes pressure to build in your chest, which “squeezes” your heart back into a normal rhythm. This is not a preventative measure, so do it when you’re actually having a palpitation.
7. Cold Water: Splash cold water on your face. This technique works well for palpitations and panic attacks. The idea behind this is that the cold water shocks your nervous system back to normal. The water should be as cold as possible.
8. Relax: Palpitations can strike at anytime, even while you sleep. As a result, they tend to startle you and make you feel as if you’re going to die at any moment.
This is why it’s important to not rush around in a panic, thereby adding stress to your racing heart. It’s best to have a seat, breath deeply from your stomach, and chill out for a moment.
9. Exercise: Exercise might sound like the opposite of what you want to do when you know that palpitations can occur. But after a good workout your blood pressure and heart rate will generally decrease.
This is why it’s not unusual for highly conditioned athletes – like Lance Armstrong – to have very low resting heart rates. A normal resting heart rate is between 70-80 beats per minute. People that have conditioned bodies, on the other hand, can get their heart rates down in the 50’s or lower.
Let’s not forget that the heart is a muscle, and if it is worked, it will get stronger and more efficient and what it does. So despite the apparent contradiction, exercise is a great way to cope with palpitations absent any heart disease.
Caution: If your palpitations are accompanied by dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain or shortness of breath, then it could be something more serious. The unfortunate reality is that panic attacks and intense anxiety can mimic symptoms of a heart attack.
One of the tell-tale signs of something serious is severity and duration. If you have chest pain or the like continuously for more than a few minutes, and if the pain is severe, you likely have a problem. Always err on the side of caution though and get checked out if you’re just not sure.
If, on the other hand, you’ve already been screened for heart disease and nothing was found, wait. Be patient and wait about ten minutes and the symptoms will usually die down on their own.
I know that heart palpitations can be frightening, but they are usually not dangerous. That’s why I encourage you to see your doctor if you haven’t already. Because once you’re cleared medically, you will have the confidence needed to cope with the fear tied to palpitations.
Understand that heart palpitations are a very normal part of having an anxiety disorder and stress in general. When they happen don’t over think things and start jumping to conclusions. Instead, try some of the techniques outlined above and try the best you can to not shock yourself with fear. I hope this helps.
Hi there Floey.I think the hard heart beating is most likely your blood pressure rising proably due to worrying and being so foccussed on your heart beat. I have that happen so often.I could be wrong Floey but I am worrying that this is turning into anxiety. I can see your concerns escalating the longer these palps continue.Do you think that could be the case.It is impossible not to stress i know so i wont say don’t stress!!! but you may need to go back to some relaxation type exercises to help you. Maybe too you should go back to the doctors and get some reassurance,maybe a halter monitor or what ever is needed to convince you ,you are okay.It may be the best thing you can do to help. Take the next step once you have that reassurance hey.
My BP is actually kinda low. it’s either in the 90s or the low 100s. The hard heart beating feeling is hard to describe. When I lay down I feel like I have trouble breathing correctly in correllation to my heart beat, if that makes sense. And I feel like my whole body is aware of each beat. It’s rather bothersome. I’m going to see if I can try to get some rest tonight
Hi Floey.not sure what that could be sorry. Sounds like you are hyper aware of your body at the moment which make sit so hard.Are you able to get back to the dr? Sounds like you need to Floey just for some reassurance as your feeling new sensations.How have the palps been today? Thinking of you and hope you get a peaceful relaxing sleep.xx
i am 22 and experiencing very similar things.. they are awful! cant take my mind off of it either… do any of you also get like a tingly left hand or both?
How was your night Floey?
Hi JUDE thank you so much for your comments. My night was pretty rough bc when I would lay down my heart would be beating hard and sometimes I could feel skipping. It just also felt hard to catch my breath at times. I eventually fell asleep (who knows how).
I’m not sure if I’m feeling a shortness of breath or what. It’s quite tiring. The palps haven’t been as strong during the day yet today.
We’ll see how they are tonight.
I feel as if I’m not breathing correctly.
Get a bottle of Megafoods Calcium… Mag…..potassium n most of your Palls will go away if u don’t try it u will never know u cant get enough out of foods to work this Viamin is made of fruits n Veggies Organic GO FOR IT ..IT WORKED FOR ME
Hi Chris. I’ve been taking the Mag/Calc Natures Path (I think) for about 3.5 weeks now. I’m not sure if I’m noticing any changes quite yet, as my palps/heart beat continues to fluctuate.
My heart is still feeling like its beating hard. Like I just drank a bunch of caffinee or something and am super hyper up (I’ve been off caffeine for the past 4 wks)
Hi Floey.Has your breathing settled.What you are feeling now is how my anxiety disorder first presented itself.I know I have said it before but you need to go back to your dr and get some reassurance or further tests done if you are not convinced. The longer you prolong it the more anxious you will become about your symptoms. So please go so you can start to recover. Have been thinking of you.It is frustrating not being able to make it better!!
Hi Everyone! I am back from a week in Florida. Took my family to visit my dad for his 50th birthday party. Boy, talk about stressful, but we had fun too. Palps were ok. Got ton of stress getting back to work, and so far am ok for now. But you guys have been with me and I’ve been reading.
I’m glad to hear there were some more people particpating in the discussions, but of course am sad that they have to go through this crap.
Floey- Let me just say that I’ve been there with the heart thing. In fact, to this day, I can sit still and feel my heart beating. In fact, with my heart obsession over the years and taking my pulse about a gagillion times, I’m very efficient at telling the speed of it without even needing a clock to time it. Oh yea, I’ve been right where you are. And if someone told me not to worry, I still would have. But, I’m still going to tell you anyway, don’t worry. However, I agree with Jude and you should go get some assurance from the Dr. Although, easier said then done. Most of the time I don’t believe my Dr. either. What has really helped me is this forum. Hearing that people are going through the same thing and that I’m not the only one, plus they are fighting too. Keep fighting and you WILL get better. I know it’s hard to see that sometimes, again, I’ve been there and thought it never would. There was even several weeks I didn’t go to work, and times when I wouldn’t go on a plane, bus, or anything I wasn’t controlling or could get off. In the past 3 years I’ve flown to California and Florida (from NY) and went on a week long cruise. I just keep educating myself and taking care of myself. And even after all that, I STILL worry about a heart attack! But it’s rare and in perspective. Oh, and I can’t take drugs, they make me anxious!! Hang in there, please.
Jude- What would this forum be without you?!?!?!?! You are heaven sent!!
Sammy- Always love your insight and encouragement.
Stephan- Where you at? How you doing buddy?
Sylvia B- Thanks for the post, always nice to hear that someone has been through it and doing just fine.
Susan- How are you? I know what you mean with the fear of dying. I’ve got better about it, but I still need more help too. Hope all is better for you today.
Josh- Hope your friend is doing better. Glad to hear you are doing better.
Everyone else I missed, thanks for posting, I’m always glad to read how everyone is doing. Hope everyone is having a better day today.
I’ve had all kinds of beats when it comes to the palps. I’ve had soft and faint ones. I’ve had heavy and fast ones. Close together ones. Spread out ones. I’ve been mostly ok for the last week. Yesterday was the first day in about a month where i literally had one palp (which is normal for me when i’m not having a fit), but as soon as i went to lay down, they started. At first it was just one, which was ok, i thought it was my body adjusting to being up and then laying down and getting situated for the nite. Then a few minutes later another one, and then other 2 close another, and some more. They weren’t that bad. Compared to how they’ve been over the last month, they were definitely bearable, but bothersome at the same time. So, i went to sleep, got up today and noticed for the first time since they kind of went away that my palps have been on a medium level on the scale of low to high. Not crazy, but annoying, just because i’m so use to them going away for awhile once i seem to over a fit of them for weeks. There was also nothing new that i ate or was around yesterday that could have caused them to start at nite. I did notice that while i was laying on my side is when they started, but not once while i was on my back, which is odd because typically when i’m on my back is when i have a few palps a nite. So, i don’t know. I will probably take some meds tonite to calm me down a bit, just to make sure i sleep ok. Last nite i just laid there for a very long time before i fell asleep. Good luck everyone.
I still think it’s so strange that out of everything science and doctors can do to fix heart problems that they still can’t manage to find a fix for something that is so common w/the heart. It really baffles me at times.
Hi everyone, I am a long time sufferer of palpitations. When I was a teenager, now 47, I had a racing heart event while playing sports and more or less suffered my entire life. I eventually had an ablation about 1 1/2 yrs ago that stopped the afib problems and runs to the hospitals, but the palpitations still remain. I have found a couple things that help for me, so I want to pass them along to help others here.
Because of the non-stop palpitations, I am very aware of my heartbeat now, and I suspect this has turned into an anxiety. I find the following things help:
Exercise like walking is very helpful. I rarely ever have palpitations when exercising and I feel better afterwords.
Focusing on something that I really enjoy like a project or photography. It is not perfect, but it takes my mind off things.
I do a bunch of light tapping over my heart area for 20 to 30 seconds at a time and it somehow seems to help distract me so I don’t notice the palpitations is my guess.
I take a multi-vitamin, coQ10, magnesium, calcium, etc.
Things I need to probably do better are, drink more water, exercise every day, and do some form of stress reduction like meditate or something.
Long story short, I have been living with this for about 40 years, and the key word is living… I don’t have any fears of death over it or anything, it is just very distracting and very annoying. It gets exhausting and I just get sick of it.
Take care,
Larry
Hi Justin, I’m no doctor but it sounds like anxiety to me…I googled anxiety and tingling hands are one of many symptoms.
Hi Larry gentle greetings to you its been very nice to have on the site you mention you have afib what cause it do you check it and everything is ok now and can lift weight as well can you do some intense workout.
Hi Justin the best thing not to focus to much on them all this lovely sensations you feel are false they feel like stroke heart attack dnt pay attention to them try to relax don’t take no energy drink no protein that has amino acid you young you will be fine go to the gym try the sauna A feeling of impending doom, that something horrible is about to happen, that you are in grave danger
A strong feeling of fear, foreboding
An urge to escape, to get out, to run away from danger
Blanching, turning white, looking pale
Blushing, skin blotches, turning red
Burning skin
Choking sensation, tightening throat, it feels like your throat is closing
Confusion
Depersonalization (feeling detached from reality, separate from one-self, separate from normal emotions)
Derealization (feeling unreal, in a dream-like state)
Dizziness, lightheadedness, unsteadiness
Emotional distress
Emotional upset
Fear of going crazy
Fear of losing control, freaking out
Fearful thoughts that seem incessant
Feels like there is a tight band around your head
Hot or cold chills
Inability to calm yourself down
Knot in the stomach, tight stomach
Nausea
Numbness, tingling sensations in any part of the body
Panicky feeling
Pins and needles feeling
Plugged ear(s), stuffed ear(s)
Pounding heart
Racing heart
Shooting pains in the chest, neck, shoulder, head, or face
Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
Sweating
Tightness in the chest
Trembling, shaking (visibly shaking or just trembling on the inside)
Upset stomach
Urgent desire to go to the bathroom (urinate, defecate)
I am so glad I found this website! I have been struggling with heart palps since July of this year. This has been one heck of a confusing and scary ride. The day I got my first palp, I woke up in a panic and sweating like a savage beast. I had no idea I had anxiety and my dad was on the verge of admiting me into a psyche ward…. I had episodes where I was confused and I felt like something bad was going to happen. And just a year later (this year) I got the biggest heart palp ever. It scared me to death. I though I was going to die. Thankfully my mom was there (shes a nurse) and she just watched me for a second and said “sweetheart I think your having an anxiety attack”. She told me to calm down and breathe and she gave me a cold glass if water. I felt better instantly but she insisted I go to the doctor. When I finally went to my doctos appointment, she confirmed it and asked me if I wanted to take anti-depressant or beta blockers. I wanted no parts of an anti depressant so I chose the beta blockers. Now Im starting to realize that they arent really working for me. I still get heart palps and panic episodes. Should I try an anti depressant? Or will that just make the situation worse? I just really want this to stop. Im a 23 year old female who loves to work and stay active. I dont want this condition to control my life. How am I suppose to live like this?
Justin- I get tingling hands all of the time. Sometimes down my kneck and on the top of my head.
Sammy- wow…. I have so many of these symptoms. Does anyone know what causes this to happen? Has anyone ever been cured of it?
Hi everyone!
Chris thanks for your encouraging post,appreciated so much your encouraging words and advice.Cheers!
Hi Justin, yes anxiety can certainly give you tingling.Have you seen a dr and had tests done etc as this is a vital place to start.Once that is done if dr says it is anxiety read,read,read as much as you can about it.Google, the lirary sites like this are an invaluable sourdce of help and reassurance . If you can see a psychologist an excellent thing to do. There are some great books around re anxiety disorders that will help reassure you. It is a crap crap crap thing to go through but you will get through it no doubt about it.Sadly it doesn’t happen overnight it takes time but you will recover from it.Get support from family,friends and forums like this one.I have recently joined this one and found it so beneficial as people really do understand and I think anxiety is one of those things that unless you have experienced it you cant imagine it.But know you are not alone and it will get better. Just know you are not alone and Hang in there and let us know how you are getting on.
HEY Gary!!!!So great to hear from you, So happy that you had fun at your dads 50th a great thing to do. I know travel isn’t easy with palps but so worth it.well done you!!!!!!!Had to laugh about the heart obsession that is so me. I feel mine constantly!thanks Mr stopwatch!Anyway so glad to hear even though things are a bit stressed you are going so well truly wonderful and heart warming .
Larry i could hug ya!!You hit the nail on the head when you said you have had palps for forty years and are still LIVING!!I am so so sorry that you have had them for so long but I am glad you shared your story as it helps remind me that this is benign.And it is how we get on with our lives that counts.I plan to grow very old and dont want to waste my life living in fear.I want to live it to the fullest.I am worried about a long haul plane flight from aust to the uk in 3 weeks time but i know that I will get on that plane and that some 24hs later I will get off regardless if i have palps the whole time!It may be crap but I will survive!!
Sammy always love reading your posts. How are you traveling my friend?
Hi there Corliss hope you are going well!
Susan how are you doing?Been thinking of you.
Floey have been thinking of you also.How has your day been?
Josh,buggar..hopefully it is just a little hiccup a parting gift from the palps and they will go soon.If you can take meds that is a good idea as lack of sleep wont help.Wish i could take meds but like Gary i get to anxious taking anti anxiety meds,doh me!.I agree it is crazy that modern medicine cant help with these, frustrating.
well i tried a test today.I took myself to the movies and made myself sit there for the whole 2.5 hrs. this for me is a big challenge as i usually dont sit still because the palps drive me insane but i figure if i am going to be contained in a plane for 8hrs then 16hrs i need to practice this big time.Anyway the first 1 hr was a shocker with palps constantly several a minute but the last 1.5 was much more bearable.Anyway i did it and lived,wasnt fun but hopefully reassuring my subconcious!! Any encouraging plane flight stories greatly appreciated !!
Warm wishes to everyone.
Jude I’m hanging there and sweet gratitude to you my friend for value my word thx again
Thanks to you guys for making me feel special on here I always have a truly smile on my face after I read your replies I’m almost there I’m doing great now no palp
I agree w/you Sammy, i enjoy coming here daily and reading everyone’s stories. It does make things feel better.
Jude, i hope you are right and these are just a leftover type fit i’m having.
Rea, i’ve been on beta blockers for about 3 years now or so and i really don’t think they help w/the palps. I suppose somehow they could help a bit, but for me they really don’t seem to do anything. I also don’t have anxiety issues, so i can’t really comment about the meds for that :/
thanks for all the advice guys
mmm noticed my last two posts haven’t turned up, might wait till tomorrow before rewriting them.I am confused??
I am not sure if they will turn up so will wait till the morning and if they don’t i will repost as they were rather long winded as usual for me!
Sammy thanks so much for all your help and support. YOU ROCK and i am so glad you are feeling better and winning this!That is awesome news!
Rea i wrote a huge long reply to you but i think it is lost in cyberspace somewhere. I will try again tomorrow. But in short yes you will get better and continue to live a wonderfully fulfilling,peaceful and happy life.Speak to you tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for your kind words. I will also note that I have confirmed some triggers for my palpitations. One big one is protein drinks that have amino acids in them. Another is chocolate. I have been caffeine free, except for my occasional chocolate treats, for as long as I can remember. If I eat too much chocolate, the palpitations get ramped up. Sammy mentioned this and it is true in my case. Before I had my ablation, I had three afib episodes that were triggered by this and landed me in the hospital. The doctor said I had an electrical event that was causing a short in my heart that caused the afib. The ablation fixed that and no episodes since. Since the ablation, no more afib, just these silly palpitations around the clock! And, or course, no doctor has any real answers to palpitations. Some will try to put you on beta blockers or other medications, but the side effects are typically worse than the palpitations! I wanted to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I typically stay off all technology during the holiday break and do things I enjoy. I was wondering if anyone here has had any luck with aloe gel? I am told it has helped some people, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Larry
Hello again,
I’ve been quiet for awhile but everythings been going well.
Justin – my first experience ( if you go back real far in the comments you will find it) included over an hour of crazy heart palps I had never felt before. I drove myself to the doctor and while enroute both of my hands went numb – I was convinced I was dying of a heart attack or stroke but I’m still alive today!
Rea – my pals to started out of the blue August 7th of this year – it’s been a crazy ride since.
I’ve never been a fan of meds at all – in fact I never touched anything my entire life until this stuff happened. My doc prescribed me Xanax – my wife convinced me to fill it, but I refused to take it because I never felt anxious, just had these crazy heart rhythms. Well – After a 9 hour episode of constant palps and speaking with my cardiologist over the phone, he convinced me to try the Xanax…. my episode stopped within 20 minutes. 2 days later, another ride of constant palps, took the pill again, everything went away.
I was only taking .25 mg of the Xanax which is an extremely low dose. I have had no side effects from this at all. I will add that I have not had a pill of the Xanax in a good month now. I’ve been using the natural calm magnesium supplement every night!
My palps are still there occasionally. On a bad day I still feel 20-50 probably. But I’ve had days where I’ve only felt one or two… perhaps none at all. I have no triggers that I can find. In fact, I don’t even think caffeine is one of mine. My brother got married recently and I decided in celebration I would have a can of Mountain Dew. I drank it and had no issues that day. I decided I would try a caffeine experiment. I started to have a can of mountain dew every third morning. The days I had the dew I felt no different, had no increased palps, etc. Which is good, cause I always loved a good soda and at least I know I can enjoy them occasionally.
Gary – I’ve been great my friend. Glad you had a good trip. Since we last spoke I’ve been at the gym still about 3 times a week. I did my best run ever last week (8.56 miles in one hour). It was awesome. I’m still playing racquetball and loving life.
You all take care – keep the posts and updates flowing in.
God Bless!
Hello everyone, I also had a couple of long messages that have not showed up, so this is a test to see if this one goes through. I think I will wait until later or tomorrow to post, maybe the problem will be cleared up by then. I do hope that everyone is having a nice day! I did get the book yesterday Jude, and it looks great!! And thanks for the nice mention Gary!
Hugs to all
Sylvia
Thanks so much for responding everyone!
Josh- Yeah I dont think they are super effective. But I have noticed that they are not as frequent I guess…
Jude- ok Jude. Thanks so much for the incouragement! Im really looking forward to reading your other comment 🙂
Stephan- Im the same way! I have never been on any meds my entire life, then BOOM! All of a sudden this happens… 🙁 I havent the faintest clue what started my heart palps. Maybe its a 20 somethings thing? Stress and life I guess?
Sylvia B- Looking forward to reading your comments as well.
Rea- I’m 33 now – this was all a BOOM for me too! I was totally against meds but it was the one thing I know helped me through the worst episodes.
Hi everyone,your comments give me a hope in life,i read all your comment now its 03:36 am
Cant beleivd how much peaple suffering from this,cant deal with it sometimes beacause im alone but when i here from yoh guys it like a releif thanks for you all im glad to be in this site
Gary thank you sooo much for asking about me doing bit better today went to the gym but of caurse with a slow training thanks again
Jude man your pain killer thank you soooo much for been thinking about me i realy appriciate that coz my family members never ask how im going, im.sooo glad to here from you but i wish if i can get you email thanks again my dear
Hope everone in this site gets
By thd way guyz im going to see a cardiologist on monday 26 just to get last advice so maybe can give some releif and to stop thinking about my heart
Thanks for you all get back to yous soon
Stephen- Yes, it came out of nowhere. It really changes your life. Have you been trying different methods to calm yourself down? I try listening to soothing music. It really helps me.
Rea – I’m not a sit around and be still kinda guy. I like to being active and out doing things. Exercising has been a great stress reliever for me. We hike, camp, go to the park, gym, run, swim, whatever. For a month in a half after my first episode I was terrified of doing anything. I was convinced I was dying and wouldn’t even exert myself for fear of going into afib or some crazy heart rhythm, collapsing, and dying. It’s been quite the journey. I don’t know how far back you’ve read but I am a police officer and deal with high stress situations all the time. whether it’s driving to a hot call, chasing or fighting with a bad guy, this experience was terrifying. I missed many days at work because of it all to be told it’s anxiety related. I still struggle with it, even today I have this sensation in my chest that I can’t really explain. Thankfully I am off today and I’m playing with the kids, doing some cleaning, etc. Perhaps I’ll sit down and play some video games for awhile, that is usually how I chill out and relax (nap time is soon). Again – the only real relief I felt is when I took the .25mg Xanax. It took away all the symptoms and I felt great. Never groggy or spaced out, I could simply feel my body calm down.
hey guys, i believe my problem is lead by anxiety, ive had a lot go on in the past year and trauma etc…
i think the worst thoughts possible, and get some nasty symptons but as said above by susan seeing all ur comments makes me feel that much better for knowing i am far from alone!
trying to stay calm however seems almost impossible at times… any advice?
Im 22 by the way, dont no if i already mentioned that,
thanks again
also does anyone else ever experience any dizziness? i feel frequently dizzy or spaced out.. maybe not quite with it? cant really explain but certainly not myself?
Hi Rea . I am so sorry you are going thru this we all known what a frightening and crappy time this is for you. It is fantastic that you have a supportive and understanding family to help you thru this.You will recover. It wont happen overnight ,it takes time but it will happen.
Firstly the basics you probably already know but exercise, first thing in the morning is good to burn off that excess adrenalin we produce.No stimulants, caffeine,alcohol etc.Some of us find taking magnesium/calcium /vitamin c etc…..supplements helpful too.You can read some of the older posts to get more details.
Read read and read some more. There is so much informative and fantastic stuff out there.Google and research and visit the library and find out as much as you can about anxiety, Knowledge reduces the fear and empowers you for recovery.Check out forums and sites like this and gain reassurance from others positive stories and experiences.
I was always terrified of taking meds but When i was diagnosed with a panic and anxiety disorder nine years ago i did take antidepressants. i tried drug free for a year as I was so determined not to take them but wasn’t making much progress,I hit rock bottom.So i tried one a benzo and that was a disaster I ended up with depression so got of that one quickly!!A new dr and a newer med an SSRI.
A friend had warned me to write off the first six weeks as i may experience side effects but to hang in there. I did and I started so slowly, a quarter of a tablet initially and then gradually increased. My most troublesome side effect was tiredness and a few other odd physical feelings but they passed.i was on a very low dose but it made a huge difference.It took around to 6 weeks to kick in. it was a lifeline!It took me to a place where i could think and be rational again. I could look back and see how inappropriately fearful i had been and a cold could just be a cold,not pneumonia and a headache not as brain tumor etc…..(Yes i thought i was going crazy!!)I did see a therapist as well then as i was stable enough to work on some issues that needed resolving.It was a beneficial thing to do.They did however make me tired and less reactive which felt weird but probably a good thing after a year of being on edge!So for me personally they were a lifeline and set me on the road to recovery.
They were always going to be a short term thing for me as i wanted to be drug free. So after a year i slowly weaned myself off them over a couple of months with minimal side effects.And have remained off them since for the last 7 years and have no plan to go back on them even despite my current relapse as i know enough know to recover without them this time.
Also don’t let it stop you from doing things. Avoidance behaviour doesnt help at all.Keep doing the things you normally do, it does help.
Due to some sad and some big news this year I am currently having a relapse but prior had been 7 years basically almost symptom free.So yes you do recover from this and lead wonderful lives.It takes work and time but you can do it!!!!Please know we are all here for you and want to help in anyway we can.Let us know how you are getting on.x
Stephan- No I didnt read back that far. You really are active… Im active but not as active as you. You have a really streneous job but I know thats got to be something you truly enjoy. So you play video games to stay calm. I use to play PS2 and PS3 alot but work doesnt really give me enough time. I need to make some time for fun lol I also get the chest sensations. Its like a small vibration right in the center or the side of my chest. I dont know what it is…
Justin- Yes I got so many dizzy spells in the beginning. I literally had to sit down on occasion. My palpitations are also lead by anxiety.
Jude- Thanks so much! I have been researching this alot and it has helped alot. Thats how I found this site 🙂 So glad I did! Having heart palps and anxiety is hard to deal with alone. Im so glad im not the only one. I hope you get your palps under control and so do I.
Hey Justin i am sorry you have had a traumatic year. Yes dizziness and the spaced out sensation is a common one for sure.Very unsettling I know but not harmful.Some people even feel some sort of detachment from themselves and their surroundings as well. Is that a bit of what you mean?Do you exercise as you can read from Stephan’s post it is a great help. It uses up that excess adrenalin and helps with calmness,even a 30minute walk is helpful.Distraction another big one for me. I find sitting difficult like right now my palps are frequent so I move around a lot and that helps,tiring but helpful!As you know you have anxiety this will help your healing for sure as it ids often so hard to convince ourselves that it can produce all of those sensations Sammy listed.
Hi there Stephan,so glad you are travelling so well,way to go.
Hi Sylvia,where did our posts go?!Enjoy the book, would you believe i still haven’t had a chance to read it yet grr…..!!!Thanks gain for the inspiration. When i feel flat I remember your success and it gives me hope.So thankyou.
Floey how are you going?
Josh hope last night was better for you?
Susan thanks for your kind words,hang in there hey.What were you doing up at 3.30am,ittle ones Or could you not sleep?
Anyway i will be offline for the next few days.Will be thinking of you all and wishing you a happy,peaceful and palp free days!xx
Hey jude lol thats my time i:-) everydsy awak for my hobys work ;(. And i was reading all the comments by the way we going to miss ya!!!”dont be to long ha
We wishing you all the best
Jude, I read your post to rea about you have taken meds and been off of them, did you have any side effects getting off the meds if so how long did they last, im 3 months off and i have Panic disorder and gad, I have been feeling really spacey and out of it and feel almost in a derealization, do you think 3 months out i could still be having “discontinuation symptoms”? Just curious cause I dont want to give in and take another med if these symptoms could just be from discontinuation.. I did have the wuiiting flu kick in 3 days after stopping the meds, I was on them for a year, celexa..
oops i meant quitting* flu, and I do feel so out of it its hard to tell if im tired or what but my brain feels like it would go in siezure mode or like im not as alert as i should be.. hard to describe like thoughts just stop and wierd head sensations sometimes even issues with speech for short periods of time.. I was making immense progress while getting off meds with help from therapist and psychiatrist but after my last little bit (i was on 10mg cause im sensitive to the stuff) 1/4 pill to zero is when the worse symptoms kicked up. So im not sure if this is a set back brought on by quitting or what, im not as bad as i was before meds but im not as good as i was getting off of them before my last drop (if that makes sense lol), with my experience with celexa i started going down hill fast in my 9th-10th month on the drug, rage, irritability, inability to cry, and emotional agony and intense attacks took over which is what drove me to get off of them, I cant even explain in words how well i improved getting off of them, i was almost back to “normal”….
hey jude, yes i guess u could say i feel detatched every now and then but mainly just frequent dizziness and not quite with it..I would love to exercise but a car accident last year and further ops ive had are preventing me from doing this… ok i can walk around and i do go to work as of today etc, but to run or anything like that is just a big no no..
Its just soo hard to believe that anxiety can cause soo many strange feelings and make u think some horrible thoughts… this is why i didnt think i had anxiety and didnt want to believe i had it!
I guess it is what it is?
Hope you are feeling a little better though??
its so nice to see people here helping one another….thankyou
Thanks rea also
Susan wow you are an early bird!!Your hubby is so lucky to have you getting up that early for him!Well done on getting to the gym,that is fantastic well done you,very proud of you.It is a big fear for a lot of us and you did it,way to go!Thanks again for your really kind thoughts xx
Hi Ally.I am so sorry you are going thru what you are. I am so so relieved you have the help of a therapist and psychiatrist .I can appreiate why you wanted to get of those meds, those side effects must have been debilitating and frightening and god i can only imagine.I was on a different medication Fluvoxamine. I didn’t have too many problems discontinuing,some derealisation but very minor.And of course some anxiety as i was worried about withdrawl and the uncertainty.I did feel a bit unreactive on them but nothing too major.
Ally I really do not know enough about discontinuation syndrome as fortunately I was lucky enough not to experience it so I cant help you with that. I wish i could and i wish I could make it better for you.Sammy may be able to offer some help as she had huge withdrawal issues from benzos and is now recovering.
Ally it must be hard as i guess you are wondering if these symptoms are anxiety related and if you need to go back on meds or if they are from withdrawl?I can definitely see your problem and not wanting to rush back to meds after your negative experience.I think it took a couple of months for me to feel normalish i think but it was a long time ago I wish now I had kept a journal of these things.
Sorry i havent been much help but thinking of you and know it will get better. Hang in there hey.Always here to listen too if needed!
Hi Justin and thanks for you thought much appreciated.It really helps me a lot.I am so sorry about your car accident and your subsequent ops.Sounds like you have been thru a really tough time.Sometimes the emotional is harder to heal than the physical.You have done so well to get through it all and you will keep doing it and you WIll get there.Give yourself time to heal and be reassured you are not alone.
Yes it is crazy the symptoms and thoughts it can produce and hard to accept.I did a managing anxiety course and there was the sweetest lady there who had these thoughts of harming others. Scared the hell out of her. She would be worried she would do something awful to someone.So yes horrible thoughts are part of it all.Cruel i know.Also I had thoughts were I was worried I would kill myself, run my car into a tree.I didn’t want to but i was worried i would. of course i didnt want to i was terrified of dying which is what my anxiety disorder was about so the thought i would harm myself crazy!
I probably drive you all crazy as I waffle on so much but it is because i am so so passionate about letting you first timers know it does get better. 9 years ago i hit rock bottom,a really dark scary place and I never thought i would laugh,enjoy life and live it to it fullest ever again. I was terrified for me and my beautiful family,my loving partner and our amazing children.I wish i had someone to tell me it was going to be okay. But anyway look at me now!Yes i am having a relapse due to big stuff happening and sad stuff earlier in the year but in the last 7 years I have had a ball. The sun shining and my life truly wonderful.This is just a minor hiccup that will pass,In the past 7 years post recovery I have been living a very happy,content and wonderful life enjoying it all (ups and downs as anyone experiences of course in this journey of life!) and will continue to do so.We go remote camping hundreds of kms away from towns even that doesn’t give me anxiety.The tranquility is breath taking.I was scared i wouldn’t be able to do this anymore because of my disorder but I do and it is brilliant.I challenge my fears constantly and it is empowering.
Sure I think once you have an anxiety disorder and panic attacks it always lingers like a bad smell in the background but never poses the fear and control it does the first time.You will never go back to that hell again!!In a way though what i went thru has made me embrace life more fully and enjoy each of its blessings and definatley not sweat the small stuff!.I have learnt a lot on this journey.Now 9 years later i am heading to a new country for a year,wow who would have thought,certainly not me back then.I knew it would cause a hiccup silly not to but it will be so worth it!
Anyway enough of my rambling. Catch you all next week.Thankyou for all your support. You guys are the best!
Just leaving my story…I have been having elevated BP,Strong palpitations,and many other symptoms since the other day. I’m recovering from many tonic-clonic seizures brought on by the wrong meds. I’m hoping that it passes after the Keppra gets out of my system. I was taking it for 18 days,so i expect this to take a bit. That stuff made me crazy. They say(Kepp-rage).I would say that’s accurate. I terrorized my home,& didn’t even know it. As i type this,my heart is going nuts 1234(palp)123(palp)12(palp)1(palp)(palp)……..RESTART. My idiot dr. knew i did more than partail seizures,& still put me on something for ONLY that. WTF!
Thanks for asking Jude 🙂 Last nite was a bit better. Still had more palps than a normal nite, but i rested well. I’ve had some today as well, a little bothersome for just a few minutes and some minor annoyance for the day overall. Hopefully everyone has a good Thanksgiving!
I was in therapy but car broke down so i didnt get to go back, but I had gotten so well in process of getting off meds therapist said at my last appointment that he had no reason to see me anymore and actually asked if I wanted to even come back for one more visit or not, it was up to me he didnt feel it necessary because i was “normal” at the time = )… Thats a positive, I know I have made it through this mess before and I can do it again.. I am a stay at home mom and i believe i have way too much time on my hands to think about symptoms etc. and yes It is hard not knowing if its withdrawal or my exsisting anxiety creating new symptoms.. Either way it will pass, Thankyou Jude for writing back to me so fast I really appreciate it! Oh and I know what you guys mean about the harm thoughts.. so scary its almost like you feel drawn to doing something horrible hurting yourself or others, but you are terrified at the same time cause you dont want to feel/think that way.. it is a frustrating process, I have gotten better before and I know you all can as well, Time and acceptance really is the key but now that im back in the mess I realize once again its easier said then done lol! I hope you all have a good thanksgiving! Sorry im ranting lol
hey ally
Yes the thoughts are awful and also very frustrating!
i have been to work today and got on really quite well all day and it come to leaving to go home and i came over all funny.. felt like i couldnt breathe properly, felt asif i was in a box and the air was sucked from that box?
Also felt like it was al a dream yet it was soo real! All this is reasonably new to me so any advice or if u have had these experiences urself and would like to share that would be great and much appreciated! 🙂
Its beginning to make me feel/think i really have mental issues and its kind of scaring me… i do hope im not the only one that has experienced these weird feelings?
I also hope everyone above is ok and getting on well 🙂
Hi everyone. I am thinking about you all and I continute to read. Just haven’t been posting as much as we’ve been working over time.
Since last Saturday my heart has started to beat hard again (not faster, just harder). It doesn’t skip/palp as strongly as it did before. So it seems like it’s either one or the other.
This whole thing started at the end of October for me, and it started with my heart beating hard. I wonder why it has changed again. I have been taking magnesium for the past 4wks and I wonder if that’s what stopped the palps from being so frequent — however, I’m not sure how to help with the hard heart beating issue.
It’s pretty scary. At night I’m not able to relax or sleep on my side (as I havent been the whole time) — because of the sensation of my heart beating so hard.
Also, it feels like I have a hard time breathing when I’m sitting still or laying down. If I’m moving around it is okay though. My body just feels super hyper active all the time like it can’t calm down even when I’m relaxed or have just had a nice hot shower, some tea, and am ready for bed.
My stats are : 26/f/ 5’2 / 90 lbs. The Dr. said I could use to gain about 10lbs, but he’s not sure if that has anythign to do with my heart beating so hard — as I’ve always been on the slim side.
Sorry to hear that Floey. These things are extremely tough and stressful. I had a few good days, and then they started back again for me. Not like an all day event like they were, more toward the evening they start. It’s just been odd because usually for me when they stop doing it all day long they tend to go away for awhile. That one day i had no palps was the most awesome day in the last couple of months for me. I just wish everyday could be like that for all us. Just doesn’t seem fair sometimes, but then again, nothing about life is fair :/ We gotta deal with it somehow. I also have been on the magnesium/potassium/vitamin c/calcium/d3 for a little over a month now. Still not sure if it’s helping, but will continue to take them for a good while longer. Do you have any problems w/heartburn or digestion issues?
Justin what are your thoughts and feeling are I do have some pretty lovely thoughts as well what are your heart and chest symptom
Hi Josh. How was your thanksgiving? Well, I hope.
Mine was rough. Instead of feeling palps, now I’m just feeling a hard, overly strong heartbeat, as I mentioned earlier. My heart just feels extremely delicate and cold and I can always feel it beating, even against my arm when I’m just sitting down. It’s almost impossible for me to sit without moving my arms or legs because the sensation alone is too much for me.
I don’t have heartburn — and I dont think I have digestive issues, no.
Ally have experien any numbness thightness in th e chest area or arm or chest or they feel like stroke or have pain in the right side of your brain.
Ally I’m 4 months off I’m still having chest pain heart sensation numbness
And all
Stephan you are having the same problem I have it’s from the benzo that’s what had happen to me I used to take Xanax make my symptom lot worst and everyti I took it I felt better some time I used to convince my self I’m ganna die to because of the chest and heart sensation