Anxiety Guru

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How to Stop Heart Palpitations

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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.

 

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Comments

  1. You guys are so wonderful! Thank you so much for your responses! I felt at peace last night but today I woke up nervous again with some tightness across my chest (which I’ve had before and was fine). I actually had a thought last night…that the doctor tells me after all of this that I’m just fine! What a relief that vision was! I’m going to try and focus on that instead of picturing the worse case scenario. I’m going to try but it’s so hard thinking that all of this is just anxiety but I know anxiety can do crazy things to our bodies! Anyway, thanks again and God bless all of us!

  2. Hi Susan,So sorry you are having such a rough day. No wonder you are having the palps worse at the moment. Moving house is incredibly stressful.It would be enough to send anyone palps silly. Indigestion definitely makes my palps worse no doubt about it.But as you are having a stressful time at the moment just do your best to get thru till things settle for you. Just keep reminding yourself that they will pass once things settle and that they will not harm you,. You have had all the tests done that show your heart is strong and healthy.I know how hard that is to beleive and so so much easier said than done but believe me it will get better.Hang in there.This will pass.Is there something you normally do when your anxiety levels are high, something that distracts you or calms you?For me it is exercise but i understand if you are feeling them worse when exercising that doesnt help.Please let us know how you are getting on, thinking of you.

    Susan my anxiety is always worse in the morning so first thing I do is exercise. It makes the world of difference to mu day,uses up that excess adrenalin!Sometimes my symptoms are worse straight after but passes very quickly.I too have been amazed by the symptoms anxiety can produce. What really annoys me is when i get the symptoms but I don’t consciously feel anxious!!!Frustrating!!!

    My palps have been persistent today but so has my indigestion,thinking wheat may be a issue for me so going to try reducing my intake and see how it goes. Ah the joys of an anxiety disorder!!!

  3. Hi jude thank yoy so much for your reply,i know anxiety can cause a lot but beacause im moving and kids school holiday its stress me out lol but im going to get better like what you say it will pass once,im greatfull to have you in this site hope u enjoying your time in england and woshing you a happy holiday and cone back to australia safely 🙂

  4. Thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful words Susan. I really do understand what you are going thru and we are all lucky that we can share on here with others that understand. I just wish there was a way i could make it better for you.It is just a crappy thing to have and you are so strong for getting through what you do, remember that.Sounds like a really stressful time at your house so be kind to yourself. Take care and I am always here whenever you need to share especially on a bad day.x

  5. I was wondering if any of you have had a treadmill stress test. I’m having one on Thursday and I’m worried about it. Mainly because I haven’t done any exercise in the last few months so I’m out of shape and I’m already worried about my heart so this is going to make it worse. I’m afraid I won’t be able to do well because even sitting still I’m anxious and have a pounding heart so imagine how it will be being nervous and on the treadmill!

  6. I have had a treadmill test before, and please don’t worry about it…they don’t make you run, and it was very easy….try not to worry or stress about it…I did the same thing and I was pleasantly surprised how things went. I have a friend who had one last week and she told me the same thing…IT WAS EASY! I hope this eases your mind 🙂

  7. Thanks Jude, I love how you see the positives, and that’s how I’m feeling right now…it was a wake up call and I’m so looking forward to a healthy, happy new year…take care all…let’s start attracting positive good thoughts and taking charge of our lives…I wish you all a healthy and Happy 2013!!!

  8. Corliss i just woke up and have just read your message and want to say a huge THANKK YOU. What a positive and inspiring way to start my day.Yes lets make 2013 a fantastic,happy, healthy,positive and amazing year for all of us!!!!!!!!xx

  9. Hi Amy please don’t worry about the stress test. As Corliss said they are easier than they sound. You have to remind yourself that they have people on them all the time that have diagnosed heart issues such as heart disease,angina etc so they closely monitor everyone.You will be fine and in safe hands.Of course you will be anxious everyone having a test of some kind is but you will be just fine and let them know you are feeling anxious and they will reassure you and look after you.look it as a step closer to the reassurance you need that nothing is wrong with your heart,It is a great thing to have it done,All will be good!!!:)

  10. Hi jude thank you so much for your kind words
    Amy dont stress about the stress test im going to do heart eco on the 8 of jan im stress about it too wish all a merry christmas.

  11. Hi does anyone know why when we rest we be a plapls free and when we get up and srart moving arround we get it its bothering meeeee

  12. I keep going back and forth with my heart fears. Does anyone else constantly feel their heart beating? I’m not talking about the pounding kind of heart beat but just constantly being aware of it. I’m not sure how to explain it but it’s really freaking me out! I’m afraid I have some valve issue which is why I wish the doc would go ahead and do the echo instead of waiting for me to wear this monitor and have the stress test. Anyway, can anyone relate and reassure me about being aware of their heart beat? I have this fear that it’s not beating correctly even though the monitor I’m wearing would show that. I just want to quit worrying so I can half way enjoy Christmas! I hope everyone else can do the same!

  13. Hi everyone

    Five I have only just found your comment,sorry I didn’t respond earlier. Just wanted to say how well you put it into words.Our peace of mind is certainly so fragile and what we would give to get it back again.You sound like me not sure what came first the palps or the anxiety,the chicken egg theory!Sounds like you are accepting and doing all the right things to help you recover from this.Thanks for sharing what you are doing to heal.I found out about mg from this site and it helped me a lot.I can definately relate to the pounding heart kicks when trying to go to sleep and the adrenalin rush. In the height of my anxiety disorder many years ago I would wake up with an adrenalin rush.I find exercise first thing in the morning really helps this and i jog first thing to use up that adrenalin!I notice a big difference in my anxiety if I skip it too often!wishing you all the best in your recovery. Please keep in touch .

    Amy when my anxiety is high I feel my heartbeat all the time. I know Gary does as well I remember from a previous post and i am sure others at some time. We are so hyper aware of all of our body but especially our heartbeat.I don’t need to feel my pulse to count it I can just count my heartbeat as I feel it in my chest!!!!we are way to in tune with our bodies for our own good!So please be reassured and try and have a wonderful Christmas. I know how hard it is as it is all consuming.Thinking of you.

    Gary has your very special chrissy present arrived yet?

    Wishing everyone a beautiful ,peaceful,wonderful Christmas full of all of your favorite things. Thanks for all your support over the last few months, I am eternally grateful.xxxx

  14. Hello Amy

    Last thing any of us want to see is you fretting today or tomorrow. You need to relax and find some way to obtain some level of peace and calm. I’ve been there before. Checking my pulse almost every 30 seconds. I’ve played the drums for years and keep a killer rhythm so anytime my heart rate would be off my internal metronome I would worry even more. The heart is a muscle and naturally speeds up and slows down.

    I would lay in bed at night and just quietly listen to each heart beat wondering which one was going to be the last.

    It took me almost three months to feel normal again. If you read the older posts I found my help with Xanax. I never took prescription medication prior to that. I took an extremely small dose and found it to be the most helpful thing for me.

    The drugs do work but the last thing anyone wants is some form of dependency. So talk to your doctor. If you are freaking out as bad as I was, which it sounds like you are, perhaps a few weeks on a pill could help. I took it for maybe a month in a half. Since I quit them at the end of October I’ve only had to take it twice, one of those times was about 5 days ago. I was laying in bed, I felt a couple of PVCs, started worrying real bad, so I felt more, tried relaxing, tried getting up and walking around, nothing was calming me down. I took the pill, found a friend that was on Facebook, chatted with him for about 20 minutes and before I knew it I was calm again, and fell asleep quickly.

    Keep your head up high. This is anxiety related. You are focusing on it and freaking yourself out. I too had all the tests and everything was normal. Do everything you can to live a normal lifestyle.

    God Bless

  15. Jude and Stephen, thank you so much for responding! I do have Ativan to take as needed and I’m going to take one in a few minutes; I just don’t want to take them constantly. I can’t wait for these tests to be over so I can get on with my life! Again, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your responses! Have a wonderful day!

  16. Hi everyone. I just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas.

    JUDE – I hope you are enjoying time with your family 🙂
    JOSH- hope all is well!
    AMY – Hang in there you will be fine.

    I am still having heart palps throughout the day. They are a little quieter and less strong than they once were though. I am taking an ultrasound on Jan 4th to make sure the structure of my heart is okay.

    Stay strong everyone!

  17. Hi Everyone! Sorry I’m not posting much lately, with Christmas and 2nd child due in a week, been a bit crazy, but I’m still reading the posts.

    Amy- Like Jude says, we can stop at anytime and feel our heart. I think think after all we have gone through, you become more aware. Try not to worry, I think it’s normal. Not sure if you’ve gone back to the beginning of this blog, but there is some good info on all of us there. Glad to have you in the group. I know it’s helped me a TON and I know it will help you!!

    Stephan- Good to hear from you, hope all is well. So you too are a drummer! Wow, we are alike. Although I don’t play much anymore, I still do some studio stuff and play out a few times a year. Got some old stuff still online (2008 and earlier) at https://www.myspace.com/simplelifeband if you want to check out the band.

    Jude- no baby yet! He (cross your fingers) will be here in less than a week…C-section scheduled for 12/31.

    Floey- FYI, I have PVC’s too. Those and episodes of SVT.

    Josh, Susan, Corliss, Sammy and others, I hope you all are doing well!

    Merry Christmas everyone! I’ll try my best to stay in touch over the next week, but I’m always reading your posts.

  18. Hi gary hope you doing well
    Weel my palps wont stop drive me crazy this day i can feel it every second specialy when im moving arround agh its cray
    You have a nice christmas
    Palps free to all

  19. Merry Christmas to everyone! Like Jude said i’m thankful for all the recent posts over the last few months. Very glad that i stumbled across this page. I’ve been to many pages over the years and never have felt so close to the group of regulars here than any other sites or message boards i’ve visited. I truly feel this page has taught me so many things that i would never have known about all things involving the heart. I may not always personally address every individual that comes here, but i sympathize with all of you and read your stories..Sometimes i can help and sometimes i can’t relate at all 🙁 But i hope everyone can find some relief in this new year ahead and figure their problems out 🙂

  20. happy Christamas to you all!

    Josh Here here i feel the same way about this site and you.Thanks for being there.

    Gary your music is awesome. Have been listening to it this morning.I guess life has taken you on a different journey with your beautiful family but do you still play?

    Floey I am so happy that scan is soon.It will be so good for you to have the all clear.Sorry the palps are still there but glad they are easing a bit.Hope you are doing something fun for christmas.

    Susan what are they doing it Christmas tell those palps to buggar off!!Seriously though i am sorry they are giving you such grief at the moment. Sounds like you have a lot of stress in your life at the moment and it will be hard while that is happening.Need some time to start healing my friend.Have you seen a psychologist or someone re your anxiety.I think if you can help your anxiety relief from the palps should follow. Big hugs .

    Stephan so good to hear from you. You give such reassuring and practical advice and so glad you share with us.Sounds like you are doing so great.I am so so happy for you.Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.

    Happy Christmas to to Sammy and Corliss,Five and everyone else. Hope you are having a wonderful one full of all your favorite things and that the big red guy was good to you!

    We are heading into London for a few days but will check in when we get back.

  22. Hi Susan i am really sorry but my email gives away my full name and i really enjoy the anonymity that this site offers.You can just be yourself. If you want to post yours i am happy to reply.Hope you understand.We are heading away for a few days now so might not be able to reply till we get back.Take care and hope those palps settle.

  23. Yeh i understand,not a problem,my one shpwing the same lol but dont worry we keep talking on this site 🙂

  24. I just wanted you all to know that I was able to arrange to have my stress test and echo today! The doctor said the stress test results looked good and I would hear from the echo in a day or two. I want to thank you all again for your support; I feel like I have made new friends! 🙂 I will let you know when I get the results of the echo. Meanwhile, I hope you are all doing good today.

  25. Hiii amylt good to hear that im having an eco on the 8 of jan is it easy test and you can see eveything and just wondering what was your symptoms im having my palps regulary at the moment while im moving or doing a house work its bothering me fo u have the same

  26. Susan, for the echo, all you have to do is lay on the table. It’s like an ultrasound they do on pregnant women. It shows the structure of the heart and how the blood flows through it. It’s a good way to see the valves so to me it’s a very important test. I was having skipped beats and sometimes a pounding heart. It’s hard to believe what stress and anxiety can do to your body! I needed these tests for reassurance that there was nothing wrong with my heart. Once you have the echo, you’ll have that reassurance too.

  27. Hi thats sounds good but did you had the palps while you doing the stress test ?
    And did the doctor said

  30. Hi sammy hope u ok
    Im not doung well recently ciz of my ectopic beats /palpitation its bothering me recently its come even while im eating too and after eating and when um moving aghrrrrr cant deal with it always when i had about four or five palps together im thinking there is something wring with my heart and get stressed about it thats its goung maybe

  31. Hi Susan nothing wrong with your heart you are ok its just overacting nerve relax the more you stress about it the worst you get.

  32. Hello everyone, it has been 4 days without palps and my chest tightness has finally went with them. Its been a long road of trial and errors but I think I found what my body needs to heal. First, i started with exercise, I do light walking twice a day, it seemed to lessen my palps and stress but not all the way. They were still nagging me all day and night long, so I removed all processed foods and was eating a strict diet of grilled chicken breast and apples. I found if i ate large meal thing got exceedingly worst, so have one apple slice every hour and have light main meals. It took a week or so of this, body adjusting and cleansing, when I started noticing a difference. With my palps lightened but not gone, i started looking for electrolyte imbalances. I take emergen-C in the morn with 200 MG of magnesium with a small glass of organic grape juice and another 200 MG with grape juice when i get home from work. I also started taking the recipe from the above article; apple cider vinegar, honey, and lemon juice twice a day. I truly feel back to normal for the first time after months of dread. I hope this helps someone on their own journey and thank you all for the supportive words on this forum.

  33. Susan, I did not have palps during the stress test which I think is a good thing. I’m sorry you are having such a rought time. I can’t remember, did you have a test done or do you have one scheduled? Floey, isn’t waiting the worse! Can’t wait to hear the results. I have a feeling that both of ours will be fine! I’m still waiting for the doc to call with my echo results. Even though my stress test was fine, I’m still nervous today. 🙁 Maybe I will feel better after I get the echo results but obviously I have an anxiety problem. I shouldn’t be as worried about my heart as I still am. I’m going to search for a new therapist after the 1st of the year.

  34. Hi amy thats good but my one i can feel it every minute when i eat when i move my god never stop my sister told its hormone but my hormone in good range i dont kniw what causing it its bothering me 🙁

  35. hello everyone i have a question i have also had heart palpitations for about 2 years… i have had an ekg, stress test,blood work and echocardiogram tests done.. i have never had the holt monitor done. should i consider doing that test also??

  36. Hi jenny if all your resault comes normal you dont have too but if you worried just do it just peace of mind

  37. Jenny, i think you should. I had palps for quite some time before i had the halter and i thought something was wrong. They told me i had PAC, which if you do have that or PVC, maybe it would give you some peace of mind like Susan said.

  38. Good news! My echo showed everything was fine! No valve issues; some slight regurgitation but she said they see that in a lot of echos. So, maybe I can relax and not worry so much about my heart. I still have 3 weeks to go with this heart monitor though! Jenny, I believe the one thing they are looking for on this monitor is whether or not they pick up any heart rhythm problems that need to be addressed with medication. Most likely what will happen is they will tell me my palps are just PVCs and nothing to worry about. It sounds like you’ve had a good heart workup done but if you need this for your peace of mind then it would be worth it. Otherwise, the doctor obviously didn’t see a need for it.

  39. Does anyone have any good recommendations for trying to control PVCs? The other day was so relaxing for me, but they came back today =/. Dunno why — I wish I did!
    Hope everyone is doing well.
    Amy – So glad to hear it is all well!! 🙂 You will be just fine.
    Josh – how’re you doing?
    HI Jude! 🙂

  40. Floey, i have PACs and i know they can be similar to each other. I don’t ever drink caffeine. If i do from time to time, it’s no more than a sip or so. Maybe foods w/lots of sodium can be a trigger too. I really do think that Hawthorn berry is helping me, but it’s too early to say if it’s just my heart reacting to the berry or if my heart is just simply back to its relaxed state on its own accord.

  41. Hi Josh — Thanks, sry but I forgot — what type of Hawthorne Berry do you take? And where do you get it? Someone also recommended Aloe Gel to me. Not sure if that works.

  42. HI ALL… thankyou for all ur comments, sorry i have been unable to reply as ive had no internet…

    How are you all?

  43. Hi everyone. I thought that once I got good results from my stress test and heart echo, I would be better but I’m still anxious and have been very fatigued today. Many times today my heart has been pounding. When it does that, I feel very tired. So, I’m pretty discouraged today. 🙁

  44. Hi amy i think thats normal the anxiety up and fown sometimes so dont worry drink a lots of water my palps now its ok not like before but like i told u hun dobt worry

  45. I take the hawthorn berry in pill form. Sammy says he takes the extract version, but i can’t find it close to where i live. I just get mine at Wal-Mart (like everything else in this world lol) and take 2 about every other day. More like 3 out of 7 days i take it, spread out. I’ve heard aloe gel through the years as i’ve read remedies or things to help, but i’ve never taken it. Definitely do your own research on this stuff just to see the postive and negatives that are out there. I’ve heard both on the hawthorn berry, but you just have to try i guess.

  47. Hi everyone

    Thanks so much for your post Five. I might try some of those things a go,the vinegar one has me interested as i have read about it elsewhere.Might get some tomorrow.

    Amy,so sorry you are feeling as you are. I really can sympathise and it is no fun i know but hang in there, It will get better.It can be hard finding what works for us and it takes time to heal.Anxiety is an amazing ( for want of a better word!!)thing, the symptoms it can produce never fail to amaze me.Just when i think i have most of them a new one comes along!I know too it is hard not to get discouraged, I still have my bad days where i get flat and sad because of it but i know from experience that it passes and so i just tell myself that today is a bad day, tomorrow will be better and it always is.Amy it will get better truly it well.One day at at a time and eventually the number of bad days dwindles and the good days increases and before you know it you will find yourself thinking mmmm it has been a while since i felt those symptoms! Big hugs x

    My palps have been crazy but i think I know why. I have started taking one of my asthma meds that i take seasonally (in winter)I have been on it intermittent for years but have been noticing that when my anxiety a little bit edgy, it gets worse with this medication.I thought i was just imagining it but I have been monitoring it more and I have no doubt it increases my anxiety and heart palps.So googled it today and yep one of the side effects is heart palpitations.Not sure what to do as I need it so may have to find a Dr over here and try something else.I know it wont harm me so i will keep taking it but don’t need to antagonise the palps more!!!!!

    Besides that we are having a fantastic adventure in our new home and I refuse to let this anxiety stuff stop me living the life I want to.

    Anyway enough of my rambling!

    Gary how exciting, all the best for the birth of your gorgeous new little one. How special for you all!Thinking of you at this most wonderful time.

    Hi Floey, Josh , Susan and Sammy,Corliss,Stephan and everyone else .Hope you are all doing well, thinking of you all.Justin great to hear from you and hope you are doing okay?

    Have a happy day .

  48. Hi jude… it sure has taken some time to catch up on all these posts as i missed soo many!

    Glad to see u are doing well 🙂

    I havent been great if im honest, doctors gave me meds and there side affects sent me all over the place.. so i stopped taking them, i just couldnt push through that first couple of weeks, i am hoping there is something a little weaker he can start me off on?

    also get these awful dizzy , distant and kinda heavy headed faint feelings as i start to doze off to sleep n they wake me in a panic? anyone experienced anything like this?

    My panic attacks are becoming daily and more than once a day…
    At one point i thought things were geting easier but then it all seems to have taken a turn for the worse

    any help would be great, hope ur all ok aswell 🙂 Thanks

  49. Hi Justin sorry to hear you are having such a rough time.i too had bad side effects with the first med And didnt last three days. i nervously tried another one but started incredibly slowly,like a quarter of a tablet.i also knew from a friend that the first 6 weeks can be yuk so I was expecting it but luckily had minimal side effects.mostly slow heart rate,tiredness and dizziness and feeling spacy and if course the normal anxiety stuff.I took a quarter of a tablet for two weeks then increased to a half for another four I think.it was 9 years ago now so it is a little hard to remember.I stayed on a very low dose but it definitely helped take the edge off .it Gave me some much needed peace and put my mind in a place where I could logically start to work thru the anxiety disorder and understand it and begin to loose the fear. I know how frightening it can be taking the meds so you need to discuss it with your dr a bit more. I stayed on them for year and weaned myself very very slowly off with no side effects.after the first few weeks the only real side effect I continued to have was tiredness but after running at a hundred miles an hour with the anxiety it was kinda nice! That was 9 years ago and although the anxiety still flares up every now and then I haven’t felt the need to go back on the medication as I understand anxiety so much more now but it was a lifeline back then. But you need to be informed and aware and sure you want to do it and be comfortable in taking them. I have a big medication phobia so understand how hard it can be.if I read the possible side effects I will get them all!!

    Justin did you have some counselling after your accident?i hope so as it must have been a traumatic time physically but also mentally and emotionally.i too am woken from sleep just as I doze off like you are experiencing. It is like our bodies are so on alert in that flight fight mode that as soon as we try too relax it startles us and reminds us we can’t. It wants us to stay alert. It happened to me last night as it does every now and then and it is scary as you wake in a panic attack and feel scared to go back to sleep. i try to work thru the fear and persist in getting to sleep. Not easy I know though. Maybe you could try listening to some music or a guided meditation as you go to sleep?

    Sorry for my long post just want to try and help. I have I been where you’re now and know your fear but also know it gets better, so hang in there. If you can get some professional help and read and learn as much as you can about anxiety It all helps to heal. Thinking of you and sending a million positive thoughts your way.

  50. Hi Justin sorry to hear you are having such a rough time.i too had bad side effects with the first med And didnt last three days. i nervously tried another one but started incredibly slowly,like a quarter of a tablet.i also knew from a friend that the first 6 weeks can be yuk so I was expecting it but luckily had minimal side effects.mostly slow heart rate,tiredness and dizziness and feeling spacy and if course the normal anxiety stuff.I took a quarter of a tablet for two weeks then increased to a half for another four I think.it was 9 years ago now so it is a little hard to remember.I stayed on a very low dose but it definitely helped take the edge off .it Gave me some much needed peace and put my mind in a place where I could logically start to work thru the anxiety disorder and understand it and begin to loose the fear. I know how frightening it can be taking the meds so you need to discuss it with your dr a bit more. I stayed on them for year and weaned myself very very slowly off with no side effects.after the first few weeks the only real side effect I continued to have was tiredness but after running at a hundred miles an hour with the anxiety it was kinda nice! That was 9 years ago and although the anxiety still flares up every now and then I haven’t felt the need to go back on the medication as I understand anxiety so much more now but it was a lifeline back then. But you need to be informed and aware and sure you want to do it and be comfortable in taking them. I have a big medication phobia so understand how hard it can be.if I read the possible side effects I will get them all!!

    Justin did you have some counselling after your accident?i hope so as it must have been a traumatic time physically but also mentally and emotionally.i too am woken from sleep just as I doze off like you are experiencing. It is like our bodies are so on alert in that flight fight mode that as soon as we try too relax it startles us and reminds us we can’t. It wants us to stay alert. It happened to me last night as it does every now and then and it is scary as you wake in a panic attack and feel scared to go back to sleep. i try to work thru the fear and persist in getting to sleep. Not easy I know though. Maybe you could try listening to some music or a guided meditation as you go to sleep?

  51. Hi Justin sorry to hear you are having such a rough time.i too had bad side effects with the first med And didnt last three days. i nervously tried another one but started incredibly slowly,like a quarter of a tablet.i also knew from a friend that the first 6 weeks can be yuk so I was expecting it but luckily had minimal side effects.mostly slow heart rate,tiredness and dizziness and feeling spacy and if course the normal anxiety stuff.I took a quarter of a tablet for two weeks then increased to a half for another four I think.it was 9 years ago now so it is a little hard to remember.I stayed on a very low dose but it definitely helped take the edge off .it Gave me some much needed peace and put my mind in a place where I could logically start to work thru the anxiety disorder and understand it and begin to loose the fear. I know how frightening it can be taking the meds so you need to discuss it with your dr a bit more. I stayed on them for year and weaned myself very very slowly off with no side effects.after the first few weeks the only real side effect I continued to have was tiredness but after running at a hundred miles an hour with the anxiety it was kinda nice! That was 9 years ago and although the anxiety still flares up every now and then I haven’t felt the need to go back on the medication as I understand anxiety so much more now but it was a lifeline back then. But you need to be informed and aware and sure you want to do it and be comfortable in taking them. I have a big medication phobia so understand how hard it can be.if I read the possible side effects I will get them all!!

  53. Jude, it’s always nice hearing from you; glad you are enjoying yourself over there! Thank you for your reassuring words. Today has been a better day; it seems I have one good day, one bad day, etc. But I did realize something about yesterday. Everytime I ate, I had the fast, pounding heart and fatigued feeling. So today I’ve eaten very small light meals and it hasn’t happened. I even did some housework today and went to the grocery store without getting tired. So, I’m going to start a food diary and see if my symptoms line up with what I eat. It’s worth a shot!

  54. Hey
    Thankyou so much for all that jude, really kind of you 🙂
    I didnt have any councelling at all after the accident as i didnt feel i needed it back then and this anxiety thing is very recent for me,probs like the last 10 weeks or so…
    I guess this kind of makes it scarier coz its such a new thing, i read things on anxiey all the time.. for example if i get a new sympton i have to google it and see if its anxiety related and 99% of the time sure enough it is!

    Amy im glad u said about the food thing there coz i get exactly the same after ive eaten and to be honest i thought it was me being stupid, but the palps after eating are awful?

    i am very worried about having to start any medication and especially stuff to do with depression n anxiety etc, i see and read how it affects people in the first few weeks, however i do believe if i want to get better and feel myself again ive got to do it?

  55. Justin, I of course Googled it and there are people who have an increase in their heart rate after eating. I’ll let you know how my little experiment goes. I hope you have some success with medication. I’ve been pretty lucky and haven’t had to experiment too much although I may be headed in that direction (a new medication) because I can’t seem to shake what I’m going through. I had no side effects from Zoloft or Prozac but Welbutrin and Paxil were not good to me. Those are the only ones I’ve ever been on.

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