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any advise on how to cope with heart and bp anxiety?

juma khamis

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Hey guys i think i seriously need help here, i cant stop thinking about my heart, am always aware of my heartbeat its always strong , normal heart rate but beating very hard making my whole body mildly shake .... any one with any experience out there need some help please....
 

Tgreene23

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I get this too. It’s scary & frustrating at the same time. For me, it lasts a few days & then it doesn’t happen again for quite some time.
 

JesJune93

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My anxiety is centered around heart health. I can always focus and feel my heart beating anywhere on my body at anytime and I HATE IT! When I'm not having an attack I can take my pulse and it feels great, around 80 BPM and steady with normal cadence. But other times when I'm freaking out its high rate, and feels like it's skipping beats and stuff! Lately I've been feeling like it's skipping beats when I lay down to go to sleep and I just can't take it anymore. I recently moved and don't have a doctor but within the next week I pray that changes, and I pray I get a doctor as good as my last one! Sending you loads of love and brighter days!
 

TX85

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Consider asking your doctor about beta blockers. Those have helped me control heart palpitations and high bpm like you're describing.

If you have any money saved up, you might also consider a smartwatch that can help track your heart's statistics. Fitbit just made its new "Sense" model available for pre-order, so I'm getting that. I would caution anyone who goes this route, just as I am cautioning myself, that constantly checking one's statistics actually makes anxiety worse. You have to have some discipline when it comes to how you use these tools.
 

juma khamis

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My anxiety is centered around heart health. I can always focus and feel my heart beating anywhere on my body at anytime and I HATE IT! When I'm not having an attack I can take my pulse and it feels great, around 80 BPM and steady with normal cadence. But other times when I'm freaking out its high rate, and feels like it's skipping beats and stuff! Lately I've been feeling like it's skipping beats when I lay down to go to sleep and I just can't take it anymore. I recently moved and don't have a doctor but within the next week I pray that changes, and I pray I get a doctor as good as my last one! Sending you loads of love and brighter days!
Thanks for the reply..... i hope you get a good doctor soon...as for me never had a doctor am always on my own.
 

JesJune93

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Consider asking your doctor about beta blockers. Those have helped me control heart palpitations and high bpm like you're describing.

If you have any money saved up, you might also consider a smartwatch that can help track your heart's statistics. Fitbit just made its new "Sense" model available for pre-order, so I'm getting that. I would caution anyone who goes this route, just as I am cautioning myself, that constantly checking one's statistics actually makes anxiety worse. You have to have some discipline when it comes to how you use these tools.
YES! I had a fitbit and had to resell it a few months after getting it due to constantly checking the heart and sleep tracking features. Also, I currently take propranolol on the smallest dose to help lower my BP just a smidge to then signal my brain to say I am chill. It has been working for the most part, however the SNRI I'm on isn't working lol.
Thanks for the reply..... i hope you get a good doctor soon...as for me never had a doctor am always on my own.
Please see a doctor, and don't be afraid to see a few in the beginning to make sure you have someone who is a good fit for you!
 

juma khamis

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Consider asking your doctor about beta blockers. Those have helped me control heart palpitations and high bpm like you're describing.

If you have any money saved up, you might also consider a smartwatch that can help track your heart's statistics. Fitbit just made its new "Sense" model available for pre-order, so I'm getting that. I would caution anyone who goes this route, just as I am cautioning myself, that constantly checking one's statistics actually makes anxiety worse. You have to have some discipline when it comes to how you use these tools.
Thanks for the advise but i dont think its a good idea for me to get the smart watch i think it will just make things worse.... i just use Fibri check app on my phone sometimes but for the watch i dont think if i will have some discipline.
YES! I had a fitbit and had to resell it a few months after getting it due to constantly checking the heart and sleep tracking features. Also, I currently take propranolol on the smallest dose to help lower my BP just a smidge to then signal my brain to say I am chill. It has been working for the most part, however the SNRI I'm on isn't working lol.

Please see a doctor, and don't be afraid to see a few in the beginning to make sure you have someone who is a good fit for you!
Well am from africa and where i come from Anxiety is very rare sometimes i just feel am the only one suffering from this beast.
 

TX85

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Thanks for the advise but i dont think its a good idea for me to get the smart watch i think it will just make things worse.... i just use Fibri check app on my phone sometimes but for the watch i dont think if i will have some discipline.
Indeed, it's tough. I've had to work with my therapist on this. It is extremely difficult to stop the checking behavior, especially in a time of crisis.
 

juma khamis

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Consider asking your doctor about beta blockers. Those have helped me control heart palpitations and high bpm like you're describing.

If you have any money saved up, you might also consider a smartwatch that can help track your heart's statistics. Fitbit just made its new "Sense" model available for pre-order, so I'm getting that. I would caution anyone who goes this route, just as I am cautioning myself, that constantly checking one's statistics actually makes anxiety worse. You have to have some discipline when it comes to how you use these tools.
yeah beta blockers helps..... i tried Atenolol, propranolol and now am using concor 2.5
Which one works best for Anxiety?
 

TX85

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yeah beta blockers helps..... i tried Atenolol, propranolol and now am using concor 2.5
Which one works best for Anxiety?
In my experience, you do not take a beta blocker for anxiety. I have, at my disposal, beta blockers and anti-anxiety medicines. Before I take either one, I ask myself: am I anxious because I can feel my heart doing stupid stuff, or because I'm just plain anxious about something else? If it's the former, I will take a beta blocker, which puts my heart back on the right path and then subsequently makes my anxiety go away. If it's the latter, I don't need a beta blocker -- I need something that will affect my mind and take on the anxiety directly.

If you're asking about which drugs are best for taking on anxiety directly, my personal preference is Xanax (alprazolam) and Atarax (hydroxyzine).
 

juma khamis

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In my experience, you do not take a beta blocker for anxiety. I have, at my disposal, beta blockers and anti-anxiety medicines. Before I take either one, I ask myself: am I anxious because I can feel my heart doing stupid stuff, or because I'm just plain anxious about something else? If it's the former, I will take a beta blocker, which puts my heart back on the right path and then subsequently makes my anxiety go away. If it's the latter, I don't need a beta blocker -- I need something that will affect my mind and take on the anxiety directly.

If you're asking about which drugs are best for taking on anxiety directly, my personal preference is Xanax (alprazolam) and Atarax (hydroxyzine).
Well thats what i do... i only take beta blockers when i experince palp from anxiety ... but as for ant anxiety med i tried amitriptlyne... how do Xanax and Atarx workdo they slow you down?
 

TX85

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Well thats what i do... i only take beta blockers when i experince palp from anxiety ... but as for ant anxiety med i tried amitriptlyne... how do Xanax and Atarx workdo they slow you down?
Everyone's going to react differently, but for me, Xanax calms me down a lot and can even make me feel a little sleepy. I take a very tiny dosage of it and will sometimes cut the pills in half so that the effect is limited -- just enough to "take the edge off," as they say. Xanax is often such a tremendous relief that I don't notice or care about feeling a little sleepy after taking it.

And Atarax -- well, that one, I call my nuclear bomb, because it knocks me out. It's a combination antihistamine and anti-anxiety, so imagine taking Xanax AND Benadryl! It's for REALLY REALLY REALLY bad days. I take these sparingly, but they do serve a purpose!
 

juma khamis

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well...the worst part is i do not want to be on meds for the rest of my life.....and i heard xanax is very addictive.
 

TX85

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well...the worst part is i do not want to be on meds for the rest of my life.....and i heard xanax is very addictive.
I look at it this way: do you consider taking Tylenol or Advil to be "on meds?" Because I don't see it that way. I take those when I have pain, and I don't always have pain (at least not yet!). It's the same with Xanax. I don't take it all the time because I don't need to. But when I have an anxiety or panic attack, I will take one then to help make that go away.

You are correct that Xanax is addictive. You have to be sure you can use discipline with it, and only take it as-needed. I have had a prescription for it for 10 years now and have been very careful with my usage, and I have to say it has gotten me through so much suffering... that's why I recommend it even though there is a risk. That is my own experience though and yours may vary!
 
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TX85

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Thanks for the advise...does xanax work imediately?
For me, it takes about 30 minutes to kick in, and it's usually potent enough that I can actually feel it happening. It's a little surreal, but if I'm really suffering, it's like "oh thank goodness, here it is..." and then it will last 3-4 hours. My prescription is for 0.25 mg, but I only take half a pill unless I am a real mess.

Please remember though, if your heart is having palpitations and high bpm, you may want to stick with the beta blockers so you can address the problem at its source. For example, if I had heart palpitations and took a Xanax for that, the heart palpitations may keep going -- I just won't be as anxious about them for a little while. I'm not sure that's the best approach. :)
 
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