Hello again everyone. So I have not been able to stop checking my pulse due to my fear or cardiac-related health problems. I had a few palpitations here and there and cannot stop feeling my carotid pulse (never really my radial pulse). I have a pulse oximeter from when I was taking classes to become an EMT (yes, I guess these classes could've triggered my anxiety). Anyway, I've gotten into the habit of using it to check my SPO2 and pulse consistently and now I have become wary of my pulse, which in turn causes it to go up and it's a never-ending cycle. And, when I see my SPO2 go from a 99/100 to 97, it freaks me out (which makes no sense really because anything 94 and above is considered A-ok). I just don't understand why at times I forget this and fear the worse. Constantly checking my hands/fingers/lips/tongue for cyanosis. It's frustrating because I know I'm overreacting but at the same time my mind brushes aside all logic and screams at me "WHAT IF..." I wish there was a way to end HA once and for all.
Can't Stop Checking My Pulse and O2 levels
- Thread starter PaNaRaH
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matisworried
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if you want some relief from your health anxiety, i'd say throwing away your pulse oximeter is an excellent place to start. my stance is that any testing/checking above and beyond what's been ordered by a doctor is too much. it is not healthy or normal behavior to engage in and serves no other purpose than to make your anxiety worse. i mean, what are you expecting to accomplish above and beyond that anyway?
i know it's very tough to get out of these cycles, but breaking them is crucial to recovery. resist the urge to check - if it helps, keep yourself occupied. when the urge arises, find something else to do. don't allow yourself to worry. when the "what if" thought pops into your head, tell yourself, out loud if you have to, that you're not going to worry about it right now. remind yourself that "right now, at this moment, i am fine."
"what ifs" are poison. do you worry about getting hit by a bus? or a meteor? do you worry about your home being hit by an airplane? i doubt it. why? because there's no reason to worry about things that probably aren't going to happen. another thing that's probably not going to happen? you dropping dead of a heart attack right now.
i know it's very tough to get out of these cycles, but breaking them is crucial to recovery. resist the urge to check - if it helps, keep yourself occupied. when the urge arises, find something else to do. don't allow yourself to worry. when the "what if" thought pops into your head, tell yourself, out loud if you have to, that you're not going to worry about it right now. remind yourself that "right now, at this moment, i am fine."
"what ifs" are poison. do you worry about getting hit by a bus? or a meteor? do you worry about your home being hit by an airplane? i doubt it. why? because there's no reason to worry about things that probably aren't going to happen. another thing that's probably not going to happen? you dropping dead of a heart attack right now.
Same here :/