I am obsessively checking my heart rate on my Fitbit.

[Lisam]

I can’t stop! First I was obsessed because my RHR dropped to 54 over 30 days after weight loss and doing cardio 5 days a week. Today I was just walking and it spiked to what I thought said 185...( doesn’t show on graph plus I read that lots of people have these false spikes) . by the time I came in the house and sat down is was in 60’s. All day I have been paranoid and can’t stop checking. Standing, walking, sitting.... I am in panic mode. Blood pressure was fine and I had an ekg 3 weeks ago that was fine. I am getting in great shape and now this??? I can’t ever enjoy success because my brain finds something health wise to panic about. Ugggh!! I started celexa again a month ago so why is this happening again? Why can’t I be normal? Should I take the Fitbit off?

 

[He Man]

Lisa, hi..

I recently finished a book on the addictive nature of modern technology. The book referenced how Fitbit goals can become a harmful obsession..
If u feel that it's doing more harm than good, u may wanna wean off of it.. You can still continue to benefit from regular exercise, without gaging blood pressure throughout.. good luck, and if u (or anyone else is interested), the book is Irresistible (Adam Alter).

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

That's the curse of anxiety, isn't it? Things that are good for us can become bad for us when we start obsessing over them. It always helps me to step away from whatever that is, and know that I can come back to it later when I'm a little better. But your mental health is every bit as important as your physical health. So yeah, maybe take the Fitbit off for a while - keep exercising and being healthy but let your brain rest.

 

[Kelculator]

Maybe you can try allowing yourself to check at a regular time for a limited number of times-- e.g. Three times a day, no more than once every hour, something like that, and then work on reducing the number? Wishing u the best of luck!

 

[triceps]

I have to agree with all of the suggestions that you cut back on the wearing of your Fitbit. Perhaps you could slowly cut back to morning, noon and bedtime?

 

[Allewis17]

I've been thinking of turning off the heart rate monitor for this very fact!