HOW TO STOP?

[crystalhanzelka]

Can anyone offer me any advice on how to stop constantly checking my pulse.  Even when I wake up in the middle of the night I check it and fall asleep with my hand on my wrist.  I want to stop.  But how?  And please do not say..JUST STOP!  That is too hard.  I have only been doing this for a couple of months.  I have been to the doctor and ER several times as well as a cardiologist who and have had NUMEROUS tests to confirm that I do not have anything wrong with my heart.  Why do I still feel I do?  HELP!   

[Kayteecatt]

crystal...I check mine on a regular basis too...actually right as I was clicking on this post I had my hand on my neck...I use to check it about every 15 minutes, but since I've been on this Lexapro (about a week now) I check it maybe 4 or 5 times a day.  Which I'm sure still seems like a lot, but it's a lot less than I was checking it.  I was an obsessive blood pressure taker, but my hub hid the monitor so I can't check it all of the time anymore....he can't hide my hands.

Checking our heart rate is like a built in security blanket.  As long as it's under 90 we know that everything is okay.  At least that's the way I am...your magic number might be different. 

I really don't know how to make it stop completely, I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone here.

[angela52884]

Im sorry! I have a habit of doing the same exact thing! I dont actually count the beats, I just feel if its fast or slow and its seriously a habit!!!!

[ssimply]

i used to do that all the time it woud drive me crazy

[LindaRK]

I used to do this, too.  I ended up putting a rubber band on my wrist and when I thought about taking my pulse, I snapped the rubber band instead.  It wasn't too long before I was neither checking my pulse or snapping the rubber band.  Not sure why it worked, but it did.

[AnxiousAngie]

Sounds like a form of OCD.  You need to practice Cognative Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

I am not a counselor, but consider myself an expert on OCD since I've had it for over a decade   

Maybe start with assigning yourself certain times of the day to check your pulse.  Like, for the first couple days, maybe every 2 hours.  You must learn to resist the urge to take your pulse.  Yes, it's going to freak you out and all you will want to do is take your pulse.  You must learn to sit with anxiety that comes from not taking your pulse.  Tell yourself you will check it at the appropriate time only.  Once it becomes easy to check only every 2 hours, make it every 4 hours, etc . . .

I know it sounds impossible, but you CAN do it.  It will not be fun and you will be anxious.  But, once you do it once, you will have successfully resisted the urge!  And once you've resisted the urge once, you can do it again!

You can do this!!  I have faith in you!!  Let me know if I can help!!