New HA sufferer. Cardiophobia :(

[Vasallus]

Hello all! I had my first panic attack a few months ago and have been dealing with health anxiety ever since
 I am particularly obsessive over my heart and check my heart rate and BP often. I joined this place seeking advice and tips on better manage the anxiety.

Glad to be here!

[kmwondering]

Welcome! Fellow cardiophobe here. For any type of peace, it is essential that you lose the pulse and bp checks. Trust me. There is lots of good advice around here. Sorry I can't say more from this damn phone.

[Gomubukai]

Hi there!

My heartbeat is naturally faster than 100 beats a minute with an ectopic beat every now and then which is apparently completely safe and I don't even really think about anymore. Apparently it's very common, especially in young women - I'm 25.

Seriously, if you keep concentrating on how your heart is beating you'll feel every tiny little weird thing that goes on with it. Sometimes your heart will miss beats, or gain extra ones, it's normal and safe, trust it - your heart knows what it's doing. :)

A doctor once told me though that if you feel like your heart is beating irregularly - pour yourself a big glass of icy cold water and gulp it down as fast as you can. It's great, you get like a 'brain freeze' feeling in your chest and the shock of the cold water slows your heart down a bit. It works every time, even for my crazy fast heart beat when I'm trying to sleep.

Maybe try that if you can feel your heart beating too hard?

But if you eat well and excersise regularly, you're already decreasing your chances of heart disease by a LOT.

Good luck!

[Vasallus]

I quit smoking and started eating healthier. I am still trying to get over the fear of my heart rate getting up, though. It makes exercising hard because once my heart rate gets close to 130 I start freaking out a little. It drives me crazy. XD

I haven't checked my pulse all day, I'm proud to say, and it's been a week since I checked my BP. I feel pretty good, but there is always that worry in the back of my mind. I feel like it's always going to be there.

Thank you all for the help. :)

[gcalex]

Throw the BP monitor out unless you have a MEDICAL need for it.  The only way you are going to be able to exercise is ..... to exercise.  If you start in small increments, I can almost assure you you eventually will desensitize -- and your rate may come down as you get more fit.  Break the vicious circle.  You may experience some discomfort but in the scheme of things so what, you aren't feeling great anyway.

[marc]

I agree with gcalex.