nietweer
03-07-17, 11:53
Hi,
For years I am suffering from anxiety about my heart. In the past, I have played tennis extensively for hours on end so most probably, there is nothing wrong with my heart.
But after 'it' hit me, I am unable do so anymore. Whenever I get my heart rate up I get very tensed, I constantly feel the sensation of my heart pumping hard and get nervous feelings in my stomach, etc. And of course, racing thoughts that my heart might stop any moment or that I might disturb the rhythm with my paranoid thoughts.
I seem to have some kind of treshold though. If my heart rate stays under 100-120 bpm, I feel okay. Higher than that I and I start to feel very shitty. I really do think it's only my anxiety. But I can't seem to get over it.
I've started working out and slowly exercising again to push myself slowly to my limits again. But everytime I am determined to do so, I chicken out after my heart beats really fast again (120+ bpm).
What makes matters worse is that I had some episodes of (benign) heart rate disturbances in the beginning of this year. They have been checked out with an event monitor and ECG's and were diagnosed as episodes of PAC's (premature ventricular contractions). It does not make things easier for me as you can imagine.
So, I have two questions to you guys.
- Is it possible to have structural heart problems which only manifest themselves while having a (sustained) high heart rate? So, does the fact that I can have a heart rate up to 120 bpm without problems indictate that I will have no problems once I go up higher to 160 bpm for instance? (which I didn't do for at least 2 years)
- Do you have any similar experience or advice about how to go from here? What has helped for you?
I know I am not the only one with heart anxiety and I wonder what has helped you and if there is a way out of here :)
Thanks!
For years I am suffering from anxiety about my heart. In the past, I have played tennis extensively for hours on end so most probably, there is nothing wrong with my heart.
But after 'it' hit me, I am unable do so anymore. Whenever I get my heart rate up I get very tensed, I constantly feel the sensation of my heart pumping hard and get nervous feelings in my stomach, etc. And of course, racing thoughts that my heart might stop any moment or that I might disturb the rhythm with my paranoid thoughts.
I seem to have some kind of treshold though. If my heart rate stays under 100-120 bpm, I feel okay. Higher than that I and I start to feel very shitty. I really do think it's only my anxiety. But I can't seem to get over it.
I've started working out and slowly exercising again to push myself slowly to my limits again. But everytime I am determined to do so, I chicken out after my heart beats really fast again (120+ bpm).
What makes matters worse is that I had some episodes of (benign) heart rate disturbances in the beginning of this year. They have been checked out with an event monitor and ECG's and were diagnosed as episodes of PAC's (premature ventricular contractions). It does not make things easier for me as you can imagine.
So, I have two questions to you guys.
- Is it possible to have structural heart problems which only manifest themselves while having a (sustained) high heart rate? So, does the fact that I can have a heart rate up to 120 bpm without problems indictate that I will have no problems once I go up higher to 160 bpm for instance? (which I didn't do for at least 2 years)
- Do you have any similar experience or advice about how to go from here? What has helped for you?
I know I am not the only one with heart anxiety and I wonder what has helped you and if there is a way out of here :)
Thanks!