Looking for reassurance and advise please

[nb6600]

Hello everyone,

I have just joined today to try and find answers to many questions. IÂ’m a 42 year old Male and IÂ’ve been getting these sudden bursts of anxiety fo absolutely no reason. IÂ’ve never had this before and itÂ’s so awful.
It started with a few palpitations. I noticed this most days so saw my GP. She said this was normal and not to worry.

I couldnÂ’t leave it at that as I was happening most days. I would describe them as maybe a slow extra beat but one after the other. I went to a cardiologist who gave me a full check up. I had a 7 day tape recorder, an ultrasound and also a heart stress test on a treadmill. I passed all of those. That put me at ease for a few months but then I noticed them again.

Since this last episode things have got really bad for me. IÂ’ve not been diagnosed with anxiety but IÂ’ve been on Google Doctor and it seems to be that. IÂ’m never ill, never have time off work and never at the doctors. So this is all new to me. I get very tight around the chest, heart races, I get the feeling IÂ’m going to lose control and freak out and IÂ’m really struggling. This all happens I feel for no reason. ItÂ’s getting worse and daily now. I have been given some propanol tablets which have calmed my heart down but the feelings IÂ’m getting are awful. I also get a little light headed but not all the time.

My question is does anyone else get these and if so how do you try and stay in control and keep yourself for losing control. Also does anyone have any other recommendations of tablets. They have said I can have anti depressants but IÂ’m not depressed.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you to anyone who replies.

[boogal]

Hello nb6600, I’m sorry you’re going through this, but if it’s any comfort I can identify with at least some of what you say about your palpitations and your concern about them.


I’m a few years older than you and have had them since I was a young child (I’m having them now, since this morning, for the second time this week), but I eventually came to understand they are caused by anxiety. As others on here will tell you, anxiety isn’t always on the surface. It’s often buried so deep that there’s no awareness of it.


I also know what you mean about feeling reassured by good results from tests, but then later becoming anxious, which is a typical symptom of Health Anxiety Disorder (as it’s now called). I’ve had numerous heart tests over the years and all have had good results, but when the palp’s hit, all that goes out of the window and the fear returns.


I can go for many weeks without a single palp, then I might have them for days and there usually seems to be no reason for them to kick in. It’s true that I’m rather an anxious person (childhood baggage at the root of it), but palp’s are capricious. They sometimes come on when I’m feeling quite good, and don’t come on when I’m heavily stressed.


The feelings in your chest and fear of losing control - yes, I’ve had all those, more times than I can count. It’s a spiral that so many find themselves in. You get the palps, feel scared, the palps continue or get worse, you get more scared and then other anxiety reactions kick in - tight chest etc. Some people, including me, feel faint at times and almost fall to the floor, so the spiral continues.


The longest continuous spell I had was about 4 years back - three days and nights without stopping. On that occasion it turned out to be, believe it or not, a digestion issue. A drink of fizzy water, a good burp and they were gone. I’ve had relief the same way on other occasions since, so don’t rule out digestion as a cause, at least sometimes.


I hope you feel calmer soon.

[NoraB]

IÂ’m a 42 year old Male and IÂ’ve been getting these sudden bursts of anxiety fo absolutely no reason. IÂ’ve never had this before and itÂ’s so awful.
It started with a few palpitations. I noticed this most days so saw my GP. She said this was normal and not to worry.

Hi and welcome to the forum..

Anxiety can affect anyone at any time in their lives...

First thing I'd ask you is if something stressful is going on in your life - either now or prior to when the symptoms started...

Another anxiety classic is when people overdo stimulants (coffee, energy drinks - alcohol etc) and anxiety creeps in because the heart rate is constantly raised and/or they have their first panic attack...

I went to a cardiologist who gave me a full check up. I had a 7 day tape recorder, an ultrasound and also a heart stress test on a treadmill. I passed all of those. That put me at ease for a few months but then I noticed them again.

Be reassured that your heart is working just fine then and this is anxiety.

Since this last episode things have got really bad for me. IÂ’ve not been diagnosed with anxiety but IÂ’ve been on Google Doctor and it seems to be that. IÂ’m never ill, never have time off work and never at the doctors. So this is all new to me. I get very tight around the chest, heart races, I get the feeling IÂ’m going to lose control and freak out and IÂ’m really struggling. This all happens I feel for no reason. ItÂ’s getting worse and daily now. I have been given some propanol tablets which have calmed my heart down but the feelings IÂ’m getting are awful. I also get a little light headed but not all the time.

In people who are not usually prone to anxiety it's usually down to life stressors, side-effects of medications, stimulants etc (there is a reason)

Plus, all medications can have side-effects. I had to come off Propranolol due to mine, and medications can make us feel even worse (at least until the side-effects wear off - which can be several weeks)

Re anti-depressants, they are commonly prescribed for anxiety and can be effective in managing symptoms (but therapy such as CBT is equally as important)

I'm an anxiety lifer, but I've learned to manage mine by doing CBT (thought challenging) and breathing effectively (box breathing) to slow my heart rate down. I've had numerous heart monitors, ECHOs, scans - all of which reveal a healthy heart that's doing its best for me...

The symptoms you're experiencing are most likely down to fight or flight, rather than a heart issue.