[Amanda_1981]

Lately my anxiety has been quite bad again, especially at night. I also have ocd which often makes my anxiety act up. Lately I've developed a new anxiety phobia that worries me if a person can actually scare themselves to death (meaning, die from fright). At night, especially when I'm laying down trying to sleep, I get horrible heart palpitations and keep focusing on my heart rate and I worry so much that my heart will stop from the severe intense fear I am having. I'm worried I'm going to make myself have a heart attack from intense fear and panic. I know people say you can't die from a panic attack, but then why do I hear sometimes of people who die from fright? I know I'm fairly young still and generally healthy, but I can't stop obsessing over having a heart attack. I hate anxiety!! I've done so well the past two years by over coming severe agoraphobia and don't understand why all of a sudden my anxiety is really bad again. I don't take any benzos anymore because I got addicted to them, but at this point, I think I need some sort of meds to take when I'm this anxious to calm me down. Anyone know of any natural remedies that has calming effects? My anxiety is so bad right now, I hate hate hate this!

Sorry to ramble on, I just need to know that there's no way I can die of fright and was wondering if anyone else has this fear and if you do, what you do to help slow your heart rate down. I am so mad that I'm letting the anxiety win. I had been doing so well at overcoming it and I don't understand why it's back. I really really hate this

[jexa]

Hey Amanda check this out:

http://www.relaxingsoda.com/

I thought about buying some of this for myself. Maybe this could help your anxiety? It's not benzos, it's all natural.

Also Amanda, no one ever died from anxiety. Where did you hear of someone actually dying from fright?

[lynn P.]

Hi Amanda,
sorry you're having a hard time right now. Make sure you eliminate any caffiene products since this can make your heart beat faster. I think the only time a person actually dies from fright, is if they already have a pre-existing heart condition or clogged arteries where they might have a stroke - but this is rare. You seem like a healthy young woman so try not to worry that it will kill you. You could try adding a magnesium supplement and I highly recommend slow deep breathing exercises.
Another thing I highly recommend is making peace or accepting the panic/anxiety attack. What happens is a person has an attack and naturally becomes upset and worried - this makes the attack stronger, so next time your body/mind naturally responds with even more anxiety. If you tell yourself, "I'm not going to let this feeling upset me" and just let the feelng come, don't fear it and don't forcefully resist it - do your slow deep breathing exercises. Accepting the attack will naturally disarm the panicky feeling. Since this happens at night, how about you right down all your fears in a journal and then tell yourself , you're not going to think about this once you lay in bed. Best of luck.

[VickiesPath]

Amanda,

I used to have your exact problem. What helped me was relaxation tapes. They take your mind's focus off of your heartbeat and place it on listening to the tape. I suppose nowdays they are CD's. But there are some that are guided imagery that are wonderful. If you do not already use them, look into it.

There was one in particular I loved where you imagine that you are in a giant bubble floating along and you see a beautiful green meadow with multicolored flowers and then float into a forest and notice the moss on the trees....etc. It was uber-relaxing.

If you have a T, ask for some recommendations. Or, go to www.healthjourneys.com. They have CD's you can order or MP3's you can download. I used to listen to these religiously for years and years.

Nowdays, I use my iPod with a docking station because my husband is almost deaf and can't hear them anyway. So it doesn't bother him when I use them. I simply listen to music these days. Don't use the guided imagery anymore unless I'm experiencing anxiety.

Hope this is of some help to you.

[Perna]

When I get really anxious at night, I sometimes get up and take a nice shower (and use my lavender shampoo; lavender is soothing). I think getting up and changing what you're "doing" might help a little? It's the concentrating on your heartrate that is bothering you, so I'd get up and work on something else.

I think people die of fright when they're suddenly confronted by something external, not when it's themselves working themselves into palpitations?

[Amanda_1981]

Thanks everyone for your replies.. I really appreciate your support! I am feeling better now and not as worried about dying from fright. I think one of the reasons my heart has been beating faster is because I have been having to use my inhalers a lot lately due to the extreme cold weather and when I use them, they always increase my heart rate. My allergies are also really bad right now too, so I think the combination of increased heart rate and not being able to breathe through my nose was making my anxiety really bad. I have cut out caffeine and noticed a huge difference in my anxiety at night.

Thanks again everyone for all your support and tips and advice. I really appreciate it and it's nice to know I don't have to suffer with this anxiety alone!