Heart Palpitations

Since my first panic attack, I've had these aggravating, unnerving, and depressing heart palpitations/pvcs/extrasystoles that seem to be triggered by panic attacks, and then take forever to slowly die down.

They are about to send me off the deep end. I don't know where else to turn. I don't see how therapy is gonna help get rid of those hard thuds in my chest.

Can it? What else can I do?

For the record, the doctor has rules out any heart problems. He says I'm perfectly healthy, which makes sense considering I had no problems till my anxiety hit for the first time.

Heeeeeeelllp.

Some people find relief with Beta Blockers. Perhaps you could ask your doc about that? I really hope you find some relief.

I used to be plagued by them too ~ Here's what I did - I either took a VERY cold glass of water and drank it ~ or I pushed on the carotid artery - the big one in your neck - and held my finger on it for awhile until my pulse went down. I didn't push TOO hard, but hard enough to slow it down. It seemed to work every time.

This was AFTER I stopped taking a Beta blocker. It didn't happen very often after I stopped taking Inderal. But when it did, I was able to slow it down myself before it got too bad.

Best of luck and God bless. Hugs, Lee

PS ~ make SURE you are checked over by your doc tho. I found out I had a Mitral Valve Prolapse - I had an echocardiogram. You need to make sure something isn't wrong before you try the above.

I use deep breathing techniques and when it is really bad I will sit down and go into meditation. You can research how to do both online. The meditation really helps a lot with anxiety and panic. I haven't taken a valium since September it has helped so much.

It's not a fast heart rate.

It's more pvcs/ectopic heartbeats.

It is ruining my life, and i am so depressed. ;_;

I get those too! I started with anxiety a few years ago and that is when I started with the palpitations. It is sooooooooooooo scarey! and people think I am crazy!I kept going to the doctor but they couldnt find anything wrong except I am hypothryroid. When I exercise it makes it even worse, which makes me scared to excercise! NOT GOOD! I Hope that at least you know you aren't alone , but I do know how scarey and frustrating it is!

See, they've found nothing wrong with me. Every test has been run.

That's what makes this even more depressing.

Then you should talk to your doctor about medication or something to help you with the physical symptoms. Because this is a panic attack where the actually physical sensations are what are making panic. There are things he/she could recommend.

Z

I went through the same thing with my anxiety. I went to the doctor thinking I had asthma, but I was fine. If your doctor says you're healthy then there's really no reason to be taking medication. Therapy might not be a bad option. One of the key differences between panic attacks and anxiety attacks are the catalyst to the attack - for panic attacks, it's typically psychosomatic/internal trigger or the fear of having a panic attack/the physical symptoms you experience during an attack; for anxiety attacks, it's typically an external stressor - maybe an upcoming event that has been stressing you out, an exam, a deadline - something of that nature.

The reason therapy could be helpful is because you can learn to control your physical symptoms. When I went into therapy for my anxiety I learned several strategies to help reduce acute anxiety attacks. I learned diaphragmatic breathing to help my physical symptoms and I also learned to recognize the false beliefs I had and how to combat them effectively.

You don't have to go into therapy knowing why it will help; you just have to go into therapy with an open mind and a desire to help yourself - that's all. Don't tell yourself it's dumb or not helping from the get-go, just go with it and give it a chance. You may surprise yourself...

Yeah It can and know how you are feeling it sucks .What my doctor did for me he gave me as need xanax and he also gave me a beta blocker