Need Help Please - Can This Cause Heart Issues

[joy14 11]

I have been having anxiety so bad lately that now I am having panic attacks and it is getting very overwhelming and exhausting. I have been down this road many times before but never thought I would have this hit me so hard like this again since I felt like I knew how to ward it off. I had been able to keep the panic away and I would get through the anxiety, but now I am in full blown panic mode and my heart is racing more each day. It is like my body is just so uptight and tense. My back muscles are tight and my head feels foggy. This is terrible. Never thought I would encounter this again. I feel so silly and like I have some type of issue because I can't believe the body can just do this out of nowhere. I know my husband has been working away out of town and I miss him but I am not sure if that is making me anxious or what. He does come home on weekends and but he was here yesterday but won't be back this weekend and it is like I just got get so teary when he got ready to leave. I am getting so emotional more and more each day. I really feel the emotions just taking over. I cried this morning, last night and today I am wanting to cry but I know that is helping. I want to know if my heart racing like this can be dangerous? I know I have had this before but it all seems like so long ago although I still remember it so well. What an awful time of my life when I dealt with this.  It is fine now but I keep checking my pulse by using my finger on my neck to see how fast it is going. I  was doing this years ago when I was in a bad panic mode. I am thinking I probably need to call my therapist. Can someone help? I have so many thoughts going through my head.

[Wingnut 13]

Hi Joy! I have had panic anxiety since I was 10 years old. I am 22 now and have been on medications which have greatly helped. Okay a few things:

1) You are going to be okay. No matter what you are feeling, you know and have recognized that this is panic. Even if it’s hard or your scared, take some deep breaths. 

2) I assume you are fairly young and In general good health. Unless you have a known heart issue, pounding/racing should be OK with intermittent resting. Relaxation is key.

3) I would HIGHLY recommend seeing your therapist at this time. It seems you are in extreme discomfort and I know how bad it can be as I’ve gone through withdrawals, panic, paranoia, the works....

 

Let me know how you are doing! You are not alone, and you WILL be okay. I know it is very frightening, but take some deep breaths. Try to enjoy the small things around you (:

 

-Jonathan

[joy14 11]

2 hours ago, Wingnut said:

Hi Joy! I have had panic anxiety since I was 10 years old. I am 22 now and have been on medications which have greatly helped. Okay a few things:

1) You are going to be okay. No matter what you are feeling, you know and have recognized that this is panic. Even if it’s hard or your scared, take some deep breaths. 

2) I assume you are fairly young and In general good health. Unless you have a known heart issue, pounding/racing should be OK with intermittent resting. Relaxation is key.

3) I would HIGHLY recommend seeing your therapist at this time. It seems you are in extreme discomfort and I know how bad it can be as I’ve gone through withdrawals, panic, paranoia, the works....

 

Let me know how you are doing! You are not alone, and you WILL be okay. I know it is very frightening, but take some deep breaths. Try to enjoy the small things around you (:

 

-Jonathan

Hi! Thank you for your reply. I have been asleep for about 4 hours, so it is 2:30am here so I woke up but going back to sleep after I drift back off.

I am actually 40 (that sounds old...much older than you, although people say I look so young, LOL). I got hit with anxiety and panic at the age of 26 I think. I know it was in 2003 so I was somewhere around that age. Anyhow, I had just gotten married a few months prior and had lost my grandmother 2 days before my wedding. I guess it hit me later and I was at work just working and out of NOWHERE, I got so dizzy, the room was spinning, my heart was pounding, it was like an out of body experience. I was terrified! To feel  my heart beating that fast and to not know what was going on was really really scary. My hands were sweaty and I just panicked, of course. I got a co-worker and she was going to dial 911 but I told her to call my husband instead so that he could take me to the ER. I managed to calm down after about an hour and I think he came to my job to follow me home but I felt so exhausted by then. I ended up at the ER because another attack happened. That is the night I will never forget. They ran tests, EKGs, bloodwork etc. Cardiologist came in and talked with me and said, "young lady, why are you so anxious?" I was like I do not know. I was just laying there and my heart was racing. They gave me a beta blocker to slow it down some and it did. They were talking (doctors) and they said I had tachycardia. I was like what is that?? They ended up suggesting I see a therapist ASAP for anxiety. I could not believe that! It felt like I was so sick. I was weak, no energy, omg it was awful. I was out of work for about  a week. Went back and had attack, after attack after attack. By that time I saw a therapist and she gave me meds to help with things and they helped but I was still just not myself. I ended up back out of work for few more days and after my body adjusted to the meds I was feeling better. I did much better and felt better and I was so glad. After 2 years of the meds they quit working. I was getting anxious again and have mild attacks so she tried adjusting the meds but nothing worked. Even slightly increasing the dosage was too much for me. I was getting shaky and just unable to increase the dosage so we even tried other meds and they all made me sick or extremely anxious so I ended up off of meds and just visited my therapist for awhile. I prayed and just started speaking positive affirmations and I actually got better. I had no choice since meds were not working for me. I have been off meds for years and the anxiety has only been mild and I have managed it very well on my own. Here recently I have had the panic attacks to hit again. I think I know why. I have had a fear of heat and humidity for years now since I had a panic attack in mid summer one year so since then I fear heat. I know that is crazy but I do. I guess I have worked myself up a lot this summer because of the extremely hot days we've had and I do feel my heart rate increase in the heat and then I get panicky and a few times this summer I had small panic attacks if I was out in the heat. I had one out in the middle of my daughter's baseball field and it was about 90 some degrees and I dropped my chair I was carrying, I felt like I couldn't breathe and all I saw was that big huge field and I knew I couldn't escape to the car because it was SO far away. My heart raced for about 2 min it seems and as I talked myself down it just slowed back down and I felt fine from that point on, but I would still fear going out in the heat and found myself avoiding heat if I could, but with kids it is very hard to avoid things ya know? So now that I think back, I think all of that anxiety over the summer has really led into panic now. I have been on edge all summer in the heat, and would fear walking in it because I would feel like the heat was sending my heart rate up, which it never even affected me when I didn't have anxiety! It is all so crazy and weird sounding, I know. That has to be how I have gotten the panic attacks now.

So last week I had palps (heart was beating hard) and that freaked me out. I got nervous and kept wondering why it was doing that because I don't drink caffeine or eat chocolate etc.I just kept wondering why and then started worrying about my heart. I know it seems like if I am that worried about it I would go get it checked AGAIN for the 100th time, but I guess I am trying to tell myself it is anxiety, which I know it is and the silliest part of it is I am too nervous to even go get it checked. The machines and doctors just work me up. So when I walk stairs and I am already anxious, I feel my heart rate increase and sometimes that makes me panic. When I am not anxious, I walk stairs and I am fine! It lets me know that it is definitely anxiety. I am healthy, yes and have had a physical with bloodwork over the summer and all was well.

Thanks for reminding me that I am ok. Today was a good day. I had a rough day yesterday. I had an attack while waiting to pick my children up from school. When that happens over and over again it wears me out and I really get so sad and I was not wanting depression to hit. I had a great day today and did fine.

Hope you hare having a great night!

[Wingnut 13]

Based on what you’ve said it sounds like classic panic attacks and maybe some “agoraphobia” of “not being able to escape/find comfort”. Let me tell you....I am the EXACT same way! All the way down to the fear of heat part! I live in south Florida where it easily reaches 90 degrees and is always swampy humid. I’ve learned it’s a natural reaction for your heart to pump a little harder in heat as your body is cooling itself. What happens is your “sympathetic” system kicks in, and you usually pump some adrenaline, which for people like us....is like being shot with 40 cups of coffee! Don’t feel weird about any of it because trust me I was afraid to even go for a walk around our block at some points in my life because of heat. 

Im glad to hear you have had physicals and blood work that come back good! It should be a little relief letting you know that this is nothing too serious.

What are some techniques you use to work through an attack?

Also, it is very normal to feel exhausted after panicking. Your body has just gone through the “flight” response of “fight or flight”. If possible after an attack I would suggest resting if possible. Maybe watch your favorite show for a little, take a nap, or even a shower to just destress and unwind a little bit. At this point I would suggest talking to someone, or maybe talk to your therapist over the phone to just let him/her know what’s been going on. It may ease your mind a little bit. But let us know how you are doing and any encouragement that you need I’ll try to help! (:

 

- Jonathan

 P.S. - 40? You mean 39. You’re a young’n. ;P

[joy14 11]

26 minutes ago, Wingnut said:

Based on what you’ve said it sounds like classic panic attacks and maybe some “agoraphobia” of “not being able to escape/find comfort”. Let me tell you....I am the EXACT same way! All the way down to the fear of heat part! I live in south Florida where it easily reaches 90 degrees and is always swampy humid. I’ve learned it’s a natural reaction for your heart to pump a little harder in heat as your body is cooling itself. What happens is your “sympathetic” system kicks in, and you usually pump some adrenaline, which for people like us....is like being shot with 40 cups of coffee! Don’t feel weird about any of it because trust me I was afraid to even go for a walk around our block at some points in my life because of heat. 

Im glad to hear you have had physicals and blood work that come back good! It should be a little relief letting you know that this is nothing too serious.

What are some techniques you use to work through an attack?

Also, it is very normal to feel exhausted after panicking. Your body has just gone through the “flight” response of “fight or flight”. If possible after an attack I would suggest resting if possible. Maybe watch your favorite show for a little, take a nap, or even a shower to just destress and unwind a little bit. At this point I would suggest talking to someone, or maybe talk to your therapist over the phone to just let him/her know what’s been going on. It may ease your mind a little bit. But let us know how you are doing and any encouragement that you need I’ll try to help! (:

 

- Jonathan

 P.S. - 40? You mean 39. You’re a young’n. ;P

LOL! I like that - yes I am 39, or let's just say 29! HAHA!

Oh I need your help for sure! Guess what, we are going to Orlando FL next month, first time ever in Florida and I am already terrified of the heat! Is it hot there in mid November?? I am so nervous and anxious about that trip AND on top of that we are flying! I haven't flown in over 10 years! All of that is just a lot for me to think about but it is already booked and paid for ya know? I am really nervous about that. I am afraid of that heat and the anxiety. You are right I know our hearts pump extra in heat and as you said, my adrenaline spikes and then I am in straight panic mode! It is a bad feeling but I recall being in heat for years and no issues at all. I had those same feelings I am sure and I just ignored it. You said it right though, it does feel like I have had 40 cups of coffee with caffeine when I get that sensation. I really get worked up and nervous when it starts pumping like that and if it is in heat or humidity I get worse. The thing that is so funny is that I don't faint and nothing bad ever happens to me from that, so it is anxiety isn't it? Yes, I have to just rest or something after an attack like that.

I am definitely calling my therapist tomorrow because I need to see her before I go on that vacation next month anyway because I would hate being that far away and having anxiety attacks and no meds. I may need to get the meds again to help me. UGH. I feel like a failure. I haven't had meds in about 8 or more years. This is so horrible. I feel like I am going backward instead of forward. I can't get that vacation off my mind though. I really am not looking forward to it.

Thanks for your help and if you can, let me know how the temps are there in November.