Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Anxiety/PVC`s

HayGray02
HayGray02

Hi everyone.  I am new to this group but I am so happy that I found this website. My phychologist referred me here.  I have been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks pretty much my entire life.  I have had good moments and bad moments.  When i first got diagnosed (around the year of 1998), the first antidepressent that I tried was Paxil.  That did not work for me at all and gave me more anxiety.  The next one I tried was Lexapro and that worked very well for me.  I actually stayed on Lexapro for a very long time.  But around 2016, it seemed like it stopped working for me because I was getting my anxiety back and all of the horrible symptoms that come with it.  I would have good days and bad days but the bad days seemed to be getting more frequent.  My doctor at the time then wanted me to try Celexa.  That worked for a little while, but never very well.  I think maybe because Celexa is considered a "sister" drug to Lexapro, maybe it was too similiar.  My doctor then tried me on Zoloft (the generic).  It gave me horrible stomach issures and diarrhea.  So around 2018 my doctor prescribed me the generic for Prozac and I have been on that ever since.  It has helped, but it has taken a very long time it seems to get into my system.  I then however started to develop PVS`s that are due to Anxiety.  I know that because I have had to go to the ER twice for them because they were very scary and I really thought something was wrong with my heart.  I never experienced these PVC`s with my anxiey, and like I said, I have dealt with anxiety my whole life.  I have had several tests done on my heart and everything is fine.  My doctor upped my dose of Fluoxetine around 9 weeks ago from 20mg to 40mg.... that was a very rough time, but I think that it is finally starting to "even out."  I am just a little concerned because I have now been on this new dose of Fluoxetine for 9 weeks and my PVC`s seem to have gotten better, but sometimes I feel that I am getting them more frequently, just not as "powerful."  Has anyone on here experienced PVC`s with their Anxiety?  Can it be from the Fluoxetine?  How did you deal with them?  They make my anxiety so much worse.... Thanks for listening :)  

Community LeaderMid
Mid
Welcome to the anxiety board at DS.

You've taken the important first step in writing it out.

Keep a daily private journal to help you sort through everything.
mtd
mtd
Yes , I experience PVC’s. I know they are from anxiety, so I’ve learned to not react to them. It would not be illogical to think they are being caused by the medication. Here’s the thing though, PVC’s are a benign condition. You’ve been checked out by your doctor and he said your heart is ok. You are going to have to learn to accept them as being “normal” for you, at least for a while. When you have one, this is a good time to practice acceptance and containment, don’t react as best as you can, tell yourself the truth even if you can’t believe it right now, “this is a pvc, it’s benign, I’ve been checked by the doctor, he says my heart is ok, it’s only anxiety causing it, I’m ok”. Self talk builds confidence and gradually you start to believe, not giving the reaction fear you experience from the pvc to keep it’s tight hold on you. I used to have pvc’s a lot, but they gradually tapered off in frequency, because my fear dropped from knowing the truth, they are benign and are caused by anxiety. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
arfie
arfie
Hello Hay Gray. Welcome to DS.

I'm not quite sure what PVCs are but I know that my anxiety often mimics heart attacks, asthma, etc. I treat my symptoms holistically, so I'm pretty clueless on the med angle of it. More than one of my brothers and sisters-in-healing have experienced heart palpitations, etc. as a med side effect. It's definitely worth talking to your doctor about.
mtd
mtd
PVC =premature ventricular contraction or otherwise known as heart palpitations. A mostly benign condition, although not always. Common in anxiety disorder. Can be caused by medications. Always consult your doctor for professional advice.
HayGray02
HayGray02
Thank you to everyone that replied to my message. It really means a lot when I know someone else understands and goes through the same thing and that I am not alone. I just feel so alone at times. And ever since these PVC`s started happening, is has made my already bad anxiety even worse. I just do not understand why I developed them all of a sudden after all of these years with dealing with anxiety. I know that this pandemic has not helped a bit. I just get so frustrated at times and feel so helpless.
arfie
arfie
You are most definitely not alone. My med and psych pros seem pretty unanimous in their agreement that stress and anxiety create hormone infusions that hit your system harder and faster than a hypodermic shot of meth. Heart palpitations are a natural side effect of those stimulants. Like so many potent drugs, those stress and anxiety hormones are highly addictive. Addiction is often in full play after an extended stress period such as the 18 months and still counting of the pandemic politics.

Steadying support while you stabilize your situation. Hope healing happens here.
HayGray02
HayGray02
Thank you arfie
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