Hi, I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time. My anxiety has been pretty bad over the past month as well and it may or may not be related to a tingling, burning sensation in my left arm that has been on and off. My therapist said that psychological anxiety is definitely capable of producing such physical sensations and told me "not to worry" as that won't help anything.

This is simply easier said than done. I have tried meditation, breathing exercises, watching tv and listening to music to distract myself. It sucks because there's nobody much I can talk to in real life about this (without them being judgemental). If you can talk to someone that would be great! If not, there's still much you can do. Sometimes when my heart feels like it's pounding out of control I would first try long, deep, and slow breaths. While doing that, I would try to count my heartbeats and realize that the more I pay attention to each heartbeat, the slower they seem to become.

I don't know if this might help in your situation but you have my best wishes. Good luck!

My advice is possibly not going to be in line with anyone else, but it's how I live my life and it works for me.

I think what you have to do is just experience this till it uses itself up in your system. I think the only real security you can gain, is from going through it all and not dying. And then continuing to not die while your body slowly figures out you're not dead, and stops producing all of the anxiety hormones because it eventually gets the point that they are not required.

So that's 2 things: not dying, and time.

I've been having heart palpitations, missed beats, I have been under extreme stress for about five years, and that has ratchetted up in the last six months, to where my heart has now started actually missing beats and I found myself in A&E last week, worried i might die in the night. Since then I have had a number of crushing chest pains but I can't be going to A&E every night so I just wait to see if I die.

If I don't die, then this is not terminal. If I do die, then I don't have to have the conversation. So either way the whole thing is kind of moot.

As to your health, watch "Sugar, the Bitter Truth" about issues of high blood pressure. You're too young for high blood pressure so I would look at diet or overweight: the fatter you are, the more pressure it takes to pump blood and the more pressure your heart is under in general. They say a 5% weight loss whatever level you are at is really good for your heart.

This fluid on the brain: taking diuretics - really?
Is that the best thing they can do? Is there any way they could put a grommet or a stent into your head instead, so that you release the fluids mechanically down the back of your nose or something, instead of using diuretics which are really bad for your entire body?

I am confused - but I'm not a doctor at all. Just a mother.

I would look into this more, read up more, investigate more. See what alternatives there are. Having this stuff happen is really anxiety causing, but finding solutions releases that anxiety.

Now don't forget to watch 'sugar, the bitter truth'. And also 'the sugar movie.' Just find out more and see what you can do for your blood pressure.

Thank you for the replies everyone. I went to my primary care doctor on Friday for a follow up. I was nervous the entire day but I managed to find ways to calm myself down. My heart rate in the office was normal a 93 and my pressure was really good my doctor said it was even better than his! He placed me on Bispirone 5mg to take in the morning and evening when I feel stressed. He feels that may calm my heart rate down. However when I looked up the so defects of buspirone one of them is a rapid heart beat and dizziness! So I haven't taken them bc I'm too afraid of having another episode! Has anyone heard of this pill before? Does it work?

Also, my heart rate today was 80 and my pressure is 121/82 (I have a bp and heart cuff at home). My problem is that I can feel every heart beat and it's very uncomfortable! Which is odd because my heart rhythm is regular and stable and the rate is normal. I just hate feeling like this. I hate feeling that at any moment I will have to go back to the doctor or have another episode!

I really understand that uncomfortable feeling and being able to feel when your heart rate increases or your blood pressure goes up. They say high b/p has no symptoms. Bull! I KNOW when mine is up and it only makes me more nervous. I use a little bit of Xanax as needed which helps me. Good luck honey. It's a rough ride.

My anxiety triggers my health anxiety. It's been this way bad for since 2013. Every little anything freaks me out. And even now when I've been doing a lot better any time I feel any anxiety it goes to my health or past things I've worried about.

Thank you littlemart and sumo for your replies. I'm sorry to hear you have to go through something similar too.

Well this morning I woke up with my heart fluttering. My pulse is good it's a 75 and my bp is ok too. I took my medication on time and everything. It's more pronounced when I lay down. So I told my family who told me to email my doctor which I have and now I'm waiting for a reply. On the few occasions when I do email him he'll tell me to come see him that day or go to the ER. So you all can imagine how nervous and upset I am. And it doesn't help that I googled that fluttering could be caused by anxiety or some deep heart related issue, or dehydration. I've been drinking water so basically it's either I am the cause of the fluttering, and I'm over reacting or their is something wrong. I don't know which scenario is worse. On the one hand I kind of hope it is anxiety bc then I probably won't have to go to the doctors and I can try to calm myself down. I've had several heart tests I'm talking about x rays, cat scans with contrast, I've had heart monitors, constant bp checks, beta blocker 3x daily, I've had an eco cardiagram and I'm scheduled for another and they can find no deep underlying cause other than perhaps dehydration, and that I'm overweight. My cardiologist has ordered me on bed rest so I can't do any exercise but I have changed my eating habits and I've lost about 7 pounds in a month.

Anyway, I know I'm babbling on but I'm just scared I'll have to go to the doctors or ER today. I'm also worried what happens if I don't go! I feel like if I don't tell any little symptom I'll over look something big but i also fear that if I don't tell it could be something big and no one will know! I don't want to be like the boy who cried wolf.

Am I over reacting?!

You've done very well losing 7lb. I'd say you are having palpitations, which don't kill a person but are uncomfortable.

If anything were going to happen to you, it would have happened when you still had the 7lb on you. Your heart is now under less stress than it was before.

Have you quit any medications lately? Quit smoking? Anything you are no longer taking that might be giving you withdrawals?

Hi bridgie. Thank you for responding.

I don't smoke or drink alcohol. However, I haven't had any caffeine in about two weeks and I love caffeine. I used to have at least two cups of hot tea w/ sugar everyday and at least one can or bottle of soda. So perhaps I'm having some caffeine withdrawals?

I'm seeing my doctor today to discuss the fluttering or palpations (not sure which one it is). I had a scare yesterday afternoon too. I was sitting in my room doing homework and all of I a sudden I felt faint. I thought it was no big deal at first because the metropolol medication often makes you feel light headed. But then it wouldn't go away until about two minutes later and during that time I got flushed and my heart rate sped up to 105. I went w/ my family the ER to get my bp and heart rate checked they said it was tachycardiac but since I was seeing my doctor today they would let him address because they weren't too concerned about it.

One of my anxieties is fainting. I never have before but a few months ago when I had an allergic reaction to penicillin the ER nurses injected me with a dose of Benadryl, pregnazone and something that started w/ a z. Anyway I felt like I was going to faint and they took me off of it. It was a very frightening experience. And now I know that not only am I allergic to penicillin but also pregnazone and Benadryl!

It's been a doozy! I'm just ready to get well again!

cinnabunny I've struggled with palpitations too for a long time. I got my thyroid under control and the palps stopped for a while. Now they are kicking up a little again. So I will get my thyroid labs drawn and see if it might be off.

I've had my heart tested a few times too. Stress test, 48 hour monitor and ultrasound ( I think.. can't remember ). Always fine.

You and I sound so much alike. I can really relate to your symptoms and your anxiety issues. I freak at every little thing too. It annoys me because I get all worked up when my kids come over to visit. I LOVE them and want to see them, but just having anyone around makes me nervous. I usually take a Xanax when I know they are coming. I've never told them that.

I even find my heart rate increase when I take certain meds or get hot or nervous. I have terrible dizziness at times. I think it's mostly from my MS and the gastric problems I have. There are a lot of conditions ( small ones too ) that can cause it and it's just about impossible to treat.

cinnabunny.....I am reading this book titled DARE The New Way To End Anxiety and Panic Attacks, the author is Barry McDonagh. He says in the book that you can never faint from anxiety because with anxiety your blood pressure goes up. You faint when your blood pressure is low.

Thank you for your kind replies salva, it helps to know that anxiety won't cause fainting. Thank you. I do take a beta blocker 3x daily Whig often causes me to be lightheaded which the doctors told me is normal. I have to drink water and have something to eat with each meal to prevent it which usually works. The problem is I still am in fear that it will cause me to faint. It's just something I have to force myself to get over. Which is very hard.

Thank you to you too littlemart. Your post was v informative and helpful as well. I'm sorry to hear you've been through similar. They have checked my thyroid but says its normal but doctors is going to heck it again.

I just came back from cardiology I had an appointment to have a heart monitor. Which I have on now. Now that I'm home I have to calm myself down because I always feel a little shaken up after I leave the doctors office. I just fear I'll have a symptom and have to go all the way back. Which I know is silly but the fear is still there. I haven't figured out a way to get past it. But I know I must.

There are days I just feel like crying because I'm tied of worrying about my health. It's so hard and I don't want to be a burden on my family. But I know my constant health announcements are becoming irritating even though no one ever complains to me about it.