I am not now, but have been where you are. It's a horrible feeling I would not wish on my worst enemy. I do have heart issues as well so never sure if it's anxiety or an actual heart problem when I have palpitations. Ativan is in the take it as you need it, sedative, kind of drug family. You could maybe try more of a maintenance medication like Buspar or Effexor. Do you have any idea what is causing them? It's ok if you don't, I know that's how GAD works...but I have learned over the years that some things are definite triggers..such as my fear of getting sick. Taking a warm shower always seemed to help with the muscle tension. Big Hugs!! I know it sucks.

I'm assuming it's my health anxiety and just always thinking about it. Doctors have told me they're benign, that I just need to learn how to ignore them. So hard.

saying you will ignore them and actually doing it is a long road. Try walking or some other exercise to burn off the adrenaline and try distracting yourself so you forget about it for a while. It usually helps it pass if you can make your mind focus on something else..I usually play candy crush or blossom blast. I started out with what I thought was the flu. Now one of my main triggers is the fear of being sick. In the beginning I used to carry a barf bag around with me. You just have to figure out what works for you. Do you have any stimulants in your diet, such as caffeine, that could be making your heart worse?

Not really. I don't drink caffeine at all. I'm always well hydrated. I'm in good shape. It's more of the obsessive mind. I've gotten better at ignoring them but they're always there. I'm sure it will take a while but I know the palps can't hurt me so that's one step. Anxiety just keeps getting worse. The mind is so strong.

It is strong. This may sound counter-intuitive but sometimes I would play out the what-if game through to the end to try an make myself realize that my anxiety attack and or illness was not the end of the world. I'm not sure how to explain it right. I would just say..ok..i'm afraid of being sick? what if I am? then I will have to stay home..but i'm not going to die. what if I pass out? then someone will call 911 but I won't die.... that kind of thing. Hope that makes sense.

Last time I went to ER the triage doctor came in, dead on his feet with exhaustion, and kindly told me that whatever it was that had happened to me hadn't killed me, and therefore from a triage point of view, if I died tonight, it probably wouldn't be from a heart attack.

:D

He said whatever it was, I could clearly survive it. Well, that was obvious. He said 'if it happens again worse, come back, but otherwise you're fine.'

I mean, it was gorgeous of him. He handled me well. He directed me to 'my cardiologist' like I have a cardiologist.

I just figured in the end if I was going to die, at least I could choose not to die of embarrassment having wasted half an ER's time and bumped ahead of broken arms and rugby injuries, so I'd just kark in my own home in my own bed thank you very much and the cats had a cat door so would find a way to survive till I was found.

:p

It's a beautiful world. I've been on leave from work for nearly 3 weeks and haven't had a heart crisis once. :D

GAD is awful. and you are quite sure you're dying. The one I really like best is hte one where your chest constricts and constricts till you're sure you'll asphyxiate so you go to ER and then by the time they can see you you're fine again.

I mean... fine.

It's the GAD. It gives all manner of crazy physical symptoms. I don't know about this ativan, but certainly a counsellor is wonderful. I got a mild antidepressant which also works on anxiety, and a counsellor, and my life turned around and did a 180. it sounds counterintuitive and like they don't care: they do care, they just know because this is so common.

You always have a great way of saying things Bridgie!

Have you tried massage? They really help me relax and decrease my tension. It doesn't last, but it feels nice during it. Most places use music for relaxation and some use aromatherapy, too.

Yep. In fact I have arthritis in my neck they tell me is from anxiety. I take ativan, only thing that helps sometimes