Heart issues can be frightening. My daughter was hospitalized last week because of a high fever and elevated heart rate all attributed to the flu. She was very scared every time her heart rate spiked. I hope you can relax your nerves for a few days before next week.

Thank you ZenithK for your support and kind words. How scary for you and your daughter. Is she home and recovering now?

It's hard to put away those feelings.

Even breathing will help relax the tensed muscles and reduce that feeling.

Best wishes with the results.

I went to the ER because my heart rate spiked. Twice. In one week. The first time I had an infection and they said that was the issue but my anxiety made it seem worse. The second time was pure anxiety. I had 2 ekg done and each time told my heart was perfectly fine. Still, I worried so much I bugged my sisters, 2 of then are in the medical field. They both told me the same thing, if it was serious, something would have been done. To me though, anything with my heart is scary because my big sister has POTS. I try not to worry though, I hope you’re able to chill a bit as well. I get chest pains and the lump in my throat often but no “anxiety” and all I can do is talk myself through it. Keep pushing, you’ll get answers soon :)

Hello Moss Rose. Welcome to DS. Sorry for what brings you here, but glad you are here.

For what it's worth, you are currently using one of my most effective fear/anxiety management tools. Getting my worry of the day into words, then sharing those words within my peer support network helps me tremendously in getting those bothers into manageable, bite size format. Being nervous about illness, etc., is as natural as getting nervous about a massive storm front heading my way. It is even wise to be alert at such time. My therapy supporters help me keep that beneficial anxiety to beneficial proportions. Without that support, beneficial anxiety escalates to destructive proportions as naturally as storm fronts create tornadoes. An all-important diff is that a tornado inside of human skin is ouchus maximus.

Keep working the thread, Moss Rose. Therapy works if you work it and you are wort it. Welcome aboard.

Something similar happened to me. I spent almost an entire year...fearing that something was wrong with my heart. That fear jacked up my anxiety....made me have anxiety over my anxiety...and it was actually just yesterday where I had a conversation with myself about the whole situation.

All that has seemed to subside...I did a few things to help it. I'll list them and perhaps you can try a few things and figure out what is best for you.

1) Incorporated a new mantra - "Because I trust myself" (this kind of came to me from article I read...I gave it a go...repeating it over and over all day...then when I felt anxious - basically with my health anxiety...i did not trust my body) It made me start feeding into every sensation in my body.

2) I stopped caffeine. Addressed mood issues with supplements that helped with serotonin at night, and dopamine in the morning.

3) I was sleeping better bc of this. When I don't sleep well I feel anxious and on edge the next day.

4) Anything that you hide from doing b/c it makes you anxious...do them. After you do...go over it with yourself...like...hey I didn't have a panic attack...that was all in my head!

5) If you did feel anxious...then pat yourself on the back...I made it thru even when I felt anxious!

6) Certain trigger such as my mother's failing health makes me anxious about my own. I often have to remind myself that her illnesses are not mine. Then have healthy outlets to let go of the worry.

7) worry less...stop them in their track as they pop up. Say to yourself...worrying about this gets me no where. Repeat the mantra! "I trust myself".

These are just some tips...nothing happens over night...but us these or other methods as tools in your arsenal of dealing with your anxiety. It will get better..and then something can happen...but you always have your anxiety tool belt ready to go!

Looking back...I was like...I spent a fucking year fearing....fearing....and making myself crazy, paranoid, and not allowing myself enjoy experiences. You can overcome it as well! Don't lose hope!

Sending you light and love!

Thank you so much mid, jewelarcher, arfie and Lavender80 for sharing your experience and advice. It is a huge help. Arfie you are right that getting the thoughts out of my head and into words has taken away some of the tidal waves of panic it was giving me.

And Lavender80, your list is very valuable. I have been working on the "I trust myself and my body" mantra. You had mentioned your mother's failing health as a trigger. I am also caring for an aging mom and find that after spending the day with her, I sometime feel like an 85 year old too, as if I absorbed her health issues. It's a hard thing to shake off isn't it?

I appreciate everyone's time and compassion.

Hi....I agree that if your dr thought your heart issue was very serious, he wouldn't have let you walk away.

I, too, cared for my mother at her home just like a hospice nurse would until she passed. It's tough and the hardest thing I ever had to do WHILE fighting my own anxiety! You stare your own mortality in the face.

I recommend a resource I have found that does help and that's The Anxiety Guy. He's great. You can just google that, find him on FB, youtube...well, he's everywhere. His site is anxietyexit.com. If you have a particular fear or concern, email him and he will send you links to some of his podcasts/videos that address your concern. He is very ineractive.

Good Luck to you and I hope things get better.