Ltb...I feel your pain. Since my doc diagnosed me with high bp I got so anxious I had an anxiety attack there. Then of course she wanted to take my bp again...really?!?

I've changed my diet, started exercising, and have lost some weight but when they take it in the dr office it's still quite high. I can feel my anxiety grow as I follownthe nurse into the exam room.

Since I've been monitoring it at home it's been much better but I still get anxious and feel myself stiffen when my ,monitor starts. Ugh. I've been practicing diaphragmatic breathing and do this for five minutes or so before I take my bp. I also say a prayer as intake it and this helps calm me as well.

Sorry you are going thru this..I hope you a way to get over this phobia. Maybe some CBT?

I could use some support! I was recently dx with HTN and started on Toprol and HCTZ (low doses). After 2 weeks the meds worked great, my bP was down and no more headaches. About 1 month later my BP spiked and now they double of meds doses and I have headaches daily. They can't get it under control and yesterday I was started on Cozaar in addition. I hate that darn bp machine and I freak out thinking about taking my BP. I am having so much anxiety and taking xanax to sleep which is not really helping. I need to relaz, sleep and not think about this but it is hard when I am having headaches and fear my bp will not get better. How has anyone gotten through this till there bP got under control??? HELP!!!

I am sorry you are going through all this! I understand completely how you feel. I take Xanax as well and lately, every day, because I think about my BP all the time...every little ache or pain, I'm thinking I'm going to stroke out any minute! I attribute it all to my high anxiety, because I have had this fear a looong time, and if it were truly my BP causing my symptoms, I think I would've stroked out a long time ago!

Sometimes, it takes trial and error to find the right med that will work for you. I was on Cozaar before my dr. prescribed Benicar. Some people on these forums take several diff. meds to control their BP.

Don't have any good advice, as I am going through the same fears as you are. Some people have told me deep breathing exercises and maybe seeing a therapist who uses cognitive behavior therapy so that you can desensitize yourself from your fear.

Just keep posting...sometimes knowing others are in the same boat can be very comforting!

Thanks for your response! Who knew blood pressure could cause so much anxiety. It is hard when you have been healthy, on no meds and then have to take medications. Of course I worry about all the side effects..it is never ending. I am working on trying to relax, and would be great if I could stop thinking about it these stupid BP readings!. Hopefully in time. It helps hearing that others feel the same!

Hi i'm a 28 yr old female....healthy, good body weight, exercise, don't smoke, drink water and take care of myself. I have normal blood pressure readings at my house, well, GREAT blood pressure readings such as 94/62 (yes, i have confirmed my machine is accurate) for past few yrs i get elevated readings at DR's office. my dr has guaranteed me this is white coat syndrome. I had tried just about everything to help me relax before DR appt...meditating etc etc nothing ever helped me......BUT I youtubed "EFT (emotional freedom technique) i've been tapping the points daily while repeating to myself " I completely and fully love, accept and forgive myself....every single cell in my body is letting go of all negative emotion and stress and i'm replenishing with love, acceptence, and oxygen"...."all of my cells are perfectly healthy"" i acknowledge my high blood pressure and still love and accept myself and command my blood pressure to be normal for my body"..............this sounds kinda goofy but it works!!!!!! my reading at DR office was 120/82 and for somebody with white coat that is perfect news!!!!! try the EFT!!!!!!!!!! IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!

Have to go for phase 2 of my root canal surgery on Monday and am scared out of my wits............not the dental work, but having my BP taken! Last time I went, the dentist almost didn't go through with the procedure because my BP was so high.

I am dreading this again.....is this always going to be the case every damned time I have a doctor's appointment?

How often do you take your BP ? I take mine four times daily. So for me it's no different than brushing my teeth or combing my hair. Just part of the daily routine. I log all my readings at
http://www.bpchronicle.com/blood-pressure-log.php
The app figures my daily (averages) and puts them on a chart. I go by what my averages are rather than worry about individual readings.
Good luck

My whole problem is the fact that I can no longer take my readings at home either! Every time I even look at my home monitor, I feel the anxiety setting in.

That is why I have started this topic, because I don't even know if I have HBP because I'm always stressed about having it taken.

Ltb...I'm wondering if taking your blood pressure more often at home would desensitize you? It would become such a part of your day that you wouldn't think anything of it. exposure therapy in a sense.

Not sure if it would work but just an idea. I've been taking mine about three times a day and I've noticed the longer I've been doing this the less I freak out about it.

I agree with sleepyby8, Start taking it more often and you may find it becomes not a big deal. Remember damage from high blood pressure happens over time, so a high reading now and again is not cause for alarm. I took my pressure this morning Right arm was 151/71 eek. Left arm was 119/71 this averages out to about 135/71 a little high but not the end of the world. especially since I know what caused it, I ate like crap on Sunday afternoon. Since I took my pressure and logged it I know what to do (stop eating crap). What did I eat ? store bought meatballs and Alfredo sauce. So damage done I must try to do better.

Appreciate the suggestions, tell my nerves that! It might work over time, but how do I stop the anxiety the minute I step into any doctor's office? I cannot believe a dentist takes BP! Told him to go ahead and start the root canal 2 wks. ago, but he insisted he take it again, he wasn't going to do the procedure.

Have to go back this afternoon for the rest of it, and am shaking just typing this, hardly slept all night. Even Xanax doesn't help the BP go down!

I used to be like you, obsessed, get anxiety, and stress about blood pressure readings. I take losartan 2 a day. Take your blood pressure in the evening, it is usually at it's lowest. Eat/drink alot of potassium, that brings it down. By reading your posts, you are creating a high reading by stressing out. By the way, you never mentioned your bp reading, do you recall the number?

Ski high at any doctor or clinic appt.....can be as high as 195/97.....before I developed this phobia, I would take it home and it would be around140/80, still a bit high but I'd take that anyday. When I visit my sis in Fla, she's a nurse and she uses the old fashioned one that she pumps up (not these stupid arm wrist thingies the nurses use in the doctor's office) andi it would be around 120/80. Lowest it's ever been was 117/70, as long as it wasn't taken in a medical setting.

My psch doctor, who treats me for major panic disorder, says that my high anxiety can definitely make my pressure go up, funny tho, I feel fine, no headaches, blurred vision, dizziness............hah, maybe that's why it's called the silent killer?!

Good news! Popped a few Xanax b4 the dental appt.and BP reading wasn't that bad! Actually dozed off and snored in the dentist chair, the dentist was laughing! Never have I ever been that relaxed in that kind of setting. Maybe I need 2 make sure I take Xanax b4 any dr. appt. so that by the time I arrive there, I will be relaxed and not so stressed over having my BP taken!