Welcome Roger!

Yes, that is a common thing with anxiety attacks. A lot of us feel like it is a heart attack, and lots of us go to the ER and find out it's not a heart attack after all.

You are not alone.

Anxiety will increase your heart rate. I would suggest to do the follow up blood work with your PCP this week, and talk to your doctor about your concerns.

At night, try to find something relaxing to do, maybe watch some TV and try to get your mind off of it if you can. I know it's hard to do, but keep yourself mentally busy as well as physically busy..... oh, and taking walks helps with anxiety, so if you could start walking, that would help your anxiety and your weight, too. So that would be a great thing for you to start doing.

Best wishes.

Thank you. I walk quite a bit and have lost 20 pounds over the quarantine. I watch tv until around 2 am. At which point I am so exhausted that I cant help but go to sleep.

I know what you mean about the palpitations. I think when you're lying in bed, you notice them more maybe, because it's quiet and you're just lying there (for me, too!!!).

It will be good to discuss it with your doctor this week, hopefully they will help you feel better with their reassurances.

Thanks GirlinCalif. I actually had a stress test done last year, so I know highly unlikely that there is actually something wrong with my heart. I went to emergency clinic last night because I was having stomach/abdomen pains. All tests came back negative so it has to be psychosomatic.

Hello,
I too have those feelings and exact thoughts. I have been dealing with new anxiety and panic attacks for about a week now and it’s been very hard to cope. Mine started after taking what I thought was LSD ( big mistake) I went to the hospital because every muscle in my body cramped up, including my tongue, my heart rate was 134+. They did a EKG and said there was no abnormalities. They sent me home but a couple hours, I Couldn’t stop thinking about the cramping and muscle spasm and I freaked myself out and went to the hospital again thinking it was a heart attack.. this time they admitted me over night to monitor my heart rate and had 2 more EKGs done and still nothing was wrong... my mind keeps replaying that night and I have a constant fear of dying especially when I feel the palpitations or muscle twitches and cramping and it throws me into a really bad panic attack that I’m so scared to sleep thinking I’ll have a heart attack in my sleep. I try to keep myself distracted but that too can become very draining. It’s been very rough

I had panic attacks for ten years. And yes, with some of the more severe ones I felt that sensation in my chest, probably caused by a tightening of the muscles in and around the chest. As for feeling it while you are in bed, I can relate to that. My anxiety was almost always worst when I was lying down. When I would get out of bed and walk around the anxiety would almost always lessen somewhat. I still feel some of those palpitations from time to time, almost always when I am lying in bed. Today I just notice them, don't give them too much thought, and they always pass. BTW, I know that just thinking your way out of panic attacks is not easy, especially when you are new to them. If you have not done so already, please consider asking your PCP about anxiety reducing drugs (Lexapro, Wellbutrin, etc.). They were highly effective for me.

I hope you find some value in all my rambling above. What I really wanted to communicate is that I have been through many, many panic attacks. I know how scary they can be. I feel for you and wish you the very best. I hope you can find relief from the fear these strange emotional reactions bring.

yes, had it yesterday, and stomach pain. but now I feel better. :)