HEART PALPS
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NOT AGAIN///
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:22 am
My heart is skipping a beat and this really scares me, last nite, I thought I was having a heart attack. I am at work right now and feel so sick, scared, overwhelmed, stomach upset, everything. Should my heart be skipping and palpitating like this? Maybe I should quit my job, I dont know what to do. I am doing the program, but I am still not doing well.
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Guest
Hi,
Sorry you are having such a hard time:(. First of all, as the program recommends, you should have a physical to rule out any heart condition/thyroid condition, etc. Sometimes, it can be scary to have the tests, but it's well worth it. Until you've had the tests to rule out those types of problems, it's just harder to talk yourself out of the palpitations if they are indeed caused by panic. I went all the way with my tests, including an ultrasound of my heart. The ultrasound technician said that my heart pictures were beautiful and that was very comforting to hear:).
If you've had those tests to rule out those conditions, just know that palpitations are a common symptom of anxiety, and not a sign that you are going to die. Anxiety causes adrenaline to pump through your body, and palpitations are just a side effect of the adrenaline. You can have them when you are tired as well, and caffeine definitely causes them. Once you know that a health problem isn't the cause of them, you can begin to use the techniques in this program to calm yourself down when you have them by telling yourself the truth about why you are having them. For example, you will be able to say, "I'm just tired. I'm just nervous today..I skipped lunch and ofcourse I'm having some palpitations, etc." As you learn to talk to yourself by telling yourself the truth and not over reacting, you will have less of them. When you become afraid of them, it causes your body to produce more adrenaline which causes more palpitations, and it's just this ongoing painful cycle. I'm not a medical doctor, but all of us at some time have a palpitation or two. Nervous people have more of them.
I know you say you are doing the program, but please give yourself plenty of time to learn these new skills. Believe me, I thought I was the worst, beyond help, etc. I can say that I am almost panic free right now, and it's a great feeling. It did take longer than I wanted it to, but it was well worth it because something has deep inside of me has changed, and it will be difficult to go back to where I was when I first started the program.
Also, I noticed that you said that you thought that you should quit your job because of your palpitations. Is your job a source of stress for you right now? Do you enjoy what you are doing? Are you in a position where you feel like you have to do this job, but you really don't want to? Is it a high performance job? Sometimes we can have anxiety when we are trying to avoid something that causes us discomfort. The anxiety is not fun, but it appears to be the lesser of two evils, and it's a way of escape. I know I don't have the answers for you regarding that, but it is something to think about. I think that if you keep going with the program, you'll be able to see if that's a source of anxiety:), and how to deal with that.
Take care,
luvpiggy
Sorry you are having such a hard time:(. First of all, as the program recommends, you should have a physical to rule out any heart condition/thyroid condition, etc. Sometimes, it can be scary to have the tests, but it's well worth it. Until you've had the tests to rule out those types of problems, it's just harder to talk yourself out of the palpitations if they are indeed caused by panic. I went all the way with my tests, including an ultrasound of my heart. The ultrasound technician said that my heart pictures were beautiful and that was very comforting to hear:).
If you've had those tests to rule out those conditions, just know that palpitations are a common symptom of anxiety, and not a sign that you are going to die. Anxiety causes adrenaline to pump through your body, and palpitations are just a side effect of the adrenaline. You can have them when you are tired as well, and caffeine definitely causes them. Once you know that a health problem isn't the cause of them, you can begin to use the techniques in this program to calm yourself down when you have them by telling yourself the truth about why you are having them. For example, you will be able to say, "I'm just tired. I'm just nervous today..I skipped lunch and ofcourse I'm having some palpitations, etc." As you learn to talk to yourself by telling yourself the truth and not over reacting, you will have less of them. When you become afraid of them, it causes your body to produce more adrenaline which causes more palpitations, and it's just this ongoing painful cycle. I'm not a medical doctor, but all of us at some time have a palpitation or two. Nervous people have more of them.
I know you say you are doing the program, but please give yourself plenty of time to learn these new skills. Believe me, I thought I was the worst, beyond help, etc. I can say that I am almost panic free right now, and it's a great feeling. It did take longer than I wanted it to, but it was well worth it because something has deep inside of me has changed, and it will be difficult to go back to where I was when I first started the program.
Also, I noticed that you said that you thought that you should quit your job because of your palpitations. Is your job a source of stress for you right now? Do you enjoy what you are doing? Are you in a position where you feel like you have to do this job, but you really don't want to? Is it a high performance job? Sometimes we can have anxiety when we are trying to avoid something that causes us discomfort. The anxiety is not fun, but it appears to be the lesser of two evils, and it's a way of escape. I know I don't have the answers for you regarding that, but it is something to think about. I think that if you keep going with the program, you'll be able to see if that's a source of anxiety:), and how to deal with that.
Take care,
luvpiggy
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Guest
Hi Piggy:
Thank you so much for responding!! I feel so alone right now, I have been consumed with this all day at work and my boss has been fabulous, she truly is a wonderful source of inspiration for me, she is sooooo supportive its unreal. I felt like running before and she did not allow me too, because she cares. I had blood work, everything was fine, Had an EKG and they said my heart was skipping a beat and that it was definitely due to the anxiety. My husband is a diabetic and suffered a seizure last nite, so I did not get much sleep and before that I kept feeling my heart skip a beat, it freaked me out last nite and I could not sleep very well. I am an assistant manager of a big bank, some pressures but not much. My boss lets me run the show and does not worry, she knows, I can handle my job.I am just a nervous wreck and ever since I started getting these attacks a few months ago,that is all I think about. One of the girls at work, her name is Jayme is so supportive, she gets them too, but not as bad as I do. The drive to work is about 45 minutes back and forth and that is starting to kill me. I get nervous that I will have a heart attack on the road. Please advise me Piggy!!
Thank you so much for responding!! I feel so alone right now, I have been consumed with this all day at work and my boss has been fabulous, she truly is a wonderful source of inspiration for me, she is sooooo supportive its unreal. I felt like running before and she did not allow me too, because she cares. I had blood work, everything was fine, Had an EKG and they said my heart was skipping a beat and that it was definitely due to the anxiety. My husband is a diabetic and suffered a seizure last nite, so I did not get much sleep and before that I kept feeling my heart skip a beat, it freaked me out last nite and I could not sleep very well. I am an assistant manager of a big bank, some pressures but not much. My boss lets me run the show and does not worry, she knows, I can handle my job.I am just a nervous wreck and ever since I started getting these attacks a few months ago,that is all I think about. One of the girls at work, her name is Jayme is so supportive, she gets them too, but not as bad as I do. The drive to work is about 45 minutes back and forth and that is starting to kill me. I get nervous that I will have a heart attack on the road. Please advise me Piggy!!
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Guest
Hi there. I am sorry to hear all that you are going through.
I feel that if you had blood work done and it all came back okay there is a 99% chance that you are okay and this is just heart palipatations.
I feel it would be a good idea to ask your doctor ro please allow you to wear a Heart Holter for 24 hours so that can track your heart beats.
I have Sinus Tarchycardia and a Tyhyroid condition which makes the heart act crazy at times.
Please keep us updated
I feel that if you had blood work done and it all came back okay there is a 99% chance that you are okay and this is just heart palipatations.
I feel it would be a good idea to ask your doctor ro please allow you to wear a Heart Holter for 24 hours so that can track your heart beats.
I have Sinus Tarchycardia and a Tyhyroid condition which makes the heart act crazy at times.
Please keep us updated
Hi,
Well, I just wanted to say again that I am not a medical doctor or a counselor, but in my humble opinion, you are experiencing stress and anxiety because of your husband's health problems. I have a son who has severe autism, and he had a horrible seizure two years ago. It was a lot of stress, and I have a lot of stress in dealing with his chronic condition.
In my humble opinion, I just think that your husband's health issues are causing you a lot of fear because you don't want anything bad to happen to him because you love him so much. Therefore, you are having anxiety and focusing on your own health as a distraction from thinking about how afraid you are for him. Does that sound like a possibility to you? It's just my opinion, and I could be wrong. In addition, his health problems are making you feel vulnerable about your own health. I am not a medical doctor, but it looks like you've had the tests to rule out your own medical problems. You could have more if you wanted, but it looks like you've gone pretty far with them.
So, my advice is to first of all acknowledge the stress and pain you are in because of your husband's health problems. It's very scary when someone we love is sick, and I know for me personally that when my son was diagnosed with autism, I just wanted to trade places with him. I also had and still have a lot of guilt as his mother by thinking that I caused it, don't help him enough, etc. It's just stressful. I think sometimes that my severe anxiety was an unconcious attempt to distract myself from the awesome pain I felt over his condition at times if that makes any since. It's not selfishness either. It's just putting the focus on your self because it's so painful that something bad is happening to someone you love. You also need loving support for being the caregiver as well. Please don't underestimate the impact that this can have on your life. I know that it's scary to even admit it or acknowledge it.
Secondly, I know that this program can be done without a counselor, but I highly recommend that you see a counselor who can help you deal with your grief and anxiety regarding your husband's health. Also, I'm glad you have a great job. Are you the sole income provider since your husband is sick? This can cause a lot of pressure when you feel like the weight of his health, providing for the family, etc. is on your shoulders. I had the worst panic attack where I thought I was dying after my son's diagnosis when I was going to get him from a daycare that didn't want him, and I was working at a job that was just too stressful. It was all just so overwhelming, and I literally felt like the weight of the world was crushing me. It was just too much stress, and I didn't yet have the coping skills to deal with that stress. I didn't have a heart attack though, just a horrible panic attack. It's most likely the same situation with you. Also, the long drive probably gives you a lot of time to think about things you don't want to think about. I really don't think you are dying or that you are going to have a heart attack. You are not crazy either. You are just under alot of stress and you just don't have the coping skills yet to deal with the stress. The good news is that this program can help you learn those coping skills.
I will say that this program can not change your circumstances regarding your husband's health. It can't cure my son's autism, and it can't make your husband well. What it can do is help you understand that any stress, even good stress, can cause panic attacks and anxiety when we don't have proper coping skills and self-esteem. It helps you understand the anatomy of the panic, etc. You then take that information from the program and use it to control what you do have control over-you and how you respond. When you exercise control over what you do have control over, you then begin to gain a sense of confidence and mastery, and you learn that eventhough your husband is sick and it causes you pain at times, you can cope with the stressful situation in a healthy manner.
So, you can't control your husband's health, but you can find the strength to cope with it appropriately. I imagine that you are not giving yourself enough credit for how strong you really are. I imagine that you are feeling you can't handle the situation, yet you are successful in banking, etc. and have many talents. Also, are you giving yourself room to grieve? You are allowed to be upset at times. You are allowed to feel feelings, and with the proper skills and support, you can learn to feel those painful feelings without totally losing control in a panic attack, etc.
So, I just think you are going through a lot, and it's normal to experience symptoms from the stress. This program can help you understand what's happening and give you the skills to coope with any life challenges.
Hope something I said helps. You can also private message me if you think talking in private with me can help you in anyway.
Take care,
luvpiggy
Well, I just wanted to say again that I am not a medical doctor or a counselor, but in my humble opinion, you are experiencing stress and anxiety because of your husband's health problems. I have a son who has severe autism, and he had a horrible seizure two years ago. It was a lot of stress, and I have a lot of stress in dealing with his chronic condition.
In my humble opinion, I just think that your husband's health issues are causing you a lot of fear because you don't want anything bad to happen to him because you love him so much. Therefore, you are having anxiety and focusing on your own health as a distraction from thinking about how afraid you are for him. Does that sound like a possibility to you? It's just my opinion, and I could be wrong. In addition, his health problems are making you feel vulnerable about your own health. I am not a medical doctor, but it looks like you've had the tests to rule out your own medical problems. You could have more if you wanted, but it looks like you've gone pretty far with them.
So, my advice is to first of all acknowledge the stress and pain you are in because of your husband's health problems. It's very scary when someone we love is sick, and I know for me personally that when my son was diagnosed with autism, I just wanted to trade places with him. I also had and still have a lot of guilt as his mother by thinking that I caused it, don't help him enough, etc. It's just stressful. I think sometimes that my severe anxiety was an unconcious attempt to distract myself from the awesome pain I felt over his condition at times if that makes any since. It's not selfishness either. It's just putting the focus on your self because it's so painful that something bad is happening to someone you love. You also need loving support for being the caregiver as well. Please don't underestimate the impact that this can have on your life. I know that it's scary to even admit it or acknowledge it.
Secondly, I know that this program can be done without a counselor, but I highly recommend that you see a counselor who can help you deal with your grief and anxiety regarding your husband's health. Also, I'm glad you have a great job. Are you the sole income provider since your husband is sick? This can cause a lot of pressure when you feel like the weight of his health, providing for the family, etc. is on your shoulders. I had the worst panic attack where I thought I was dying after my son's diagnosis when I was going to get him from a daycare that didn't want him, and I was working at a job that was just too stressful. It was all just so overwhelming, and I literally felt like the weight of the world was crushing me. It was just too much stress, and I didn't yet have the coping skills to deal with that stress. I didn't have a heart attack though, just a horrible panic attack. It's most likely the same situation with you. Also, the long drive probably gives you a lot of time to think about things you don't want to think about. I really don't think you are dying or that you are going to have a heart attack. You are not crazy either. You are just under alot of stress and you just don't have the coping skills yet to deal with the stress. The good news is that this program can help you learn those coping skills.
I will say that this program can not change your circumstances regarding your husband's health. It can't cure my son's autism, and it can't make your husband well. What it can do is help you understand that any stress, even good stress, can cause panic attacks and anxiety when we don't have proper coping skills and self-esteem. It helps you understand the anatomy of the panic, etc. You then take that information from the program and use it to control what you do have control over-you and how you respond. When you exercise control over what you do have control over, you then begin to gain a sense of confidence and mastery, and you learn that eventhough your husband is sick and it causes you pain at times, you can cope with the stressful situation in a healthy manner.
So, you can't control your husband's health, but you can find the strength to cope with it appropriately. I imagine that you are not giving yourself enough credit for how strong you really are. I imagine that you are feeling you can't handle the situation, yet you are successful in banking, etc. and have many talents. Also, are you giving yourself room to grieve? You are allowed to be upset at times. You are allowed to feel feelings, and with the proper skills and support, you can learn to feel those painful feelings without totally losing control in a panic attack, etc.
So, I just think you are going through a lot, and it's normal to experience symptoms from the stress. This program can help you understand what's happening and give you the skills to coope with any life challenges.
Hope something I said helps. You can also private message me if you think talking in private with me can help you in anyway.
Take care,
luvpiggy
~~*Karla*~~