Stress Center Peer Support

OMG!!!! I haven't been on here in forever!!!! I think not since b4 I got married, which was back in JUNE. Anyway, I've been going through alot stress wise lately, and felt I needed some reassurence from my fellow Stress Center Peers!!

The marrige has been going well, but I have been having no luck in the financial/job/career part of my life. I feel like I'm going through a mid-life crisis as far as figuring out what I'm supposed to be doing with my life career wise. I've been in and out of school since 2003, and still haven't managed to stick with it, to finish with some sort of degree in my hands. I'm no longer interested in the field I was going for(radiology), and now very interested in going to a school for a fashion degree. I was excitied about it @ first, until I learned how much its gonna cost to get that degree!!

Stressed out from not working for a year, just going to school and collecting unemployment, then I finally do decide 2 venture out to get another job just a few months ago, got hired, I hated it, it was way to physical of a job, but I had to stick with it cuz I needed the $$$!!! Only to get fired from there a week and a half b4 my 90days, bcuz they felt I was not right for the job, I moved too slow!!! I busted my ass @ that dirty, grimmy, job, only for them to get rid of me days b4 I became permanant!!!!

So, back on the grind, wishing I would have just kept collecting unemployment!!! My heart usually palpitates every now and then especially b4 my time of the month. Well its a week b4 my time of the month again, and my heart has been beating more irregularly than usual, more frequent palpitations, and I feel nausea at times, and a little acid reflux!!! Is this normal???????? It started just last night after I ate a bowl of cookie crisp cereal, and then my heart strated racing and palpitating!!! I also just started a antibiotic, bcuz even though I'm about to b 31yrs old, I have severe adult acne!!! So taking prescribed antibiotics for that, and yes still faithful to my beloved Lexapro!!! Should I make an appt., to get my heart cked out again. I haven't been to the doctor in about almost a year, and I've had blood work done b4, heart tests, stuff like that. I'm just scared when it comes to crazy sensations with my heart!!! Sorry sooo long, but what do ya'll think??????

Hello,

Yes, stress and anxiety can definitely make heart palpitations and acid reflux much worse. Stress and anxiety stimulate our brains and then our vagus nerve reacts. The vagus nerve connects a lot of our body including the heart and stomach area. So when it gets stimluated all kinds of wonderful things happen.

These heart palpitations are more than likely simply benign PVCs or PACs... some people call them skipped beats or heart flutters. I have them all the time and they are totally harmless although they certainly can be annoying. With me, they increase with stress and anxiety. I have been checked out many times and everything is fine.

Acid reflux (or GERD) similarly is intensified with stress and anxiety. I have that as well and am on a medication to control it.

With regard to the heart palpitations, you may want to check with your doctor about wearing a 24 hour heart monitor. You may have done this before. It will catch any "flutters" during that 24 hour period. It appears that you have had checkups and all is well, but don't be scared to bring your concerns to your physician and get his/her advice. With regard to acid reflux, talk with your doctor about this. He may want to have this checked out. And there are many medications to keep this under control.

However, yes, what you have is definitely exacerbated by stress and anxiety. Also, I notice you mentioned Lexapro, so you have some depression. This, coupled with your anxiety, also can trigger these heart palpitations and cause excessive acid reflux.

It's a pity, really, that most of these things that we have are all connected. However, that's the way the body works. And in most instances the brain and its chemicals control it all.

I hope this was of some comfort to you. Good luck and relax!

I suffer from the same. Especially when I wake up in the middle of the night, thinking. My employer fired me in Sept. (after they let me finish payroll).

I want you to know that you are not alone. If you find a good way to combat these symptoms, I would love to hear.

Hoping the best for you.

Hi Brandi, I have suffered from these heart flutters for years it tends to scare me at times. I noticed when I cut the sugar these became few and far in between uless like you I'm about to start or have a head ache. In which case I take pamprin or valerian root or its equal valium.
I noticed you had this heart palp after you ate a bowl of cookie crisp which is full of suger and at night. We digest food diffrently at night then in the day time. I know it is so hard but cutting suger helped me some.

Thx guyz, I really appreciate the feedback. It makes mr feel alot better, and worry alot less!!!

This morning I woke up with a headache on mainly one side of my head, mostly the forehead. Of course it had me going a little bcuz I'm not one to get too many headaches hardly ever. Then I felt nausea all morning between my diaphram and my lower ribs, couldn't figure out why! On top of that my heart beating crazy. I got up and moved around, and it all pretty much went away. Weird, but glad its moved on. Maybe it is just stress, and stuff I eat. Thx again though!