Stress Center Peer Support

Hello, I have been struggling with anxiety, stress and panic attacks. I often get heart palpitations and/or shortness of breath. Does anyone else get this? I have had an echocardiogram done in March of this year and numerous EKG'S, holter monitors too. Everything always comes back fine (thank you Jesu!) but I still get scared when I get them. Sometimes I will get them just walking from one room to another. Sometimes I get so scared that I just sit on the couch. Once again I have an appt. on Monday to see my cardio dr. as I tried exercising on a treadmill my husband got me about 2 months ago. It has just been looking at me and me at it. So I decided to get on it and as soon as I did, bam, here go the heart palps and the shortness of breath! I get so frustrated, scared and mad all at the same time! We are under extra stress this year as my husband's job has cut way back and we are losing our home. I KNOW the Lord will take care of us but I can't seem to get my body to listen!!! Any imput would be much appreciated!!

Racing heart and shortness of breath are basic stress and anxiety symptoms. It sounds to me like you have a great many reasons to be anxious and stressed. Have you practiced deep breathing? My therapist is very into Yoga and she taught me over the years how to use deep breathing to control nearly every aspect of my anxiety. You can look online for various methods of learning how to breath in order to lower your anxiety. I would suggest that every time you feel short of breath or your heart racing, you stop and take ten deep breaths. Eventually, this will train your body to breath that way all the time and cut down on your anxiety.

Meanwhile, you may want to ask your doctor if he can give you a mild tranquilizer. There's no reason for you to suffer this much.

Feel better.

Thank you for the response and advice. I do take a low dose of xanax which helps. I have been taught how to do the deep breathing but haven't been as faithful with it as I should be. It's hard to do it when anxiety is knocking on the door!! Knowing I'm not the only one who has had this helps alot! Thanks for taking the time to respond. God bless.

I get rapid heartbeat when i am called on to speak in front of ppl, get into confrontations or hear bad news....During these attacks, i can barely breath or speak. Sometimes i get so spaced that its hard to even think. All i can focus on or the only thing i hear sometimes is my labored breathing so i know what you are going through.

Reggie