Afraid of relaxation...

EricC · Post by **EricC** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:49 pm

Relaxation kind of feels foreign to me because I've been so strung up for the past year or so. Sometimes when I'm not anxious of anything at all it's like there's a void there (that used to be filled with anxiety), and with nothing bothering me I'll enter a state of deep relaxation.

My pulse rate when I'm very relaxed is 49-60ish. (Yes its gone to the high 40s!) Which kind of bothers me... I keep thinking that its too slow...

I'm 23 years old and I do jog 5-6 times a week.

Has anybody else had a fear of relaxation or of a slow pulse when relaxed?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:10 am

Hey Eric:

I, too, get nervous when I'm not anxious. I think we need to remember that we're changing our lives here and it will take some getting used to. The way it feels to me is that I'm floating along relaxed and happy and then I think - "I'm not anxious. Why?"

I also get nervous if I'm not obsessing about work. Like I might forget something important.

We both need to accept that changing our reactions and thinking about our life circumstances will take some getting used to, but we will ultimately feel better for it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:26 am

EricC, when I'm at my most relaxed state by pule rate is in the low 60s, BUT I am not in very good physical shape. My guess is that you flirt with the high 40s because you jog several times a week, you are young, and you're probably in good shape.

I don't think it's anything to be concerned about, but if you still are, talk to your doc about it. Take care.

Stagerlee · Post by **Stagerlee** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:14 am

When my pulse rate went down due to being and functioning more in a relaxed state my Dr. wanted to know what happened. So of course, being the worrier that I sometimes am I started asking her "What is too low?" and "What do you do if it goes too low?" etc etc. The nurse said "Geez I would be happy if my pulse rate was that good. You worry if it's too high, then you worry if it's too low!" I laughed at myself later over this. Yes I still have work to do on the 'worrying over physical ailments'. Check with your Dr. to ease your mind.

When we have been running on anxiety and adrenaline for a long time the feeling of being relaxed can be really foreign. I thought I was getting depressed when a lot of my anxiety subsided but later realized that I had just come down a few hundred rungs on the anxiety ladder. It's an adjustment and sometimes I don't feel I've accomplished all that I used to BUT - I feel soooo much better and comfortable this way that I would not trade this feeling now for anything! It takes awhile to feel comfortable with this "new" state of being.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:22 am

Thanks all, my mom is 49 and jogs 5 miles a day still, when she was pregnant with me (in her 20s) she said she had a resting pulse of 36 so I guess it runs in the family. Her current resting pulse is in the 40s.

I don't experience any dizziness or lightheadedness while my pulse is low and when I start to worry about it, my rate shoots right back up. Also there are no heart problems in my family >_<

It's something I'm going to have to get used to I guess.

Thanks for the replies all, cheers.