So long story short
For the last six months I've had problems with my heart, that the doctors don't know how to fix.

Although the condition doesn't affect my day to day activities too much, it's caused me to become extremely anxious over the last few months. I'm constantly in a anxious state and find it hard to go out and do things because I know that there is something wrong. My anxiety is so string that my neck and back have become rock hard from stress.

They have tried putting me on anti-anxiety medication but because I'm anxious about a problem, not just in general, it doesn't seem to work that well.

Has anyone here suffered from anxiety and know some tips that's helped them move on from it?

I often tell myself "there's nothing to worry about" but it doesn't seem to work at all.

Suggestions?

Hey I was just about to post on your blog. I'm so sorry you're dealing with that right now. I also suffer from anxiety. It makes me paralyzed with fear and I end up not being able to do anything at all, which is really upsetting and counter-productive. I need some coping mechanisms tbh. But and if you want to talk or just have a sympathetic ear, my wall and PM's are always open. Good luck

Mine was never SEVERE but it has calmed down a lot in the past three years. It's something that you never overcome. I have too much nervous energy and, as a result, often go days without eating because I can't keep food down. You just have to fight through it.

I usually have to be drunk before I can even step foot in a nightclub AND I can't stand to know what's going on around me because details freak me out.

I always have had a fast heart rate and I have anxiety/panic attacks on top of it. I have to take medicine when it gets really bad (physically shaking, feeling as if my heart is pumping in my neck, negative thoughts). When this happens, I always try to think happy and positive thoughts. Like, my dogs, and how much I love them.

The medicine should work. Some of it has to be in your system for a while before it will start working. Some of it is fast acting, and should take the edge off right away. Although, you can't really function normally because the latter makes you drowsy.

I'm not sure if your heart rate speeds up during these attacks, but mine does. Your normal HR is 60-90, mine is always at 110. When I have a panic attack it will jump up to 190 which is deathly too high. The doctors have actually said I could suffer from a blood clot when my heart is pumping that fast. Anyway, if you feel your heart is beating out of your chest, this will sound weird, but bear down like you are having a bowel movement, it actually lowers your heart rate. I also try to drink plenty of water. I will tell myself I am "just dehydrated" and that's why I am shaking, in turn, drinking water helps calm me down. Also, some relaxing tea might help as well.
Btw: if you are a smoker or coffee/caffeine drinker, you might want to consider giving them up. Both of them fuel anxiety and can trigger panic attacks.

Hope I have helped you. Sorry you have to go through this, it's one of the worst feelings in the world

I was diagnosed with severe anxiety at the age of 15 and I was put on medication. It didn't help me even when they up'd the dosage. I just stopped using them once I turned 17 and decided to put matters into my own hands. I'm almost 22 now and still dealing with it. Though I don't have the condition as bad as you do, and my heart goes out to you, my hands tend to start shaking and my throat + mouth get really dry when I'm nervous / anxious.Also, when this happens, I get easily overwhelmed and my eyes hold at a wide open, paranoid position and it's extremely noticeable, as if I seen a ghost or somethin.

But I've learned to kind of... make situations easier or slide by with the anxiety going unnoticed. I still shake due to anxiety but I learned smiling actually helps (not even kidding) and just stating you're nervous in a cute joking kind of way will ease the anxiety because even more anxiety is added when you think about it being noticed. I don't find it hard to go out or meet new people because I've learned my own patterns and ways of the anxiety I'm dealing with. I keep my hands busy because if still, the shaking gets uncontrollable. Find out your patterns and start there.

Edit: "I'm constantly in a anxious state and find it hard to go out and do things because I know that there is something wrong" FIGHT IT. That's the secret, at least for me. It keeps you from going out? F*ck that. GO OUT. Force yourself. Don't let it hold you back or it'll get worse. I like to believe that's the reason for me being able to control it on some level.

I decided to delete it from the blog and move it to the lounge, as people were kinda being a tad mean towards me for no reason

But yeah, I don't get scared or fear things, I start stressing and start feeling like the worst possible situation is going to happen (seeing as it's my heart). I never suffered from anxiety before this, and it only started when they couldn't figure out what's wrong :/

I need some coping mechanisms as well, because a lot of the time the stress builds up and I just explode in anger/depression because I just want to feel safe I guess.

I will definitely PM you about it though


I notice I eat/drink a lot when I get anxious. Not alcohol (unless it's night) but I find going through the motions of making something to eat or having a drink keeps me busy and pre-occupied.
But I find that I can't even watch my favourite show without pausing it and feeling my pulse etc.

I've tried sort of mentally arguing with myself to get over it, and to relax etc. but I seem to ignore myself I feel like social anxiety (which sounds like what your describing) is much harder to deal with on a day to day, even if it's not severe. I am fine with that kind of situation but I know plenty of people who miss out on events because they are too anxious around people.
Glad you've started to overcome it though

This is some awesome advice because it seems, like me, it's not social anxiety but anxiety in general. I have had some panic attacks, but that was when I was having massive palpitations for no reason, which brought incredible amounts of chest pains. My housemate called an ambulance multiple times because I would just scream (it literally felt like someone was squeezing my heart).

My heart rate does go up a lot, and the nurses often get frustrated because they tell me to calm down but I can't , but they say that I'm putting myself in more danger.

What gets me to that point though, is I get those chest pains, but also my heartbeat/pulse during those attacks would slow down, speed up, get stronger or weaker within just one minute, and the pains that I feel are not normal with just anxiety.

Basically I've become anxious over my heart, not having problems due to anxiety. But right now they are trying to figure out the best way to solve it. I do find tea is really good for calming down.

I do drink quite a lot of tea, so I might just stick to fruit tea with no caffeine instead.

Thanks so much for the advice! I hope you are also pushing through it as well

Yeah, I understand where you are coming from. Personally, I always want to go out etc. but find when I do I'm constantly worried that I will have a problem with my heart etc. when I'm out.
I feel safer at home, but I don't like staying home to much either because then I start getting paranoid about it.

I have a few friends with social anxiety and I feel bad for them when they refuse to go out because they are nervous.

But it's true that the medication doesn't really help all that much, it just makes you more light headed than anything like self confidence etc. and you're right about smiling and joking, so many times I humour myself when I'm panicking and it helps me relax. I'm glad you decided to deal with it rather than rely on medication though. It's better to be strong rather than let it become your weakness.

I'm so glad you're fighting through it people don't understand how much anxiety, especially social anxiety can ruin your life almost. People it's not just a simple "I'm nervous" instead you get a feeling like you could just breakdown because your body just starts taking to much pressure.

People pay it dust until they suffer it, because people use the phrases "anxious" or "I almost had an anxiety attack" so loosely, people just think you're a bit shy or something

It's much much worse than that. I get horrible physical pains in my chest, but I would rather that happen more often than deal with the anxiety that comes with it more often, as awful as that sounds.

I think the reason medication isn't working for you is because you don't have anxiety. Being anxious over a particular thing isn't the same as having anxiety, which is feeling anxious in general about everything. You're not so much anxious as you are simply scared that something might happen to your heart, which is normal and you can't really fix or get rid of unless your heart heals.

I wouldn't recommend this kind of therapy unless directed by a doctor. It might work for some, but can actually hurt you and cause you to be more anxious.

I have bad anxiety but the one my family and friends hate the most is this



When my gas tank looks like ^^^ i start to check it every 2nd if theres a gas station i'll pull over and tank it all if not the whole ride i'll be talking bout how my gas keeps going down and i start shaking and my hands get really sweaty and i start driving faster to get to the next gas station they hate it cause my car can still drive at least 2 more hours when i have 1/4 tank

That is true in a way. But then again, most people who take the medication often find it just makes them less depressed, (since the medication is given to those with depression) and basically it's designed to make you happier and the fore less anxious, but people with anxiety don't always feel depressed, and most of the time they are depressed from the anxiety stopping you from doing things. It's like a massive circle

Saying that though, I am of course worried that something is going to happen etc. and I agree. But at the same time, the anxiety is affecting my day to day living which is enough for it to be considered officially anxiety as a result.

But if my heart sorts itself out, then I'd definitely become more relaxed. I don't think I'd still panic. So that's completely true

I have anxiety and I suffer from panic attacks quite regularly, sometimes over absolutely nothing. I wish I knew the secret to getting rid of them, I'd definitely share with you. All I do is try to control my breathing and get my heart rate to slow down. If you must cry, then do it, it definitely helps sometimes. I wish you the best of luck with helping yourself out.

Yes, i've had anxiety since i was 13 and I'm now almost 18. A mess.

exactly what i do every time i have anxiety. oh and i drink a hot tea and that kinda helps lol

not heavily but I get serious test anxiety.

Anxiety and panic is so overwhelming because it's not rooted in logic. As soon as you feel yourself getting stressed, take really deep breaths and re-frame the situation. Things are never as bad or overwhelming as they seem, so just remind yourself of that. One thing I do is subtract 3 from 100 and then add 1 (100, 97, 98, 95, 96, 93, etc), because doing this is an easy way to occupy your mind that isn't stressful. Look into meditation as well, it's really relaxing. Anxiety is horrible but I have faith you can overcome it

Yes. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety a few years ago. It came on out of nowhere. Its a truly horrible thing to have. Before I went on medication I would worry constantly over the stupidest stuff. Once I got over worrying about one thing I would immediately worry about something else.