Please help :’( can’t sleep, heart anxiety…?
ByHi I’m 16 and I’ve been having trouble with my heart.
I know its all in my head, but i cant seem to take my mind of it. I’ve been concious of every heart beat for the past 4 days.
It all started when i was laid in bed n i could feel my heart against the bed. the more i relaxed the slower it got.. and i panicked and worried that i’d slow it down too much accidently.. because i was using my mind to slow it down.
Mad.. i know.
but i panicked and started getting frequent palpitations which I’ve never had before.
i went insane, and before i found out what palpitations actually where, my head was running through memories.. praying. i thought i was going to die.
obviously, i wasn’t n i know that know.. but ever since then i cant take my mind of my heart. its driving me insane! i know i have nothing to worry bout, but how do i stop thinking about it?
i don’t want to be concious of it any more.. how do i train myself to be able to get distracted easily?
I want to be able to sleep again, without being concious of every heart beat.
(I’ve been to doctors n I’ve had my heart checked. everything is healthy, its just a matter of anxiety.
all i ever do is cry tho.. I’ve slept about 2 hours in the past 5 nights.. I’m absolutely exhausted.
but no matter how tired i am, i cant sleep.
sleeping tablets (prescribed by my doctor) help me get about an hour if I’m lucky, but i’ll just wake up and lie there. but i’d do anything to find an alternative to sleeping tablets to help em sleep naturally, and not think about my heart beat.
its not just at night tho, its 24/7. my heart rate is up n down all the time, with me panicing or getting stressed about the fact that i am concious of it.
its driving me insane. i just want to sleep. i just want to able to get on with my life. Be able to concentrate on my work. Talk to people n actually concentrate instead of monitoring my heart.
pleas help me :’(
how do i distract myself from my heart, and STAY distracted?
how do i break this constant conciousness of my heart beat?
You could try Kava root as a natural way to help you sleep or for anxiety — it’s the most widely researched herb for anxiety, and not physically addictive at all — I recommend http://www.shamansgarden.com/c-516-dried-roots.aspx
You could also ask your doctor about being prescribed a beta blocker such as Toprol XL or Zebeta, which reduce the effects of adrenaline on your heart — ex: your heart will beat slower and less hard when you’re anxious compared to if you weren’t taking a beta blocker. It is frequently prescribed to help with physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a fast or pounding heartbeat.
Mindfulness meditation can be helpful too, as you learn to gain control of your mind and concentrate on just one thing. You also learn how to not get anxious over your thoughts. Check out http://www.youtube.com/user/yuttadhammo#p/c/603BD0B03E12F5A1/0/hLvU7ppM4vE for an intro to meditation.
8 Comments
February 28th, 2010 at 8:43 am
I like Dr Lorean’s answer too, but you could also talk to your doc about temporary anxiety meds?? Not sure how you would feel but something like Lexapro or Zoloft can do wonders to help clear your head. Just on a temp basis. But I would def let the doc know you still aren’t sleeping. That makes your emotions even worse. Hope you get some rest soon.
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February 28th, 2010 at 9:22 am
if the doctors dont think anything is wrong, they are probably right. but i know how it is to feel it and hear it. dont let it scare you, when it slows down your body is resting and calm. thats normal…
and as for a distraction? go get a clock or watch that ticks….learn to listen to it, count the seconds, concentrate on that…and it may even help to breathe in and out with each tick. think about the seconds and your breathing, relax! let me know if it helps…if not, i’ll think of something else!
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February 28th, 2010 at 9:50 am
try to focus on something that makes you happy, I have a heart arrhythmia and Im used to palpitations but Im very healthy and they have no effect on my health. Your heart is fine, it is going to beat the way it beats and that wont change the way you live because you are healthy
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February 28th, 2010 at 10:35 am
You could listen to music to try and get the beat out of your head, have you done a ouija board or anything like that recently as I had that when all I could hear was taps around the room. Although I think the best advise is to go to another doctor as there could be something seriously wrong. You could talk melatonin or a natural sleeping pill, or try Horliks if you are in the UK… Try to figure out what is the cause of the anxiety. You just have to try and not think of it. I’m sure that it will end up OK but I hope you feel better soon. P.S I’m doing this because of insomnia.
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Common Sense really.
February 28th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I have worries about my heart also. Worrying hasn’t help me in the least.
When you are doing something put ALL of your attention on that. Stay in the moment.
Hearts beat that is what they do. I think you should make another appointment with your doctor as this seems to have become an Obsession. You can ask your doctor for a heart monitor this, will monitor your heart for 24 hours or longer, depends on your doctor. This could be what you need to put your mind at rest.
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February 28th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Talk to your DR but saint johns walt may help
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February 28th, 2010 at 11:57 am
You could try Kava root as a natural way to help you sleep or for anxiety — it’s the most widely researched herb for anxiety, and not physically addictive at all — I recommend http://www.shamansgarden.com/c-516-dried-roots.aspx
You could also ask your doctor about being prescribed a beta blocker such as Toprol XL or Zebeta, which reduce the effects of adrenaline on your heart — ex: your heart will beat slower and less hard when you’re anxious compared to if you weren’t taking a beta blocker. It is frequently prescribed to help with physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a fast or pounding heartbeat.
Mindfulness meditation can be helpful too, as you learn to gain control of your mind and concentrate on just one thing. You also learn how to not get anxious over your thoughts. Check out http://www.youtube.com/user/yuttadhammo#p/c/603BD0B03E12F5A1/0/hLvU7ppM4vE for an intro to meditation.
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February 28th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
u remind me about my past when i was 16 years old of age i had the bad anxiety attacks i use to get panic and my fear was that i cant breath and when i started to felt that, my heart start beating fast and i become pale and my mom use to take me to ER for that i didnt kno that that was my panic attack i use to think that i would die but no why should i die?just to have a panic attack i was only 16 and i loved to live as soon as i understand that i have an anxiety and if it gets out of control i would have an attack and i would suffer a lot cuz of that i wanted to enjoy my life i wanted to be loved and i want to love someone i wanted to get merry and raise kids i wanted to live and for that i need to control my anxiety.Doctors never gave me a medicine for my anxiety i got better on my own when i use to feel anxious i started to calm down myself and i tell my brain that its just my anxiety and it will goaway its not forever and then i divert my attention to something else like i watch TV or listen music some soothing music or go out take deep breath open my window gets freash air or go for walk so these kindaf things i use to do i still gets anxiety attacks and i take medicine for that and i m much much better now my anxiety is under control but i need to take medicne as i m pregnant and have hypothyroid and alot goin on in my life i take prozac and i m 27 years old now.Having an anxiety its not bad hun cuz any one can have anxiety or panic attacks but u need to control em and u need to learn some techniques to make u calm down talk to ur DOCTOR about that and just tell yourself its not forever it will goaway and i i m absolutely fine there is nothing wrong with me and these feeling will goaway in few minutes just try this technique and u,ll feel better soon.
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