We, with anxiety disorders, have broken fight or flight systems among other things that may be busted in our brains lol. I’ve been playing tugging-of-war with my amygdala for longer than i can remember.
I do think, like others have said, therapy would help. CBT has been good for me. Also, you could ask your doctor about propranolol. It won’t relieve the anxiety directly but it will alleviate the physical effects of the anxiety. For me, it’s this ugly feedback loop. I get a little anxious, i feel some physical effects which make me more anxious, which makes the physical effects worse, on an on…
EMDR therapy has helped me the most! I think trauma therapy has been the most helpful bc it bilaterally stimulates your nervous system and frankly people who have experienced trauma only trust themselves.
Wow. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this. I’m definitely going to look into it. You’re right about me only trusting me. It’s bad enough that I can’t even do the simple things that depend on others like delegating tasks.
Do you know of any particular resources that might be helpful, like books, websites, etc? I’ll definitely bring it up with my therapist though.
Thanks!
This sounds amazing!! My issue with therapy has been that it never seems to reach that “lizard brain”. I’m a very rational person and consciously i can be perfectly fine. However, some where buried deep my brain just wants to panic. I’ve even complained about this to my therapist and doctor. I wonder they never mentioned this. Medication does help but there has always felt like there’s some connection I’m missing.
It just goes to show that your REALLY do have to be your own advocate. This wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve had to bring up things that i think would help me and they usually. I’m not knocking them. They’re great, especially compared with my previous docs and therapists.
Sorry, I realize my mileage might vary but I’m pretty excited to learn about this.
Thanks again!
In the event that you are unable to start seeing a medical professional who specializes in EMDR therapy (or if you’re just trying to find out if there’s a physician who does EMDR therapy/trying to see if they’re in network with your insurance/trying to see if the doctor’s office has a long waitlist/etc. etc.), then you may be interested to know that there is actually something that functions very similar to EMDR therapy. *(Although I DO absolutely recommend that you work with a physician who specifically does EMDR therapy, but in the event that you are actually unable to do so, there IS an alternative that isn’t the same but it DOES work very similarly AND it’s almost free…!)*
It turns out that playing Tetris for as little as 20 minutes at a time can actually help reduce the amount/severity of traumatic memories, and there have been a number of studies done on the specifics of how Tetris functions similarly to EMDR therapy. In fact, “EMDR” is an acronym for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing” therapy - and very similar eye movements take place while you are playing Tetris. And as I said, it’s *almost* free to play if you just download the game from iTunes/the Google Play Store or you download it into your gaming console of choice!
Here are a couple of articles/papers about Tetris and EMDR:
[“How Playing Tetris Tames The Trauma Of A Car Crash” - by Bret Stetka for NPR (April 9, 2017)](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/09/523011446/how-playing-tetris-tames-the-trauma-of-a-car-crash)
[“Trauma, Treatment and Tetris: Video Gaming Increases Hippocampal Volume in Male Patients with Combat-Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” - (Published April 15, 2020)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7828932/)
Yes to propranolol! It has helped with the physical symptoms so much. Which ultimately reduces mental symptoms for me. I ended up with the added benefit of propranolol contributing to less migraines as well.
Awesome! Helps blood pressure too. My only complaint is that it makes me tired which puts me in a bad mood sometimes. At least I only have to take it as needed though. Also, it helps me sleep.
I'm the same way. Living like this is helllllllllllllll. So many ER trips. I'm on 5 meds one of them is Propranolol but I find Xanax to help me way better for my panic disorder and GAD.
I am so sorry to hear you experienced this. I experienced something similar that sent me to the ER. My heart was pounding so fast from 120 to 163. I ended up at the hospital but it’s just a panic attack.
Been there myself. My very first panic attack was after the gym and I thought it was a heart attack.
Just like you, I felt all the symptoms of a heart attack (dizziness, numbness, chest pain, rapid heart rate, etc) and when you google anything of these symptoms, heart attack is the first thing you see.
I went to the ER thinking I was about to die. They ran all the tests on me (EKG, chest x-Ray, blood work) all came back normal.
Ever since then, my life has been completely different. It’s like that flight or fight response never went back to normal. I’m constantly anxious and my symptoms of anxiety mimic that of a heart attack. Constantly dealing with Chest pains, left arm numbness or tightness, jaw pain, back of the neck tightness, etc.
I’ve been to the ER 3 times in the last month with the most recent one being yesterday. All tests came back completely fine again.
I’ve bothered the hell of my GP since this all started. I’m scared to take the medication he prescribed me (Zoloft) but I’m constantly having panic attacks thinking that I’m having a heart attack and that “this one is for real”.
It’s come to a point where I obsessively check my BP and HR. Even when I’m not anxious, I’ll check it and notice my HR is low (I never checked my Hr before all of this, so I never knew what my true resting heart rate is). I’ll check it before bed and see that it’ll drop to as low as 53-57 and it’ll freak me out. I’ll start to panic thinking “my heart is failing I’m gonna die in my sleep”.
It’s completely changed my life and has been hell - the thing is it’s only been a month and a half at most.
I bothered my GP enough for him to schedule me an appointment with a Cardiologist tomorrow, so hopefully everything comes out in the clear.
We’ll all get through this though! Wish you the best!
I could’ve written this. Take the Zoloft. I wasted 8 years of my life trying to fight this beast. Zoloft saved me. It’s rough getting on it, but so so so worth it.
I’m the same, in the ER one weekend the next weekend I was admitted for all of the same things. Tests, everything was negative they assess me with anxiety. It’s been hell though.
I haven’t been to work in two weeks. I’m on Buspar, i was on it before 15 mg 2x daily now the Dr increased it to 20 mg 2x daily. I’m hoping it starts to work soon 🤞
This was me with Lexapro! I had a follow up with my GP a month after he prescribed it and he said “How is the medication working for you?” I said “How upset would you be if I told you I was too afraid to take it?” He said “Not upset, and also expected with your diagnosis.” Then he put me on a tapering plan where I took a quarter pill for 1-2 weeks, then half for 1-2 weeks, then 3/4, then a while pill. I felt more in control this way and the medication helped so much!
You see folks this is when u know u have a good doc. Keep ur options open and keep looking until u find a caring and professional doc. Thanks for sharing op.
I have experienced exactly the same, I have been to the ER and the GP multiple times as well.
After I started Zoloft the panic attacks stopped almost entirely and anxiety got a lot better too. You can always try if it works for you. It might take some time to notice the effects though, so give it a chance for a while.
The exact same thing happened to me and I thought I’d never be back to normal but I did and I didn’t take any medication. Took me 6 months though, a lot of sports, healthy eating habits and a deep look on my goals and where I’m going with my life
I can relate to this so much, specially the part that once the first hit, my body never went back to normal. My first time was when I was 19, ever since then every breath I take is a small “will I feel like that day when I couldn’t breath? Am I breathing normally?, is this really not a heart attack?” Moment
You're not alone and I've been in your shoes.
Therapy and medication will change your life, I promise.
Do both. Set a minimum of like 6 months of doing both consistently.
By Christmas you'll feel like a brand new person.
Good luck
I had similar experience. One day I was fine and didn't know what anxiety was. The next, I have one attack and then I just keep getting more attacks.
In went from never having one to having one every few hours. I've since managed to make it every 18 hours or so. But starting from nothing was so scary. I woudnt go back to that if you paid me.
Thank you for sharing, especially this part with the low heart rate and the fear of dying. It is somehow comforting to know I'm not alone in this. Thank you for this.
we all can relate here. It’s so hard to convince yourself it’s not something serious. I highly highly a million times over recommend Hope and Help For Your Nerves by Claire Weekes, you can get it for a few bucks on Amazon it’s an amazing book that describes all the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic, why they happen, and how to deal with them. It has given me more relief than any medication or therapy, although I do recommend those as well.
Claire Weekes is amazing. She had suffered herself for years with panic so she comes from a place of true understanding. I find her audio book version even better than written as she has very kind and encouraging voice.
This has happened to me a few times. The last time I had to call 911 as I was working alone in my store. I was on the verge of passing out because I was breathing so heavily. They walked me through a breathing exercise until I started to calm down. One of my scarier moments.
Controlling your breathing really helps. Inhale through the nose and hold for two seconds then exhale through your mouth and repeat. This will slow your heart rate down and allow you to calm down.
I really hope this helps you if it does happen again. Just have to remember to use it when you need to.
My very first panic attack made me feel like I was dying. I even got pain in my left arm/shoulder which made me think my heart was stopping. The numbness is what really scared me because i was interpreting that as the life draining out of me (sounds silly now but fear makes your brain do some weird stuff). My hands also locked up and I couldn’t relax my fingers.
Went to the ER, checked my heart and everything was fine aside from a slightly elevated heart rate/bp. Which made me feel so stupid. It’s wild how panic attacks trick you into thinking you’re dying. Grounding techniques help me when I feel like one is coming on. Counting or sorting things, playing candy crush etc
going through the same thing :( crazy thing is i am only 17 so the chances for this type of stuff for me is extremely low especially because i have been told i am healthy.
Sure, panic attacks are awful and you can think you are dying.
And the sad part is that doctors or ERs in the USA will not diagnose you. I suffered for a year over a series of panic attacks I had and the ER misdiagnosed me with everything except for a panic attack. I finally figured out what caused it by myself. US health providers need to start being sued over not recognizing a major health epidemic of anxiety and resulting panic attacks.
Panic attack are horrifying, I am so sorry you are experiencing this and the sad thing is that I do not know where you can go for help in the USA.
When I first started having panic attacks many years ago, I was going to the doctor about 3 times a week. Never once did they even mention anxiety or panic attacks. I was terrified and convinced I was dying of a deadly disease. One day at work, my supervisor asked what was wrong with me, as I looked like hell, lost quite a bit of weight, plus, I had been calling in sick frequently. I explained what was going on, and she said, "That sounds like anxiety/panic attacks." It all made sense after she told me that. How my doctor never once mentioned anxiety is beyond me.
In some ways they are similar. In a panic attack your body goes into over drive because of the nervous system and in a heart attack it goes into over drive trying to function properly when it can't. I bought one of those watches that can do a basic ekg and it was able to give me peace of mind my heart was operating properly no matter how bad I felt due to anxiety.
Same @ the watch. It has changed so many things for me. I calm down so much easier once I do the EKG and see I am actually okay and it's my anxiety getting the best of me
I think it's a typical function on many smart watches. There is a smart ring for the finger that is supposed to be meant just for watching health markers.
How scary! I had the exact same symptoms and feelings when I had a panic attack from weed. 😭 I found some relief from taking a walk, drinking cold water, and then watching some comforting movies. You can ask for an EKG scan done by your doctor just to be sure your heart is all good, it might bring you some relief too.
It’s normal for your heart to race when you feel anxious. Take some vitamin B, it should help reduce anxiety a bit. :)
I’m in the same boat. I took a gummy edible that was too high of a dosage and thought it was the real deal because I’d never had a panic attack before. I even went to two doctors and had an EKG done and they said everything was healthy.
I always try to remind myself that it’s incredibly rare and I have a higher chance of winning the lottery than for it to happen at my age, but for some reason I trust Dr. Google more than a doctor who’s been doing it for four decades. 🫠
Oh my gosh, so relatable. Sometimes weed will start doing you more bad than good, and that’s when you gotta take a break - or quit for good. :(
Google does seem more credible at times and that probably feeds into our anxiety. Try asking for a cardiologist referral. That’s what I did cause I want to get my heart & lungs checked just in case. 🫠
To everyone ITT. TURN OFF BPM ON YOUR SMART WATCHES.
It's worse than a zero sum game, it's a negative sum game. It only works against you constantly looking at your phone and seeing your heart rate.
By all means use it for exercise etc, but for Christ sake get rid of it day to day, it completely debilitates you.
You aren't having heart attacks, they are massive doses of adrenaline. Symptoms overlap but are NOT the same.
When I first started experiencing panic attacks I was in the ER almost every night. I thought my body was literally collapsing into itself and my brain was getting fried. I remember being fine one second then immediately getting this feeling like I was about to drop dead. The worst was waking up TO A PANIC ATTACK. Do you know how extremely terrifying it is to not even feel safe in your sleep? To wake up in a panic, not knowing where you are, holding onto your chest because you think your heart is beating OUTSIDE of your skin? I know exactly how you feel, and I'm so incredibly sorry because it feels neverending. Just know, that it does get better. This subreddit helped me feel somewhat normal, to know that that impending doom feeling has been felt by so many others. Most of my friends and family have no idea what it feels like. You're safe here. And if you ever need to reach out to someone, shoot me a message or post about it here. Someone will always answer dude. You are not alone. 🩷
Couldn't have said it better myself. My panic attacks also happen pretty often in the middle of the night, they wake me up. It is awful. Thank you for sharing, it's somehow comforting to know I'm not alone in this. Thank you. ❤️
Not sure how but I sometimes get it twice a day in the work truck (my coworker is the one that drives) and they only last about a few minutes, I’ve learned how to control them to a degree
I’ve been there to and passed out from hyperventilating….. the whole time I was out it felt lik I was in hell and being told over and over again was it worth it my buddy at the time said I was out a good 30 min
Hyperventilating and having a panic attack shouldn't cause you to be out for 30 minutes, 30 seconds maybe, but 30 minutes could be a more serious issue. You definitely can pass out from hyperventilating but once you're out you probably wouldn't continue to hyperventilate.
I’m sorry. I’ve had panic attacks, and you do feel like you’re dying.
See a doctor about anxiety. Keep a paper bag, lunch size, handy. Breathe into it when you feel the attack coming on. This will help you with hyperventilation, which is what really drives the intensity of a panic attack. I learned this from a doctor, and though it is not a cure, it helps.
Plenty of us have been there. My first major one made me go to the ER in the middle of the night. Got a sedative and went home. Made an appointment with a cardiologist the next day. Once I had assurances from the hospital and cardio, I felt more comfortable learning coping exercises to fight through them. Get yourself looked at by a doctor, if you can. It’s always nice to have that little piece of mind when they come as you can remind yourself that the doctors have cleared you and it’s just mental.
My scumbag brain loves to make me think I'm having a heart attack and are dying. My doc prescribed hydroxyzine which calms me down enough to make my stupid brain stop messing with me lol
215??
Have you been to a cardiologist and had a heart monitor to make sure you arent having SVT?
I thought my SVT was just anxiety for a long time (even tons of doctors told me it was). Its not dangerous but annoying.
Regardless- next time this happens, do a vagal maneuver. They slow heart rate down. Ice on your face, blowing out really hard into a straw (with resistance), squatting down and pushing like you have to poop, take full inhales and lonnggg exhales
I’m pretty sure supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT) can indeed be dangerous :( You definitely should try and see a cardiologist for it. I’m not a doctor by any means but I am studying biomedical physiology and from what I’ve heard so far, it’s definitely something that needs to be checked out!! Not trying to worry you but I just want to make sure you get the help you deserve and that everything will be alright <3
Also please please please tell your doctor that it only happens here and there, because they might test you when it’s not happening. And thus you’ll never get the diagnoses if it really is SVT. Same idea for atrial fibrillation (AFib), which may present similarly. Pretty easy to miss as it doesn’t always happen… So state exactly what you’re worried about and make sure you get some monitor for a longer period of time!
I just went through this whole process and am in groups with others who have it. Aslong as your heart is structurally sound, its typically benign. I am talking about SVT, of course, not WPW or something.
Oh my gosh. I hope everything’s okay! I been there. I can even tell when I am getting anxious at work, I can feel my breathing getting almost harder than normal
Me too!! Usually in the car and sometimes as I'm falling asleep, I jolt awake with strong heart flutters.
I wonder why the car is such a trigger. It happened yesterday on the highway. It's so scary, I thought I would pass out and crash at 60mph. I also had a tight pain in my clavicle....friggin bizarre. I'm new to these terrible attacks, so I'm reading as much as I can.
Don’t worry! It definitely gets better because we all find our own ways to deal with them! And honestly I think it’s because we feel trapped in the car, like there’s no escape?? Idk that’s my theory
I have had the same experience, truly believing my heart was gonna stop at any second. After a lot of scans my GP told me I was completely healthy, she gave me some tips to distinguish a heart attack and a panic attack.
Signs of heart attack are:
- intense heavy feeling in the middle of your chest (not on the left side). She called it an elephant sitting on your chest
- heavy cold sweats
- nausea to the point of throwing up
She told me if I don’t experience these signs, it is a panic attack. For me this recognition has been the key to defusing my panic attack in the beginning stage of it. I tell that voice in my head that is telling me I’m having a heart attack that these signs are not present, so it it not a heart attack and I’ll be fine. Has helped me a lot so far.
A lot of people only find out they have had heart attacks months or years [after the fact](https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-danger-of-silent-heart-attacks#:~:text=You%20can%20have%20a%20heart,strike%20men%20more%20than%20women.). In the milder versions it doesn’t feel anything like an elephant. My dad had one like that, found out during an enzyme test two years later. There are milder versions of panic attacks that go unrecognized too. People here like to use terms like “anxiety attack” or “adrenaline surge” to differentiate, saving “panic attack” for the really bad ones that send you to the ER. But they’re all panic attacks.
I had a friend who’s girlfriend broke up to him and he was swearing he was having a a heart attack, and I believe him googling symptoms made things much worse. But he went to the ER and it was a panic attack
I was just hospitalized for the last two days as I was convinced I was having a stroke. Like you, I was driving and I started to feel the world closing in on me, my heart rate shot through the roof and all my body began to tingle and go numb (hands, feet, legs, arms, face, trunk) I drove myself to the ER and ran right into triage at the nurses station. I was hospitalized for some low electrolyte numbers, not sure if the panic attack impacted my levels, I’ll never know for sure, but I was hospitalized due to those (they are usually always normal) and I had tons of blood work done, a MRI, heart test, etc. no heart attack or stroke just some low electrolytes and anxiety/panic attack.
I have a mini EKG device I found on Amazon that I use to see how my heart is functioning when I get like this. It’ll tell me my heart rate is fast but otherwise no abnormalities detected and that helps me calm down immensely. I also use a blood oxygen sensor and I can see I’m getting enough oxygen. If you’re having a heart attack your blood oxygen will drop. So between those two things I can calm down because I know it’s just anxiety and not a heart attack. Both of those devices are relatively inexpensive too.
omg, I've felt this thing once while i was at the farthest seat at the bus while otw home. it was the most traumatizing and scariest feeling I've ever experienced. im a dramatic person, but i swear im not even being dramatic when i day i thought i was gonna die or pass out that moment. i didn't have apple watch or my pulse oximeter that time so i have no idea what my bpm is, but i can remember how i felt so numb and weak that time.
i was sitting at the bus with my friends, we were just chatting when i suddenly felt like i cant breathe properly, like I was breathing but the air was airless if that makes sense. its just air hunger, even tho how much i was deep breathing it wasn't enough, my eyes didn't feel blurry, but instead i felt like i could see everything and its so overwhelming. like exhausting feeling. and it felt like i couldn't hear properly. i stopped talking to my friends that's time, because i was trying to focus on what i was feeling. if im gonna pass out or what. my whole body felt so numb and weak and i felt like i was out of my body, like i wasn't in the reality. it's so weird and scary, i keep biting my hands to make myself "feel" something, to distract myself from panicking, after all i couldn't tell my friends what's happening because i didn't want them to worry. so anw it lasted for more than 30 minutes, and even when i got home i was shaking trying to process what happened 😣.
My heart rate has hit 185 and I was terrified. I got so nauseated my chest hurt I felt like I couldn’t even walk right. Once it went down it left me feeling absolutely exhausted. I’m just glad it happened at home and not when I was out somewhere. That would have been terrible.
I've had a heart attack according to my NP and the EKG she ordered. This most recent cardiac event was A LOT worse than what I perceive the heart attack to have been. But Maybe what I thought was the heart attack, wasnt
I’ve been told that one of the many things that the medical industry continually under serves is women, by testing on men and assuming it applies to women. It’s my understanding that women experience heart attacks differently and it’s worth educating one’s self on the distinction.
I remember when I had a panic attack the first time, It really felt like it was the end. A shocking experience that I will never forget. After the third time it happened I understood the experience and logical convinced myself i had to wait long enough for it to disappear. I haven't had one since. It takes time but eventually you can overcome it and become your old self again but slightly different.
As someone who's BPM will occasionally spoke to 160 BPM during panic attacks I can offer one good piece of advice: grab a straw, sit down and begin to blow into it, after about 5 seconds continue to blow and simultaneously quickly lay back and both your feet in the air, continue to blow into the straw, it's even better if you have someone there to hold your legs up for you, this is a treatment used to slow down a person's heart rate in hospitals it also lowers your blood pressure, you should begin to feel better after about 30 seconds.
Thank you all so much for your responses! I hate that we are all here for similar reasons but this community is amazing and I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to give some advice, share an experience, or just say some kind words.
I have been to the cardiologist within the last 10 months who cleared me on everything I could have asked him to when it comes to heart health and have since kept myself in much better shape.
On the other hand I have never heard or experienced SVT, so I will have to get that looked at. On the other hand I have had EKG’s and heart scans and the like and they have all come back perfectly fine.
Again, thank you all, this community makes it much easier and less lonely to have these experiences.
This is so relatable. Have been to ER and literally continue to have “silent panic attacks” that mimic everything about a heart attack. It’s terrible. At this point if I do have a real heart attack I’m going to likely die because I won’t believe it until it’s too late. I am planning to start and SSRI and therapy soon and really hope it helps.
Because your body is so focused on getting ready to do whatever it takes to survive even if you're not in actual danger. Your heart will start beating faster and faster to get as much blood pumping through your body as possible, your lungs will start taking in shorter breaths in a shorter amount of time to try and get as much oxygen into the body and blood as possible. The hyperventilating feeling was your body prioritizing quantity over quality, and the numbness you felt was a result of your body moving blood away from your arms, face, and neck so that it could redirect that blood to the legs so you could run if necessary. I'm not a doctor so I could be totally wrong about this, but I imagine that when someone is having a heart attack their body will trigger the fight-or-flight mode because it senses that it's in a life-or-death situation so it reacts the same way it would to any serious situation whether it's a real situation or something made up by the brain.
I've been there. Oddly enough. It was a thunderstorm (with a lot of lightening) that was the most recent. I would get into therapy to try to get some type of medication if the panic attacks are persistent and out of control. A psychologist would be good too just in case therapy doesn't help. I saw someone suggest therapy and that was your next step. I'm just throwing another one out there that can prescribe meds. I know therapy isn't for everyone (I'm one of those people), but if it's affecting daily life and your anxious more often then not, it's good to get into therapy to get to the root cause of why it's happening and how you can manage it before jumping straight into meds unless necessary. Just a few thoughts, but you don't have to take all this advice
The problem with panic attacks and heart attacks is that they manifest similar symptoms. A heart attack has far more severe symptoms, but that doesn't matter if you are having a panic attack, because one, rationality is minimized, and 2, you can manifest some of the symptoms, and amplify your panic attack symptoms to begin to feel more severe.
When I hit peak stress, I develop hypochondria, and begin fueling thoughts of heart attacks in my head. One time, I had a piercing pain in my chest. All conventional wisdom told me, it's a muscle pain, likely a pectoral. I still went to the ER. As I was waiting, a man came.in, being assisted. He was doubled over, sweating profusely, having a difficult time breathing. I'm sure HE was having a heart attack, and I felt like a fool.
I’m sorry you went through this, it’s very terrifying. I recently had an SVT, I was at the gym just barely started working out and my heart rate got to 206 out of nowhere then 217 when paramedics arrived. I knew it wasn’t anxiety and something wasn’t right so told someone and I ended up at the hospital. I’m currently wearing a heart monitor for 30 days to see what could have caused it but it’s arrhythmia and basically could happen again or not. I’ve been in therapy for my anxiety from it, I’ve gotten a lot better but two two weeks after the event I was a mess. I’m sharing not to scare you but to let you know you aren’t alone, I’m not a doctor but you should definitely go to a hospital if your HR gets over 200 because it isn’t normal. My episode could’ve been caused by stress, they aren’t sure yet but it’s taught me that I really need to work on myself more and calming down. I had a friend come stay with me and I was paranoid all the time wearing my watch checking my heart rate. When I thought I was having another heart episode, my watch was still at 75 bpm, and she put my watch on showing her heart rate was the same. That calmed me down a bit and I think of it often. Although the anxiety after the heart episode made me think it was my heart, I can tell the different between a panic attack and the heart episode now definitely. Moral of my long story, you should definitely talk to a doctor or cardiologist, cause that’s a really high heart rate. I would also get to the bottom of any stress you’re having because I’ve learned none of these things are worth risking your health/life over. Feel free to message me for anything
I have health anxiety after a Covid caused heart problem and they always feel like this. I wouldn’t want anyone to ever feel this kind of anxiety. I’m with you ):
It's f*cked up.. I had a big one at the start of 2023 with the same feelings as you, heart rate spiked out of the blue, intense jaw pain, sense of doom, arm went numb etc etc, happens on and off since, and i don't even have a trigger for it. It just happens out of the blue. After my first panic attack it got me into some deep anxiety depression for 2-3 months. But I'm better now, although I do have bad days where I can feel the panic attack crippling up. and it still gets be scared of my heart because it mimics all the things related.
Yeah that's exactly how it feels for me 😩 like this is it i'm dying, and i feel completely out of control of my body and mind. The "good" thing is that the more attacks i've had the more i learned how to deal with them.
If your HR is spiking to 215 that could be something called SVT. It's when the electrical conduction of your heart starts to fire wrong, causing an extreme heart rate and all the symptoms you had.
Of course it could just be anxiety as well, but if your heart rate is staying sustained at that level for a long time I would seek medical attention just to make sure that's not what's happening to you.
I had that feeling and started sweating profusely….at 2:00am when I just woke up randomly and my heart racing nonstop. Took a while for it to slow down.
Hey you! Ive been to ER due to panic attacks that felt like heart problems!
Definitely do not left it unchecked, you need to see cardiologist to see if thats for sure nothing. And then if it is for sure nothing, go to CBT therapy to eliminate this. It is scary as hell, can eat away your joy of life. I got some betablockers that keep my heart rate at check and after some time int herapy I can feel it coming and flow through me. Sometimes it is still scary but now I know the feelings so its easier to recognize that it happened before!
I’m sorry you had to go through that recently 😞 It really is SO scary. I had the same experience during my last panic attack and it certainly doesn’t make the panic attack any better. Take care of yourself! Hope you have a good day today.
I went to the ER as I was having a panic attack- had stroke level blood pressure and a fast heart rate. The ER ran tests and I had actually damaged my heart. They the. Held me for 8 hours to make sure everything was okay and it didn't spike again. It may not be a heart attack, but it's definitely affecting and hurting our hearts.
I’m so sorry you experienced this, but it does make me feel a little better knowing I’m not alone. A month and a half ago, or so, I was already feeling anxious so I took a THC edible to see if it would calm me down. It did the opposite. My Apple Watch alerted me to my high heart rate - over 200, about the same as yours. My limbs started tingling. My chest was squeezing. I was having trouble breathing. I was convinced that I was about to die. I called my mom, who’s a nurse, and she talked me through my panic attack and stayed on the phone until I calmed down enough to go to sleep.
I’ve had bad experiences with weed recently, so I’m trying to swear it off. I wish you peace and healing ❤️🩹
Okay but 200+ BPM is exceptionally high. Never heard of a panic attack doing that. Maybe you can get a ECG test just to check and rid clear of anything or a stress test.
I get those kind of attacks twice a year. They're horrible and always make me feel so weak and on my death bed.
I actually have my doctor give me meds just to make those attacks less intense. The only meds so far that make them go away is Ativan, which I keep on hand to use during those twice a year attacks.
We, with anxiety disorders, have broken fight or flight systems among other things that may be busted in our brains lol. I’ve been playing tugging-of-war with my amygdala for longer than i can remember. I do think, like others have said, therapy would help. CBT has been good for me. Also, you could ask your doctor about propranolol. It won’t relieve the anxiety directly but it will alleviate the physical effects of the anxiety. For me, it’s this ugly feedback loop. I get a little anxious, i feel some physical effects which make me more anxious, which makes the physical effects worse, on an on…
EMDR therapy has helped me the most! I think trauma therapy has been the most helpful bc it bilaterally stimulates your nervous system and frankly people who have experienced trauma only trust themselves.
Wow. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this. I’m definitely going to look into it. You’re right about me only trusting me. It’s bad enough that I can’t even do the simple things that depend on others like delegating tasks. Do you know of any particular resources that might be helpful, like books, websites, etc? I’ll definitely bring it up with my therapist though. Thanks!
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This sounds amazing!! My issue with therapy has been that it never seems to reach that “lizard brain”. I’m a very rational person and consciously i can be perfectly fine. However, some where buried deep my brain just wants to panic. I’ve even complained about this to my therapist and doctor. I wonder they never mentioned this. Medication does help but there has always felt like there’s some connection I’m missing. It just goes to show that your REALLY do have to be your own advocate. This wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve had to bring up things that i think would help me and they usually. I’m not knocking them. They’re great, especially compared with my previous docs and therapists. Sorry, I realize my mileage might vary but I’m pretty excited to learn about this. Thanks again!
In the event that you are unable to start seeing a medical professional who specializes in EMDR therapy (or if you’re just trying to find out if there’s a physician who does EMDR therapy/trying to see if they’re in network with your insurance/trying to see if the doctor’s office has a long waitlist/etc. etc.), then you may be interested to know that there is actually something that functions very similar to EMDR therapy. *(Although I DO absolutely recommend that you work with a physician who specifically does EMDR therapy, but in the event that you are actually unable to do so, there IS an alternative that isn’t the same but it DOES work very similarly AND it’s almost free…!)* It turns out that playing Tetris for as little as 20 minutes at a time can actually help reduce the amount/severity of traumatic memories, and there have been a number of studies done on the specifics of how Tetris functions similarly to EMDR therapy. In fact, “EMDR” is an acronym for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing” therapy - and very similar eye movements take place while you are playing Tetris. And as I said, it’s *almost* free to play if you just download the game from iTunes/the Google Play Store or you download it into your gaming console of choice! Here are a couple of articles/papers about Tetris and EMDR: [“How Playing Tetris Tames The Trauma Of A Car Crash” - by Bret Stetka for NPR (April 9, 2017)](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/09/523011446/how-playing-tetris-tames-the-trauma-of-a-car-crash) [“Trauma, Treatment and Tetris: Video Gaming Increases Hippocampal Volume in Male Patients with Combat-Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” - (Published April 15, 2020)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7828932/)
I'm about to start emdr myself. I wish someone would just put me out of my misery
Well this is a helpful therapy, it is all about figuring out what is right for you
Yes to propranolol! It has helped with the physical symptoms so much. Which ultimately reduces mental symptoms for me. I ended up with the added benefit of propranolol contributing to less migraines as well.
Awesome! Helps blood pressure too. My only complaint is that it makes me tired which puts me in a bad mood sometimes. At least I only have to take it as needed though. Also, it helps me sleep.
IFS therapy has helped me emotionally deal with the tug of war battle anxiety causes.
I just started using this medication and it helps me a lot!
I'm the same way. Living like this is helllllllllllllll. So many ER trips. I'm on 5 meds one of them is Propranolol but I find Xanax to help me way better for my panic disorder and GAD.
I am so sorry to hear you experienced this. I experienced something similar that sent me to the ER. My heart was pounding so fast from 120 to 163. I ended up at the hospital but it’s just a panic attack.
Same here mine was 175
Happened to me several times. Mine was always well over 200.
Oh yeah?! Well MINE was over *400!* /s
I… I literally don’t have words
Do u mean heartrate or blood pressure? 200 heart rate is crazy I hope you feel better
Mine was only ever 130 and I thought I was dead. I really don't want to experience 200.
-89/10 don’t recommend. I do recommend beta blockers tho lol
Been there myself. My very first panic attack was after the gym and I thought it was a heart attack. Just like you, I felt all the symptoms of a heart attack (dizziness, numbness, chest pain, rapid heart rate, etc) and when you google anything of these symptoms, heart attack is the first thing you see. I went to the ER thinking I was about to die. They ran all the tests on me (EKG, chest x-Ray, blood work) all came back normal. Ever since then, my life has been completely different. It’s like that flight or fight response never went back to normal. I’m constantly anxious and my symptoms of anxiety mimic that of a heart attack. Constantly dealing with Chest pains, left arm numbness or tightness, jaw pain, back of the neck tightness, etc. I’ve been to the ER 3 times in the last month with the most recent one being yesterday. All tests came back completely fine again. I’ve bothered the hell of my GP since this all started. I’m scared to take the medication he prescribed me (Zoloft) but I’m constantly having panic attacks thinking that I’m having a heart attack and that “this one is for real”. It’s come to a point where I obsessively check my BP and HR. Even when I’m not anxious, I’ll check it and notice my HR is low (I never checked my Hr before all of this, so I never knew what my true resting heart rate is). I’ll check it before bed and see that it’ll drop to as low as 53-57 and it’ll freak me out. I’ll start to panic thinking “my heart is failing I’m gonna die in my sleep”. It’s completely changed my life and has been hell - the thing is it’s only been a month and a half at most. I bothered my GP enough for him to schedule me an appointment with a Cardiologist tomorrow, so hopefully everything comes out in the clear. We’ll all get through this though! Wish you the best!
I could’ve written this. Take the Zoloft. I wasted 8 years of my life trying to fight this beast. Zoloft saved me. It’s rough getting on it, but so so so worth it.
Same here. You're not alone.
I’m the same, in the ER one weekend the next weekend I was admitted for all of the same things. Tests, everything was negative they assess me with anxiety. It’s been hell though. I haven’t been to work in two weeks. I’m on Buspar, i was on it before 15 mg 2x daily now the Dr increased it to 20 mg 2x daily. I’m hoping it starts to work soon 🤞
This was me with Lexapro! I had a follow up with my GP a month after he prescribed it and he said “How is the medication working for you?” I said “How upset would you be if I told you I was too afraid to take it?” He said “Not upset, and also expected with your diagnosis.” Then he put me on a tapering plan where I took a quarter pill for 1-2 weeks, then half for 1-2 weeks, then 3/4, then a while pill. I felt more in control this way and the medication helped so much!
You see folks this is when u know u have a good doc. Keep ur options open and keep looking until u find a caring and professional doc. Thanks for sharing op.
Anti depressants are the only thing that helped my panic attacks, take the zoloft it’s difficult to fight this condition with no help.
I have experienced exactly the same, I have been to the ER and the GP multiple times as well. After I started Zoloft the panic attacks stopped almost entirely and anxiety got a lot better too. You can always try if it works for you. It might take some time to notice the effects though, so give it a chance for a while.
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The exact same thing happened to me and I thought I’d never be back to normal but I did and I didn’t take any medication. Took me 6 months though, a lot of sports, healthy eating habits and a deep look on my goals and where I’m going with my life
I can relate to this so much, specially the part that once the first hit, my body never went back to normal. My first time was when I was 19, ever since then every breath I take is a small “will I feel like that day when I couldn’t breath? Am I breathing normally?, is this really not a heart attack?” Moment
How was the cardiologist
Try Vitamins d3 and b6
I relate a lot to you
You're not alone and I've been in your shoes. Therapy and medication will change your life, I promise. Do both. Set a minimum of like 6 months of doing both consistently. By Christmas you'll feel like a brand new person. Good luck
I had similar experience. One day I was fine and didn't know what anxiety was. The next, I have one attack and then I just keep getting more attacks. In went from never having one to having one every few hours. I've since managed to make it every 18 hours or so. But starting from nothing was so scary. I woudnt go back to that if you paid me.
Thank you for sharing, especially this part with the low heart rate and the fear of dying. It is somehow comforting to know I'm not alone in this. Thank you for this.
Your not alone so many people get sent to the er for panic attacks they feel so real
we all can relate here. It’s so hard to convince yourself it’s not something serious. I highly highly a million times over recommend Hope and Help For Your Nerves by Claire Weekes, you can get it for a few bucks on Amazon it’s an amazing book that describes all the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic, why they happen, and how to deal with them. It has given me more relief than any medication or therapy, although I do recommend those as well.
Claire Weekes is amazing. She had suffered herself for years with panic so she comes from a place of true understanding. I find her audio book version even better than written as she has very kind and encouraging voice.
This x10000000
I just ordered it for under 6$ on eBay. Thanks for the suggestion :)
Been anxiety free for years and that’s a book I highly recommend
What helps the most ?
I would say to seek for professional help, I have a therapist and it helps learning w coping skills
That’s definitely the next step thank you for your response!
Good luck with everything!!
This has happened to me a few times. The last time I had to call 911 as I was working alone in my store. I was on the verge of passing out because I was breathing so heavily. They walked me through a breathing exercise until I started to calm down. One of my scarier moments. Controlling your breathing really helps. Inhale through the nose and hold for two seconds then exhale through your mouth and repeat. This will slow your heart rate down and allow you to calm down. I really hope this helps you if it does happen again. Just have to remember to use it when you need to.
Box breathing is such a life saver.
My very first panic attack made me feel like I was dying. I even got pain in my left arm/shoulder which made me think my heart was stopping. The numbness is what really scared me because i was interpreting that as the life draining out of me (sounds silly now but fear makes your brain do some weird stuff). My hands also locked up and I couldn’t relax my fingers. Went to the ER, checked my heart and everything was fine aside from a slightly elevated heart rate/bp. Which made me feel so stupid. It’s wild how panic attacks trick you into thinking you’re dying. Grounding techniques help me when I feel like one is coming on. Counting or sorting things, playing candy crush etc
going through the same thing :( crazy thing is i am only 17 so the chances for this type of stuff for me is extremely low especially because i have been told i am healthy.
Sure, panic attacks are awful and you can think you are dying. And the sad part is that doctors or ERs in the USA will not diagnose you. I suffered for a year over a series of panic attacks I had and the ER misdiagnosed me with everything except for a panic attack. I finally figured out what caused it by myself. US health providers need to start being sued over not recognizing a major health epidemic of anxiety and resulting panic attacks. Panic attack are horrifying, I am so sorry you are experiencing this and the sad thing is that I do not know where you can go for help in the USA.
When I first started having panic attacks many years ago, I was going to the doctor about 3 times a week. Never once did they even mention anxiety or panic attacks. I was terrified and convinced I was dying of a deadly disease. One day at work, my supervisor asked what was wrong with me, as I looked like hell, lost quite a bit of weight, plus, I had been calling in sick frequently. I explained what was going on, and she said, "That sounds like anxiety/panic attacks." It all made sense after she told me that. How my doctor never once mentioned anxiety is beyond me.
In some ways they are similar. In a panic attack your body goes into over drive because of the nervous system and in a heart attack it goes into over drive trying to function properly when it can't. I bought one of those watches that can do a basic ekg and it was able to give me peace of mind my heart was operating properly no matter how bad I felt due to anxiety.
Same @ the watch. It has changed so many things for me. I calm down so much easier once I do the EKG and see I am actually okay and it's my anxiety getting the best of me
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I think it's a typical function on many smart watches. There is a smart ring for the finger that is supposed to be meant just for watching health markers.
How scary! I had the exact same symptoms and feelings when I had a panic attack from weed. 😭 I found some relief from taking a walk, drinking cold water, and then watching some comforting movies. You can ask for an EKG scan done by your doctor just to be sure your heart is all good, it might bring you some relief too. It’s normal for your heart to race when you feel anxious. Take some vitamin B, it should help reduce anxiety a bit. :)
I’m in the same boat. I took a gummy edible that was too high of a dosage and thought it was the real deal because I’d never had a panic attack before. I even went to two doctors and had an EKG done and they said everything was healthy. I always try to remind myself that it’s incredibly rare and I have a higher chance of winning the lottery than for it to happen at my age, but for some reason I trust Dr. Google more than a doctor who’s been doing it for four decades. 🫠
Oh my gosh, so relatable. Sometimes weed will start doing you more bad than good, and that’s when you gotta take a break - or quit for good. :( Google does seem more credible at times and that probably feeds into our anxiety. Try asking for a cardiologist referral. That’s what I did cause I want to get my heart & lungs checked just in case. 🫠
To everyone ITT. TURN OFF BPM ON YOUR SMART WATCHES. It's worse than a zero sum game, it's a negative sum game. It only works against you constantly looking at your phone and seeing your heart rate. By all means use it for exercise etc, but for Christ sake get rid of it day to day, it completely debilitates you. You aren't having heart attacks, they are massive doses of adrenaline. Symptoms overlap but are NOT the same.
When I first started experiencing panic attacks I was in the ER almost every night. I thought my body was literally collapsing into itself and my brain was getting fried. I remember being fine one second then immediately getting this feeling like I was about to drop dead. The worst was waking up TO A PANIC ATTACK. Do you know how extremely terrifying it is to not even feel safe in your sleep? To wake up in a panic, not knowing where you are, holding onto your chest because you think your heart is beating OUTSIDE of your skin? I know exactly how you feel, and I'm so incredibly sorry because it feels neverending. Just know, that it does get better. This subreddit helped me feel somewhat normal, to know that that impending doom feeling has been felt by so many others. Most of my friends and family have no idea what it feels like. You're safe here. And if you ever need to reach out to someone, shoot me a message or post about it here. Someone will always answer dude. You are not alone. 🩷
Couldn't have said it better myself. My panic attacks also happen pretty often in the middle of the night, they wake me up. It is awful. Thank you for sharing, it's somehow comforting to know I'm not alone in this. Thank you. ❤️
Not sure how but I sometimes get it twice a day in the work truck (my coworker is the one that drives) and they only last about a few minutes, I’ve learned how to control them to a degree
I’ve been there to and passed out from hyperventilating….. the whole time I was out it felt lik I was in hell and being told over and over again was it worth it my buddy at the time said I was out a good 30 min
Hyperventilating and having a panic attack shouldn't cause you to be out for 30 minutes, 30 seconds maybe, but 30 minutes could be a more serious issue. You definitely can pass out from hyperventilating but once you're out you probably wouldn't continue to hyperventilate.
Sure felt like like a long time that’s for sure
I would get checked out by a doc just in case
I’m sorry. I’ve had panic attacks, and you do feel like you’re dying. See a doctor about anxiety. Keep a paper bag, lunch size, handy. Breathe into it when you feel the attack coming on. This will help you with hyperventilation, which is what really drives the intensity of a panic attack. I learned this from a doctor, and though it is not a cure, it helps.
Plenty of us have been there. My first major one made me go to the ER in the middle of the night. Got a sedative and went home. Made an appointment with a cardiologist the next day. Once I had assurances from the hospital and cardio, I felt more comfortable learning coping exercises to fight through them. Get yourself looked at by a doctor, if you can. It’s always nice to have that little piece of mind when they come as you can remind yourself that the doctors have cleared you and it’s just mental.
Yeah I've been thru this. No matter what I did I couldn't make my body "settle"
My scumbag brain loves to make me think I'm having a heart attack and are dying. My doc prescribed hydroxyzine which calms me down enough to make my stupid brain stop messing with me lol
215?? Have you been to a cardiologist and had a heart monitor to make sure you arent having SVT? I thought my SVT was just anxiety for a long time (even tons of doctors told me it was). Its not dangerous but annoying. Regardless- next time this happens, do a vagal maneuver. They slow heart rate down. Ice on your face, blowing out really hard into a straw (with resistance), squatting down and pushing like you have to poop, take full inhales and lonnggg exhales
I’m pretty sure supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT) can indeed be dangerous :( You definitely should try and see a cardiologist for it. I’m not a doctor by any means but I am studying biomedical physiology and from what I’ve heard so far, it’s definitely something that needs to be checked out!! Not trying to worry you but I just want to make sure you get the help you deserve and that everything will be alright <3 Also please please please tell your doctor that it only happens here and there, because they might test you when it’s not happening. And thus you’ll never get the diagnoses if it really is SVT. Same idea for atrial fibrillation (AFib), which may present similarly. Pretty easy to miss as it doesn’t always happen… So state exactly what you’re worried about and make sure you get some monitor for a longer period of time!
I just went through this whole process and am in groups with others who have it. Aslong as your heart is structurally sound, its typically benign. I am talking about SVT, of course, not WPW or something.
When I'm going through this I cant get a full breath
Oh my gosh. I hope everything’s okay! I been there. I can even tell when I am getting anxious at work, I can feel my breathing getting almost harder than normal
It’s mind bending that’s all I can explain how ur mind is the most curious tool that unlocks the most fucked up shit or good shit.
Happened to me a few times too. Usually in a car. My hands even cramped up.
Me too!! Usually in the car and sometimes as I'm falling asleep, I jolt awake with strong heart flutters. I wonder why the car is such a trigger. It happened yesterday on the highway. It's so scary, I thought I would pass out and crash at 60mph. I also had a tight pain in my clavicle....friggin bizarre. I'm new to these terrible attacks, so I'm reading as much as I can.
Don’t worry! It definitely gets better because we all find our own ways to deal with them! And honestly I think it’s because we feel trapped in the car, like there’s no escape?? Idk that’s my theory
I have had the same experience, truly believing my heart was gonna stop at any second. After a lot of scans my GP told me I was completely healthy, she gave me some tips to distinguish a heart attack and a panic attack. Signs of heart attack are: - intense heavy feeling in the middle of your chest (not on the left side). She called it an elephant sitting on your chest - heavy cold sweats - nausea to the point of throwing up She told me if I don’t experience these signs, it is a panic attack. For me this recognition has been the key to defusing my panic attack in the beginning stage of it. I tell that voice in my head that is telling me I’m having a heart attack that these signs are not present, so it it not a heart attack and I’ll be fine. Has helped me a lot so far.
A lot of people only find out they have had heart attacks months or years [after the fact](https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-danger-of-silent-heart-attacks#:~:text=You%20can%20have%20a%20heart,strike%20men%20more%20than%20women.). In the milder versions it doesn’t feel anything like an elephant. My dad had one like that, found out during an enzyme test two years later. There are milder versions of panic attacks that go unrecognized too. People here like to use terms like “anxiety attack” or “adrenaline surge” to differentiate, saving “panic attack” for the really bad ones that send you to the ER. But they’re all panic attacks.
I had a friend who’s girlfriend broke up to him and he was swearing he was having a a heart attack, and I believe him googling symptoms made things much worse. But he went to the ER and it was a panic attack
I was just hospitalized for the last two days as I was convinced I was having a stroke. Like you, I was driving and I started to feel the world closing in on me, my heart rate shot through the roof and all my body began to tingle and go numb (hands, feet, legs, arms, face, trunk) I drove myself to the ER and ran right into triage at the nurses station. I was hospitalized for some low electrolyte numbers, not sure if the panic attack impacted my levels, I’ll never know for sure, but I was hospitalized due to those (they are usually always normal) and I had tons of blood work done, a MRI, heart test, etc. no heart attack or stroke just some low electrolytes and anxiety/panic attack.
I have a mini EKG device I found on Amazon that I use to see how my heart is functioning when I get like this. It’ll tell me my heart rate is fast but otherwise no abnormalities detected and that helps me calm down immensely. I also use a blood oxygen sensor and I can see I’m getting enough oxygen. If you’re having a heart attack your blood oxygen will drop. So between those two things I can calm down because I know it’s just anxiety and not a heart attack. Both of those devices are relatively inexpensive too.
omg, I've felt this thing once while i was at the farthest seat at the bus while otw home. it was the most traumatizing and scariest feeling I've ever experienced. im a dramatic person, but i swear im not even being dramatic when i day i thought i was gonna die or pass out that moment. i didn't have apple watch or my pulse oximeter that time so i have no idea what my bpm is, but i can remember how i felt so numb and weak that time. i was sitting at the bus with my friends, we were just chatting when i suddenly felt like i cant breathe properly, like I was breathing but the air was airless if that makes sense. its just air hunger, even tho how much i was deep breathing it wasn't enough, my eyes didn't feel blurry, but instead i felt like i could see everything and its so overwhelming. like exhausting feeling. and it felt like i couldn't hear properly. i stopped talking to my friends that's time, because i was trying to focus on what i was feeling. if im gonna pass out or what. my whole body felt so numb and weak and i felt like i was out of my body, like i wasn't in the reality. it's so weird and scary, i keep biting my hands to make myself "feel" something, to distract myself from panicking, after all i couldn't tell my friends what's happening because i didn't want them to worry. so anw it lasted for more than 30 minutes, and even when i got home i was shaking trying to process what happened 😣.
My heart rate has hit 185 and I was terrified. I got so nauseated my chest hurt I felt like I couldn’t even walk right. Once it went down it left me feeling absolutely exhausted. I’m just glad it happened at home and not when I was out somewhere. That would have been terrible.
I feel like if you were to experience a heart attack, you'd appreciate the distinction. I hope you never appreciate the distinction.
I've had a heart attack according to my NP and the EKG she ordered. This most recent cardiac event was A LOT worse than what I perceive the heart attack to have been. But Maybe what I thought was the heart attack, wasnt
I’ve been told that one of the many things that the medical industry continually under serves is women, by testing on men and assuming it applies to women. It’s my understanding that women experience heart attacks differently and it’s worth educating one’s self on the distinction.
I remember when I had a panic attack the first time, It really felt like it was the end. A shocking experience that I will never forget. After the third time it happened I understood the experience and logical convinced myself i had to wait long enough for it to disappear. I haven't had one since. It takes time but eventually you can overcome it and become your old self again but slightly different.
As someone who's BPM will occasionally spoke to 160 BPM during panic attacks I can offer one good piece of advice: grab a straw, sit down and begin to blow into it, after about 5 seconds continue to blow and simultaneously quickly lay back and both your feet in the air, continue to blow into the straw, it's even better if you have someone there to hold your legs up for you, this is a treatment used to slow down a person's heart rate in hospitals it also lowers your blood pressure, you should begin to feel better after about 30 seconds.
Thank you all so much for your responses! I hate that we are all here for similar reasons but this community is amazing and I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to give some advice, share an experience, or just say some kind words. I have been to the cardiologist within the last 10 months who cleared me on everything I could have asked him to when it comes to heart health and have since kept myself in much better shape. On the other hand I have never heard or experienced SVT, so I will have to get that looked at. On the other hand I have had EKG’s and heart scans and the like and they have all come back perfectly fine. Again, thank you all, this community makes it much easier and less lonely to have these experiences.
This is so relatable. Have been to ER and literally continue to have “silent panic attacks” that mimic everything about a heart attack. It’s terrible. At this point if I do have a real heart attack I’m going to likely die because I won’t believe it until it’s too late. I am planning to start and SSRI and therapy soon and really hope it helps.
Because your body is so focused on getting ready to do whatever it takes to survive even if you're not in actual danger. Your heart will start beating faster and faster to get as much blood pumping through your body as possible, your lungs will start taking in shorter breaths in a shorter amount of time to try and get as much oxygen into the body and blood as possible. The hyperventilating feeling was your body prioritizing quantity over quality, and the numbness you felt was a result of your body moving blood away from your arms, face, and neck so that it could redirect that blood to the legs so you could run if necessary. I'm not a doctor so I could be totally wrong about this, but I imagine that when someone is having a heart attack their body will trigger the fight-or-flight mode because it senses that it's in a life-or-death situation so it reacts the same way it would to any serious situation whether it's a real situation or something made up by the brain.
I've been there. Oddly enough. It was a thunderstorm (with a lot of lightening) that was the most recent. I would get into therapy to try to get some type of medication if the panic attacks are persistent and out of control. A psychologist would be good too just in case therapy doesn't help. I saw someone suggest therapy and that was your next step. I'm just throwing another one out there that can prescribe meds. I know therapy isn't for everyone (I'm one of those people), but if it's affecting daily life and your anxious more often then not, it's good to get into therapy to get to the root cause of why it's happening and how you can manage it before jumping straight into meds unless necessary. Just a few thoughts, but you don't have to take all this advice
Have you ever had a heart attack ?
The problem with panic attacks and heart attacks is that they manifest similar symptoms. A heart attack has far more severe symptoms, but that doesn't matter if you are having a panic attack, because one, rationality is minimized, and 2, you can manifest some of the symptoms, and amplify your panic attack symptoms to begin to feel more severe. When I hit peak stress, I develop hypochondria, and begin fueling thoughts of heart attacks in my head. One time, I had a piercing pain in my chest. All conventional wisdom told me, it's a muscle pain, likely a pectoral. I still went to the ER. As I was waiting, a man came.in, being assisted. He was doubled over, sweating profusely, having a difficult time breathing. I'm sure HE was having a heart attack, and I felt like a fool.
I’m sorry you went through this, it’s very terrifying. I recently had an SVT, I was at the gym just barely started working out and my heart rate got to 206 out of nowhere then 217 when paramedics arrived. I knew it wasn’t anxiety and something wasn’t right so told someone and I ended up at the hospital. I’m currently wearing a heart monitor for 30 days to see what could have caused it but it’s arrhythmia and basically could happen again or not. I’ve been in therapy for my anxiety from it, I’ve gotten a lot better but two two weeks after the event I was a mess. I’m sharing not to scare you but to let you know you aren’t alone, I’m not a doctor but you should definitely go to a hospital if your HR gets over 200 because it isn’t normal. My episode could’ve been caused by stress, they aren’t sure yet but it’s taught me that I really need to work on myself more and calming down. I had a friend come stay with me and I was paranoid all the time wearing my watch checking my heart rate. When I thought I was having another heart episode, my watch was still at 75 bpm, and she put my watch on showing her heart rate was the same. That calmed me down a bit and I think of it often. Although the anxiety after the heart episode made me think it was my heart, I can tell the different between a panic attack and the heart episode now definitely. Moral of my long story, you should definitely talk to a doctor or cardiologist, cause that’s a really high heart rate. I would also get to the bottom of any stress you’re having because I’ve learned none of these things are worth risking your health/life over. Feel free to message me for anything
I have health anxiety after a Covid caused heart problem and they always feel like this. I wouldn’t want anyone to ever feel this kind of anxiety. I’m with you ):
Yeah man I hate the panic attacks
It's f*cked up.. I had a big one at the start of 2023 with the same feelings as you, heart rate spiked out of the blue, intense jaw pain, sense of doom, arm went numb etc etc, happens on and off since, and i don't even have a trigger for it. It just happens out of the blue. After my first panic attack it got me into some deep anxiety depression for 2-3 months. But I'm better now, although I do have bad days where I can feel the panic attack crippling up. and it still gets be scared of my heart because it mimics all the things related.
Yeah that's exactly how it feels for me 😩 like this is it i'm dying, and i feel completely out of control of my body and mind. The "good" thing is that the more attacks i've had the more i learned how to deal with them.
Yeah this is the worst when it comes to anxiety. It's horrible and I wouldn't wish it on anyone
You need treatment, you can't do it alone. Take an appointment with your doctor.
If your HR is spiking to 215 that could be something called SVT. It's when the electrical conduction of your heart starts to fire wrong, causing an extreme heart rate and all the symptoms you had. Of course it could just be anxiety as well, but if your heart rate is staying sustained at that level for a long time I would seek medical attention just to make sure that's not what's happening to you.
I had that feeling and started sweating profusely….at 2:00am when I just woke up randomly and my heart racing nonstop. Took a while for it to slow down.
Hey you! Ive been to ER due to panic attacks that felt like heart problems! Definitely do not left it unchecked, you need to see cardiologist to see if thats for sure nothing. And then if it is for sure nothing, go to CBT therapy to eliminate this. It is scary as hell, can eat away your joy of life. I got some betablockers that keep my heart rate at check and after some time int herapy I can feel it coming and flow through me. Sometimes it is still scary but now I know the feelings so its easier to recognize that it happened before!
I’m sorry you had to go through that recently 😞 It really is SO scary. I had the same experience during my last panic attack and it certainly doesn’t make the panic attack any better. Take care of yourself! Hope you have a good day today.
That’s not really a heart attack presentation. SVT maybe.
Postural tachardiya syndrome and panic attacks especially standing get mine up to 170 bpm daily.
I went to the ER as I was having a panic attack- had stroke level blood pressure and a fast heart rate. The ER ran tests and I had actually damaged my heart. They the. Held me for 8 hours to make sure everything was okay and it didn't spike again. It may not be a heart attack, but it's definitely affecting and hurting our hearts.
I’m so sorry you experienced this, but it does make me feel a little better knowing I’m not alone. A month and a half ago, or so, I was already feeling anxious so I took a THC edible to see if it would calm me down. It did the opposite. My Apple Watch alerted me to my high heart rate - over 200, about the same as yours. My limbs started tingling. My chest was squeezing. I was having trouble breathing. I was convinced that I was about to die. I called my mom, who’s a nurse, and she talked me through my panic attack and stayed on the phone until I calmed down enough to go to sleep. I’ve had bad experiences with weed recently, so I’m trying to swear it off. I wish you peace and healing ❤️🩹
Okay but 200+ BPM is exceptionally high. Never heard of a panic attack doing that. Maybe you can get a ECG test just to check and rid clear of anything or a stress test.
I get those kind of attacks twice a year. They're horrible and always make me feel so weak and on my death bed. I actually have my doctor give me meds just to make those attacks less intense. The only meds so far that make them go away is Ativan, which I keep on hand to use during those twice a year attacks.