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Heart Palpitations Forum >> General Discussion >> Anxiety: heart racing,fear of almost everyth
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Message started by kirk on Jan 21^st, 2007, 2:35pm

Title: Anxiety: heart racing,fear of almost everyth
Post by kirk on Jan 21^st, 2007, 2:35pm

I am having severe anxiety attacks. It seems I am afraid of just about anything imaginable. Lately I fear I am having a heart attack, I have been to specialists and had several tests done and everything is fine, yet my heart races like crazy and unexplainably. I don't sleep.
I am told to calm down yet nothing seems to calm me except maybe a beer or two. Is it ok for me to drink while I am going through this? Also I would like to find a counsellor who will work with me one on one and not recommend pills becouse I am afraid of becoming addicted, or the side effects of medication. This is driving me and my partner crazy! Can you suggest what I should do to help remedy this.

Title: Re: Anxiety: heart racing,fear of almost everyth
Post by RLR on Jan 21^st, 2007, 7:17pm

Well, patients who describe being afraid of everything imaginable, often reveal that they view their symptoms from a general, rather than specific, perspective and tend to perceive a global impact to their health instead of targeted complaints. As I've stated to other patients who develop ruminations about the fear of a heart attack, it's seldom the sort of event that you can establish worry patterns about over such an extended period. A person truly imposed upon by heart disease seldom makes such assumptions and the cardiac event itself leaves no doubt in their mind as to the origin of the problem.

It's important to maintain keen awareness of how the body's nervous system plays a vital role in heart rate and changes in homeostasis, or normal and balanced function. In the presence of an anxiety disorder, the nervous system is affected greatly and very dynamic fluctuations can be observed depending upon how the patient reacts to stressors as they occur or in anticipation of a particularly distressing outcome. Lack of quality sleep alone will cause changes to occur in heart rate and anxiety levels, not to mention its effects upon physiology in general.

I suppose the question here is not necessarily what you're afraid of, but rather what you're avoiding. It is seldom the case that fear of something can accentuate anxiety as great as an overwhelming avoidance of a major conflict that seeks resolution. It sort of works like this; an individual without deliberate consonance and range of comfort with "who they are" establishes identity problems. A role must be portrayed that offers a realm of social acceptance, but unwittingly imposes insecurity. If pervasive enough, the individual can become over-distanced from both emotional and societal requisites that firmly anchor and identify each of us as independent and deliberate, or in other words, self-confident about who we are and what we represent as unique persons. All humans need to establish their beliefs and have a firm constitution in order to possess comfort and subdue unrest. On the surface, the individual will perform as though everything is under control, but within there lies a nagging and pervasive confrontation and inability to both face and overcome it. In truth, the solution is but one small step in the right direction but to the individual affected, it's an unimaginable leap.

So the key is to seek professional counseling, but having first made foundational decisions about reaching to the core of the matter and commitment to seeking resolution and satisfaction. In other words, you've got to go in with the idea that you're going to allow exposure of the underlying circumstances and reshape your perspectives so that it frees you from your present approach to life. Cognitive therapy is very effective and it's important to locate a professional who has a great deal of experience in this regard.

It is okay to consume alcoholic beverages, but always in moderation. Using any substance for purposes of escapism can become a problem in its own right, so take care in that regard. Stay well clear of any type of stimulants, including illicit substances. Other than that, I'd say you're going to be just fine. Keep a steady eye toward your goal and don't let circumstances stand in your way or prevent you from obtaining it. You'll do fine.

Best regards and Good Health