Anyone Else Get Palpitations?

[Grim]

Yes - I get palpitations and increased tinnitus with anxiety.

If I know whats causing the fear (which I don't always), I now try to stay with the fear and talk myself through it as opposed to trying to trick my brain into thinking of something else. It doesn't always work sometimes I dissociate without knowing, sometimes the fear and anxiety is too much and I have to find a distraction.

However, by staying with the fear when I can I am hopefully desensitising my brain of the fear. A little like going on a roller coaster time after time until you've got used to the ride! With some triggers I am having some progress, but then its easy to fall back again.

 

[blueangel371115]

I do often, especially lately so these tips will be very helpful :)

 

[Venator]

Yes I find I get them when my "PTSD Episodes" as I've grown to so lovingly call them reach into the multiple weeks range. I have a habit of holding my breath when anything stressful hits, even subsconsciously, even working out, running etc. Eventually it'll turn to palpitations and they are frightening, and the feelings of fright make them worse :O_o: Silly cycle!

It's funny because I realized last night as I was playing Call of Duty 4 for the first time in a while, that I breathe with each shot just like if I were really target shooting. It actually forced me to breathe, and calmed my heart down and expanded my lungs! I obviously need to get back to target shooting.

 

[blueangel371115]

Me too. That is a great stress reliever. Thanks for the reminder!!!:)

 

[Pippi]

Wow, I'm amazed by the number of people with PTSD who have gone through this same thing. An arrhythmia was detected when I tried to give blood a few years ago, and I had to see a cardiologist and wear a monitor for 30 days, etc. I also had an Echo to see if there was anything structurally wrong with my heart. Everything came back normal, other than some stress-related tachycardia. I don't consume caffeine anymore, upon my doctor's suggestion, and that has almost entirely solved the problem. All of this happened before my PTSD diagnosis.

 

[Venator]

Me too. That is a great stress reliever. Thanks for the reminder!!!:)

You're quite welcome, blueangel!

I'm in the market for a rifle for target shooting now, New Jersey really makes you jump through paperwork and financial hoops to get a firearm purchasing card though (I want my own .22 rifle to clean and calibrate). Apparently I should be fine as I've never been declared mentally unfit in a court of law or been committed (usually committed against one's will is what is taken into consideration).

 

[Grim]

Yes - I've had a number of cardiology appointments, echogram, 7 day holter-monitor and my least favourite 3 days of water collection (for some cardiology test) - all before CPTSD diagnosis.