Is this another step in having anxiety

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2004
Is this another step in having anxiety
9
Fri, 02-09-2007 - 11:46am
I have noticed that I have been very restless the past few nights. I have had a stomch virus is part of it, but I think I got over that pretty much on Wed. Anyhow, I will be laying in bed and fall asleep and wake up quickly almost as if my heart stopped. I have anxiety, but is this another step of anxiety? I have also been checking my BP and the diastolic is a little high, staying in the 90's. Then my pulse is low around 62, maybe this is normal. Just wondering if anyone had an idea what this might be? Some of you might know that have OCD or anxiety disorders, you check your BP and pulse quite often. But I have never felt as if I just stopped breathing, it feel so weird! Thanks for all of your help!
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2006
Fri, 02-09-2007 - 1:03pm
It most probably is your anxiety. Actually I think it is techically part of panic disorder. I am dealing with this same thing now and in my previous bouts of anxiety I did NOT have this. It is new and I do NOT like it at all. A paper that my *T* gave me describes it as fairly normal in panic disorders, you wake up in the night feeling jolted out of sleep as if you are in the middle of a panic but for no reason. The paper said that they "think" it may have something to do with the fact that when you sleep, your BP drops, which is normal, and for some reason when this happens, some people's bodies interprut this as bad and in response, their PULSE speeds up and that is what wakes you up. It sounds reasonable, I just wish it would stop. I love my sleep, and I don't like being woke up and then having anxiety wondering what woke me in the first place. Right now this is the majority of my anxiety and I am trying to work thru it. Do you take any meds?? I was taking Ativan at night to help me sleep thru, but when I get up in the morning I am so groggy I can hardly function till noon. I went without it last night and did pretty good for most of the night. I woke a few times since my kids were in bed with me but went back to sleep ok till abotu 6:30am then I had the panic stuff and had a hard time. The good thing is, without the Ativan, I was able to get up and shower by 9am and felt pretty good, just a bit shaky which has been going on since this anxiety bout started a couple weeks ago. Its getting better, I hope it will for you too. Call your Dr and let him know what is going on, he may be able to help. Big Hugs, Erin
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 02-09-2007 - 1:35pm

Hi! I am sorry to hear that you're feeling this way. Having panic disorder & OCD, I have had fixations on my pulse, breathing & basically *inner workings.* The best thing is to keep busy & distract yourself from these thoughts. Constantly checking your own B/P & pulse only adds fuel to the anxiety fire. Your B/P & pulse both fall within the normal limits.


We all have fluctuations in our numbers as we go about our daily activities. Remind yourself of this & think positively when you become anxious & worried. Always check with your health care provider when concerned. Then, use that as reassurance that you are fine & will be fine. That it is anxiety & it cannot hurt you. GL&GBU! (((hugs))) jan


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 02-09-2007 - 5:19pm

Yes, I have had the same thing happen.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2004
Mon, 02-12-2007 - 9:19am
Thank you for the response. What you said about waking up seems to make alot of since. I was on lexpro about a year ago, but I remember the first 3 weeks that I took it, I could fall asleep sitting up and my BP was very low, they said b/c I was relaxed. Anyhow, another part of my anxiety is that I hate taking medication. Therefore, I stopped taking it. I recently seen my doctor and she reissued me a prescription for the lexapro again and said I could take it if I felt I needed it. So now I am trying to decide if my mind is strong enough to stop this anxiety or if indeed I need to take it again. This panic stuff drives me nuts and I am beginning to think my fiance is wondering what he got himself into. I am 28 years old and just want to be normal and live everyday and not worry about dying or anything else. So maybe the meds are what I need.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2004
Tue, 02-20-2007 - 4:03pm
Thanks for the responses. Has anyone experienced a stiff neck, headaches, chest pain from anxiety? My BP is still a little high 129/92, normally mine is 114/72. I guess my anxiety could be raising my BP. Who knows! I wish I could get past this. I called my doctor and told her that my anxiety has worsened and she called me in Buspar, which doesn't seem to be helping. My anxiety waked me up at night with this pressure in my chest and it scares me. I think my body is not getting the good sleep that it needs. How does someone get past anxiety? As I sit here with tears in my eyes wondering if I will ever feel like a normal 28 year old.... I had a friend of a friend who went to the doctor and he was diagnosed with anxiety and they started him on meds, then a week later he died from a heart attack. It scares me. I went to a cariologist last September and the Echo came back fine. If doctors cannot diagnose you, do they just blame it all on anxiety? Sometimes I try to fight anxiety by saying when the good lord takes me, then it's my time to go and there is nothing I can do to change it, so quit worrying. Well, that doesn't help either.
Thank you for all of your support and responses. Bless you and Hugs to all of those whom expereince what I do!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Tue, 02-20-2007 - 5:17pm

What dose is your Lexapro prescription for?

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 02-20-2007 - 5:50pm

(((Katy))) Of course you can get past the anxiety. That is why we share our experiences on this board. Everyone is learning new ways to cope. You have to stop focusing on these health concerns & negative feelings. Keeping busy is the best way to distract yourself. If not physical exercise, try keeping your mind occupied with things you enjoy doing.


There are many ppl who post with aches & pains as a result of stress, anxiety & tension. I have had concerns about my heart & have been having panic attacks for 36+ years. I have NOT dropped over yet;) I have learned to reassure myself that I am doing all I can to be healthy. It is common to continue thinking we have an illness, even when the tests are normal. Always check with your dr. for reassurance first & keep repeating that reassurance until you believe it!

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-01-2007
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 12:56pm

Hi Katy,

I hope your feeling better by now, don't worry your not alone with these thoughts I am constantly thinking there is something seriously wrong. I am new to all of this I was 'normal' until December this year and I can't work out why this all started. I have started taking meds but the idea freaks me out so I have to force them down my neck! I think they are helping but the things that have helped me the most are going to the gym and I also started Yoga classes they help so much to calm me down. It's funny when I'm at home and I feel my heart racing I prepare for the worst and begin to feel like I'm leaving this world but when I am at the gym and I'm making my heart beat faster I feel fine?! How silly this all is. You have to be strong and just keep on going, don't let this beat you! Try excercise if you can find time to, it's my best advice.

Good Luck Katy,

Angel x

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Thu, 02-22-2007 - 4:50pm

Hi Erin! I never had this before with my anxiety either but I am now too! How weird. It is like I am falling asleep easily at the normal time for me and then BAM, I jolt awake and feel short of breath kind of and chest feels funny and pulse is faster than normal. I actually do not find myself fearing it (SHOCK because I fear all sorts of medical things) but I get to worrying about it during the day and I am starting to dread falling asleep kind of but trying not to go there because that will be one more thing to fear that I do not need.

Kim