Heart anxiety again

@benjita1 Yes I had so many ecgs done a lot the last 9 years and also had a 3 days monitor a year ago and I was told I have tachycardia but nothing dangerous nothing to worry about I keep relapsing honestly some days I m ok other I m back to obsessing I m constantly under stress so my ocd get the best of me I don’t have high blood pressure but who’s know probably I do because constantly anxious I hate going to the doctor and they keep sending me to get test done because my heart rate was high I m so tired of all of this so exhausting everyday a new obsession What type of therapy you did for health anxiety

@Monii Hi, sorry for the late reply. I didn’t get a notification for this post. My therapy for my health anxiety was one 2 one CBT with a workbook I had to go through. I was also obsessed with lumps and bumps at the time and kept making any swollen lymph nodes worse. I changed my job and became a bus driver so the constant checking just sort of stopped. How are you doing now?

@benjita1 Is okay I m no doing to good my mind keep obsessing about heart rate and every day I get this thoughts that my heart will go fast for no reason my worse fear right now is tachycardia

@benjita1 Do you think cbt therapy work better than exposure therapy

@Monii Happy New Year! I completely understand your concerns. I had an episode of tachycardia when I was going through my heart obsession a year ago and I went straight to the doctors who did an ECG. In the end I was given some medication to take if it was to happen again and I was shown a technique to slow my breathing down and to reduce the stress of it. When I accepted that most of my heart concerns were being made worse by obsessing over it things really did settle down. At the height of my health anxiety I hadn’t been diagnosed as having OCD, so exposure therapy for me wasn’t an option. However I was given a work book to complete between sessions which really helped me get over it. I can remember when my health anxiety was at its worst and I was seeing multiple doctors I would look them up on the GMC register (I’m from the UK) to see how long they had been a doctor and I got worried if they were newly qualified. When I discussed this at one of the sessions I was asked by the therapist how did I know that a newly qualified doctor was less capable than an experienced doctor? They had just spent 7 years training and if anything were more qualified than me 😂. That obsession of checking the register stopped pretty much overnight! I am thankful that my wife has been with me through each of my episodes and has been a big part of my recovery.

@benjita1 Ah ok right now going through heart obsessing tachycardia I think if I don’t sleep I will get it like I m think I will get it for any reason I have ECG done before a lot normal so far but I still worry I m no going to doctors but I m constantly scared that if I don’t take care of the anxiety will get palpitations

@Monii Palpitations and ectopic beats are very common symptoms brought on by stress and anxiety. I found I became hyperaware of my heart and it felt like I felt every ectopic beat and palpitation. When I had my 24 hour holter monitor the results came back that these beats were within normal range. Are you in the UK? Are you able to self refer for therapy?

@benjita1 Ah ok yes I know they are common but just feel so scary and I believe my thoughts like I know they are cause by stress but what if is a heart attack? That’s what my thoughts are :/ I m in USA and can’t find a therapist because is cash only can’t afford it ;(