Health OCD about heart rate and blood pressure

Does anyone else have OCD surrounding their heart rate and blood pressure. I had a traumatic experience about a year and a half ago and ever since then I have been consumed with checking my heart rate because it would be high (120s up to 160s) that seems to come out of nowhere. Ex. If I didn't eat for a long period of time and consume a large carb meal I would have a heart rate into the 130s about half an hour after eating and then would panick and make it worse. This also led to me checking my blood pressure and have high readings ex (160/107) when I'm obsessing. When I am calm and not worrying excessively (which is not often these days) my pulse is normal and my blood pressure is ok. The compulsions to reassure myself are trying to prove that I am ok are overwhelming. If I check and my pulse and BP are ok I feel relaxed and a sigh of relief that only lasts a few hours or a day or so, but if they are high I freak out and feel like I am going to die and something is very wrong. I have had my heart checked extensively and other tests as well and yet I still have trouble shaking this feeling like there is something wrong they haven't been able to find or figure out. I am a RN and I swear it makes it worse because I'm terrified of every medical thing it "could be" or "what if". I just want my life back and stop worrying about my pulse and blood pressure every minute it feels like of everyday. Any suggestions, words of empathy or help would be greatly appreciated. I hope I am not the only one that has ever had these thought or feelings. 😭

XPaulina

Date posted: 1y

You're not alone. I have been also obsessed with my heart rate abd blood pressure. I used to check them many times a day, I don't do it so much anymore because now o got much worse, I instead wash my hands excessively and extremely much. I wish I was instead obsessed with measuring my blood pressure and heart rate instead. I have also got my heart checked, a couple of times. I do also have a hight heart rate without "apparent reason". I fear a lot to get a heart attack or some cardiovascular disease. As I have that in my genetics. I would recommend you what it has worked for me, to practice guided meditation, to learn some relaxing breathing, to lay down on your back and have your legs high up for 10 to 20 minutes max. That helps to improve your blood circulation. And of course to do some mild csrdio, do things that improve your heart health. And the most important is, anxiety feels exactly like that, like a heart attack, high heart rate. So remember that whenever you feel overwhelmed.

RosieXX

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y

@XPaulina It’s so relieving to hear from ppl with similar experiences! My heart health is a real trigger because of certain health issues that run in my family. My bp was always normal until I started having more issues with anxiety. So naturally when I’m anxious, it’s elevated, and when I’m more stable, it’s normal! I too have had my heart checked a few times, and in 2022 I frantically bought a bp monitor, then in 2023, I frantically bought another before I took the time to look for the first one. Now I have two! 😭 so yeah, I definitely experience this!! I’ve been trying to do more to take care of myself and think about my overall health, rather than the ruminating and googling I usually do, esp when I find myself spiking. I also tend to have a fast heart rate, lol

emilytravels...

Date posted: 1y

Hi friend, I also struggle with health OCD and went through a phase of being obsessed with my heart rate as well. I have “white coat” syndrome, as they call it, because of the trauma surrounding the passing of my mom. Every time I go into a doctors office I completely panic, and my BP is of course very elevated. I also used to obsess over checking at home but then would panic before doing that as well. It’s a whole spiral that I’m not sure I have the answer to. One thing I’ve done is work with a breathwork facilitator who taught me a breathing trick where you breathe in for 4, and breathe out for 8. When you do this for a certain amount of time it signals to your body that you are safe and your heart rate will naturally drop. Maybe it will help you!

schrader18

Date posted: 1y

Thank you ...just hearing someone else that understands the struggle and has has similar experiences helps. ❤️

emilytravels...

Date posted: 1y

@schrader18 It really does! We all think our themes are the worst so talking with those who have the exact same theme is so helpful. Always here to chat if you want to connect more.

learningtore...

Date posted: 25w

OCD Medical Question?

(TW- Please don’t read if you have ocd relating to one off/random medical events) ^ ^ ^ ^ okay so this is something I’ve been confused about for YEARS and completely sped up my ocd symptoms, I had a one off seizure a few years ago, it wasn’t a major one but enough to have family take me to the hospital afterwards, I don’t remember anything whilst it was happening and I was unwell at the time too. I did all the tests and nothing came back, even tested for epilepsy but I don’t have that. No one has been able to give me a reason and that set off my ocd since mine is mostly based around things I cant see hurting me or others (contamination ocd) or me making the wrong decision (rOCD, real event etc etc) (no clue I had ocd at this point though, only got diagnosed last year) I know they can be stressed induced too but I remember not feeling that stressed that night and not much was going on… Is there anyone that’s experienced the same thing?? Could it be OCD related at all?

Anonymous

Date posted: 23w

Has anyone’s obsessive thoughts changed themes?

I went from intrusive thoughts of hurting people, thinking I did horrible things and not remembering it like running people over with my car etc, to my brain trying to convince me I that I had split personality disorder to now health anxiety. The intrusive thoughts weren’t as bad as this. I’ll get physical symptoms like my heart racing, chest pain, can’t swallow. It’s been causing panic attacks but I’m constantly scared I’m dying. If my mole looks like it changed I freak out and think I have cancer. I had to get a stethoscope to listen to my heartbeat to make sure I don’t have an aortic aneurysm to buying a Fitbit to constantly check my pulse. I went to the ER bc I thought I was dying and now I’m paying a 2 thousand dollar bill when they say my heart is fine. It’s just exhausting.

The Nervous ...

Date posted: 14w

Years of constant Anxiety leading to Panic attacks

I am trying to see if there are others like me. For the past 12 years, I’ve had crippling Anxiety that leads to intense panic attacks. I’ve been in and out of Ambulances and ER rooms and have called 911 several times. The panic is that intense. I can be just driving down the road and out of no where, BOOM! Hit by the anxiety bus. Most of the time it leads to me panicking, thinking I’m going to die or something is fatally wrong with me. The fear is so intense that I can only find a fraction of calmness by consistently checking my blood pressure, putting on a pulsometer and even checking my blood sugar until it passes. I’m not even a diabetic. I’m always having intrusive thoughts that doctors can’t even fix me. I’ve never met anyone else like me. I feel so scared sometimes that I’m going to loose my mind and that I’m going crazy and will end up in a straight jacket. Then I get another attack just thinking about that as well. Starting new medications freak me out too. If I experience ANY minor side effect, I immediately panic and freak out. I’m being so held back by this . This is a constant obsession that I can’t shake. It’s like I walk hand in hand with Anxiety and panic. Anyone else ever had these issues?

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Health OCD about heart rate and blood pressure

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