lifeunexpected
11-13-2008, 09:43 AM
Hello all,
I have been battling anxiety and panic disorder, as well as depression, on and off for almost 4 years. Like it is for many of you, the feeling of being out of breath and your heart racing is unpleasant because it mimics the feeling of the anxiety attack. I've had ekg's and holter monitors because I was terrified that there was something wrong with me, but time and time again the doctor has insisted that I start exercising because there is nothing wrong. For some reason, that is not enough for me.
It has gotten to the point where I am afraid to climb stairs! I fly up the stairs in my house, no problem. But if they are stairs in a public place I am terrified that I am going to pass out or drop dead if I only climb just one flight. As soon as I see stairs, my heart rate goes up, I feel short of breath and I get really hot- and I haven't even climbed them yet!! To add insult to injury, when I get anxious I get skipped heartbeats which is the absolute worst feeling in the world. I don't care if the doctor says they are harmless. Having a racing heart that skips is just awful and I can't take it anymore.
I thought I was cured when I went to Europe this summer. I was with my boyfriend and I always feel so safe around him. I've never had an attack if he's around. I've done more walking and more climbing of stairs while I was in Europe then I have in about 6 years- and I felt great. I climbed 6 flights of stairs. Yes, my heart beat faster, but it didn't skip and I felt so energized and alive!!
I was so happy at the prospect that I could live normally again. But when I got home and went to school and stoon infront of those stairs, the anxiety started again and that was it- racing heart and skips after climbing one flight. I'm afraid if I climbed another flight I would have actually died.
Now I avoid stairs in public places at all costs. If the building doesn't have an elevator, I don't go.
I'm so embarrased about this. Nobody but my herbalist knows about this problem.
Does anyone have any advice for me?? Have a similar experience? I'm so sorry this was a long post. I needed to get this off my chest- I actually feel a little better now. Thanks for reading :D
I have been battling anxiety and panic disorder, as well as depression, on and off for almost 4 years. Like it is for many of you, the feeling of being out of breath and your heart racing is unpleasant because it mimics the feeling of the anxiety attack. I've had ekg's and holter monitors because I was terrified that there was something wrong with me, but time and time again the doctor has insisted that I start exercising because there is nothing wrong. For some reason, that is not enough for me.
It has gotten to the point where I am afraid to climb stairs! I fly up the stairs in my house, no problem. But if they are stairs in a public place I am terrified that I am going to pass out or drop dead if I only climb just one flight. As soon as I see stairs, my heart rate goes up, I feel short of breath and I get really hot- and I haven't even climbed them yet!! To add insult to injury, when I get anxious I get skipped heartbeats which is the absolute worst feeling in the world. I don't care if the doctor says they are harmless. Having a racing heart that skips is just awful and I can't take it anymore.
I thought I was cured when I went to Europe this summer. I was with my boyfriend and I always feel so safe around him. I've never had an attack if he's around. I've done more walking and more climbing of stairs while I was in Europe then I have in about 6 years- and I felt great. I climbed 6 flights of stairs. Yes, my heart beat faster, but it didn't skip and I felt so energized and alive!!
I was so happy at the prospect that I could live normally again. But when I got home and went to school and stoon infront of those stairs, the anxiety started again and that was it- racing heart and skips after climbing one flight. I'm afraid if I climbed another flight I would have actually died.
Now I avoid stairs in public places at all costs. If the building doesn't have an elevator, I don't go.
I'm so embarrased about this. Nobody but my herbalist knows about this problem.
Does anyone have any advice for me?? Have a similar experience? I'm so sorry this was a long post. I needed to get this off my chest- I actually feel a little better now. Thanks for reading :D