Tachycardia is one of the most common symptoms for people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. It’s also one of the symptoms that causes most fear, because when you feel it, you may wrongly think you will die, or that you have a serious heart condition.
What happens when the heart is racing is that the body is perceiving some sort of danger, and it is getting ready to run from it. What’s really going on is called a fight or flight response. This response will make you feel a rapid heart rate, that is actually healthy and not harmful in any way.
Most people who experience tachycardia due to anxiety, do not know that anxiety the cause of it, therefore they submit themselves to a series of medical exams, like an echocardiogram, or visit many doctors to see what’s wrong. They may also feel depression or despair, because they think they will never be able to lead a normal life again.
If you already had a series of tests run, and the results where fine, then accepting that Anxiety is the cause of your tachycardia, is the first step towards recovery. (It’s really just a vicious cycle, anxiety produces tachycardia and then tachycardia produces anxiety, and then panic.)
The secret is to demonstrate to oneself, that their tachycardia y really due to anxiety, and nothing else.
How to we achieve this?
1-When you feel the heart racing, analyze what you are doing and thinking in the moment. Unconsciously you may have also been under some sort of pressure. Immediately shift your attention from your symptoms and start thinking positive, calming thoughts.
2-Say to yourself, “This is healthy tachycardia, and it will son pass, when I am able to control my fear”.
3-When having a tachycardia episode, you will feel tempted to go to a hospital, but instead just call someone to talk about any random topic that will take your mind off the sensation you are experiencing. Don’t tell them you are feeling bad; juts talk about any subject that will distract your thoughts.
4-Have someone take you’re for a scoop of drive through ice cream, you will be surprised, how quickly your racing heart will calm down.
5-When you have proved to yourself that you have the power to calm yourself, you will slowly rebuild the confidence to start taking small steps. For example, if you were afraid of leaving your home, you can walk somewhere near. If you were scared of driving, you can take a small ride around the block, and eventually go a little further, and soon you will see that Tachycardia has no control over you anymore.