Please help I'm scared

[Moxxi]

Hello everyone sorry if I have posted here before. I am 26 years old, female, 5ft 7inch and weigh 85kg (slightly overweight but used to weigh 107kg last August)

Since I can remember I have had a fast resting heart rate, it reads at about 101 resting and between 120-130 when I'm up and about around the house. I haven't felt physically unwell with it but I'm aware of it and it causes huge anxiety for me. I am absolutely terrified I'm going to die suddenly or at a young age or develop heart failure. Yesterday I was say at the dining table and my heart rate was reading 116 but I was just say quietly doing nothing, thinking about random stuff.

I do suffer from terrible anxiety and I'm on the lost for CBT for that.

My cardiologist prescribed me a beta blocker in January after I ended up in hospital because my HR was 172 at rest. They couldn't find anything wrong other that my heart beats fast - sinus tachycardia. I had a heart scan which came back fine and my 24hr ECG was fine again, showed a fast heart. The beta blocker has reduced my heart rate but only slightly and still goes high when I'm doing stuff.

In February last year I decided I would start walking everyday for half an hour to try and get a bit healthy and my stamina has definitely improved. This week (4days ago) I signed up to the gym and I have gone everyday since, my aim is to reduce my resting heart rate.

I'm absolutely terrified it will NEVER go down even if I do a lot of cardio.
My mum has a fast heart as is also on beta blockers but she is overweight and doesn't exercise at all.

Please does anyone suffer the same or have any advice? I'm getting tired of living this way.

I remember your other thread OP, I was similar to you my heart rate at rest was 180, I was working a full time job, a part time job and studying part-time, constant stress and anxiety. When I worked on my anxiety and mental health my physical health improved greatly, my heart rate at rest today is 74. Your anxiety will be greatly affecting your physical health, please be kind to yourself while waiting for the CBT. Would something like mindfulness help you while you are waiting for CBT?

Thanks for responding @Dontbeme. Some people have been rude since I've posted before but I'm just scared. I haven't tried mindfulness does it actually work?

I find it helpful, there are a lot of videos on YouTube to get you started, at its core it is a breathing exercise to help you be still in the moment and just clear your mind. If you have trouble sleeping I would recommend "nothing much happens" podcast it is a short story podcast that I find very soothing. I would also advise that you are careful of your caffeine intake and try to eat as well as you can, your body will be working overtime with anxiety so things like sugar won't be helpful, so lots of nourishing foods, the boring stuff. You could also check www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheets/anxiety/none for some anxiety worksheets. I know it can be hellish waiting for help and when I was on a waiting list my anxiety just seemed to increase. It would be easy to just tell you it will all be fine, but as you know anxiety doesn't work like that, it's not rational. I wish you well OP.

Oh forgot to add, try to stay away from Dr Google, every symptom seems to lead to worse case scenario online and it won't help, maybe try just writing out how your feeling in the moment, I found that helpful too.

In January my resting heart rate was 110-120. I bought a treadmill and after about 3 months of going on it for a brisk walk/jog every 2-3 days I got it down to 62. I've been a bit naughty lately though, slacking. Maybe only once a week, eating shite and Ive been smoking occasionally and it's crept up to 75. So need to get back to it.
I'm not overly heavy, 5foot5 and vary between 10 and 11 stone, so I don't think it's down to weight. I'm fairly active too even before the treadmill.

You sound like you are taking some very positive action - agree that mindfulness or meditation and / or yoga could also help. Baths yoga is very breath driven so feels incredibly calming.

Also yes to looking at diet and eating. The effect sugar / caffeine has on the body is quite shocking so if you can move to reduce / eliminate that could also help.

Generally speaking, digesting anything pushes your body and hormones into overdrive so if you can avoid snacking and consider introducing fasting periods that might help.

I use the Simple app to help with all of the nutrition stuff and it's great.

Hatha yoga not baths yoga although that's two of my favourite things in one I wonder if I could combine

Thank you so much guys, all your help and advice is amazing. I will definitely take it and listen. I will try anything if it'll help me :) thanks again. I hope I can get better and recover x