Fitbit - it is anxiety related!

[MummyTo3Beauts]

Hey all,
Does anyone use a Fitbit and track their heart rate? My anxiety is very heart related I think. Just wanted to chat to anyone that constantly checks it if there is anyone xx

What is it that you check? What exactly triggers anxious thoughts?

With any kind of anxiety you need to find methods to cope with the focus of your anxiety and avoid behaviours that feed in to it. You may need to wean yourself off the Fitbit.

Yes, I have, and I do. I love the information. If you know, you can do something about it.

I have health anxiety that is focused on my heart. I check my pulse numerous times throughout the day and I have had to stop myself getting a Fitbit as I know it would feed my obsession and impact my life even more.I would be checking constantly and if I wasn't happy with my reading I would become extremely anxious which in turn would affect my heart rate and I would end up at a&e thinking I'm having a heart attack.
I've had CBT and my therapist advised me not to go down the Fitbit route, as did my G.P due to these irrational fears and checking behaviors.

@BlueMerchant
I could have written that myself! I have for years checked it manually. Got Fitbit with hr for Christmas. I'm obsessed. As soon as I wake up I open the app to check my resting heart rate, I'm fine until I can feel my pulse somewhere then I check my Fitbit continuously or if I click for the time an see my hr and it's slightly high I do the same

@spugzbunny
I check hr. like I've sat here for an hour and it's been 100 bpm, so I don't know if it's my heart that is making me anxious or my anxiety making my heart race

Doesn't sound like having a Fitbit is useful to you.

@YeOldeTrout
I think you might be right.

Really feel for you. You know what you need to do though and it won't be easy.
The compulsion to look at it must be overwhelming but you really must get rid.
The Fitbit isn't helping you. It is feeding your irrational thoughts surrounding your heart and making you doubt yourself and your health.

I wish I could follow my own advice as I sit here having just manually checked my pulse as talk of heart and I start thinking irrationally

@BlueMerchant
It makes me feel physically sick when I try and stop myself from checking. I'm so sorry I've started yours off. It's so nice to speak to someone who is the same, it feels like a very lonely place

It certainly does and it is reassuring when you come across somebody who can empathize. So many people you come across seem to have all the answers but really have no insight into how it actually feels.Rest assured you are not alone.
But please get rid of that bloody Fitbit!!!

I've turned the heart rate feature off it now, I know I won't manually check as much as when it's right there at the press of a button. It's weird some days I don't check at all and other it's all I do did anything start yours off?

Hi. Good start turning it off. I really hope you can stay away from the function! Although I know the Fitbit is only part of a bigger problem and overcoming the compulsion to check will still be a struggle when it feels so necessary.
My heart obsession started when I had a SVT. Had felt unwell and been in a huge panic for a couple of days. Partner phoned 999 after I started shaking and vomiting. Paramedics came and did ecg. My heart rythem was all over and my pulse was 270 bpm. Rushed to A&E. Medics rushing round, threat of cardioversion...I really truly believed I was dying and would never see my two young children ever again.
Luckily I'm still here. Unfortunately this has left me with this overwhelming anxiety and absolute need to check my pulse.
Do you know how your anxiety started? A trigger or is it something that has evolved?
Hope today has been a good day for you. I've had a good day. Busy so mind occupied

Wow, its no wonder that gave you anxiety must have been so scary.
I've had anxiety for about 20 years on an off but my dad suffered a heart attack and died, I found him. Then my mum had to have surgery to replace a heart valve. I think I just became very obsessed with hearts.
I even have to move the kids if they're laying on me so I don't feel theirs in case I start doing it to them too.

What horrible experiences. It's no wonder you are pre-occupied with your heart. Events like these remind us that we and those we love aren't invincible and it's so so scary that we seem to go into a kind of self preservation mode where we think we can somehow prevent something going wrong if we keep checking.
I understand about the kids. My daughter is hyper and will be running and jumping around and on me and I have to get up and move as I can feel her heart vibrating through her body and I get the urge to' check' her.( I haven't though)
They are 7&9 now and they know I check my pulse. I wish they didn't know my issues but they have unfortunately seen me in a huge panic too many times for them not to have picked up on it.
Hope you've kept that function off and are having a better day!

My 11 year old understands about my anxiety, my 3 & 4 year olds don't.
I think I checked twice yesterday and haven't today. I can feel it pounding though but I've got tonsillitis so keep trying to tell myself it's because of that.
Hope you've had a good day