Have tried to keep this short and to the point! My OH has always been a perfectionist and anxious when he doesn't achieve his idea of perfection. I've known him for four years but it's only the last year that its affected his health. He caught Covid in October and ended up in hospital with tachycardia (170bpm) where they ran the full gamut of tests and concluded nothing mechanically wrong with his heart/lungs/chest apart from obvious Covid scarring. Fast forward to ten days ago and he had another episode of tachycardia, went to GP, prescribed betablockers, took two doses then threw them away as horrendous stomach cramps. (we live apart - I knew nothing of this apart from him not feeling well and refusing to see me). Ended up calling paramedics yesterday at 5am as had chest pains too- took him to hospital where they ran the full range of tests and concluded nothing mechanically wrong - its stress and anxiety.
He is fully aware of being particularly anxious right now and says that me being there calms him but is there anything else I can do? He's open to trying therapies, meditation, yoga, etc but will it help if I find therapists for him? Do it as a couple? He can calm down a bit by doing deep breathing and is going to do that at work today - I'm hoping that being at work will distract him from his health but...........!!
Having been through bouts of severe depression (it's under control with medication) I can understand that feeling of not being able to see the wood for the trees but I always had my children to focus on which really helped. And I also wanted to sort myself out - hated asking for support and help so I get where he's coming from in that respect. BUT I worry that I don't understand properly how he is feeling and may inadvertently make matters worse! Can anyone who is going through this or who has been with someone going through it offer any advice?