I can hear my heartbeat - massive anxiety

[wingingatlife]

Please tell me why when I lie down try to sleep I can hear my heartbeat?

When I'm up, I can't, but my heart rate is really fast.

I've had severe anxiety on/off for years and I go through a cycle of symptoms. (Headaches for weeks, then it'll move on to numbness/tingling, then to something else etc). I haven't had the heart rate thing for years but an ecg then was normal.

The CBT knowledge I have knows that thinking about it and looking out for it intensifies it but the hearing it thing has scared me and obviously I've dr googled and scared myself.

I have a mindfulness app, don't drink alcohol or caffeine and am a slim 30yo.

I have had that whooshing/beating in my ears since being a tiny child. It is completely normal.

I always hear my heartbeat at night. I think it is totally normal. Had all the heart tests done as suffered from lightheaded and dizzy symptoms but all is normal. I actually always thought it was the sign of a healthy heart that it beats strongly but really just think it is heightened awareness.

I’d be worried if you couldn’t hear it!

On a serious note it’s more than likely your anxiety causing your heart rate to increase. I can hear my heartbeat most of the time, especially when laying in bed and it’s silent. I really wouldn’t worry (much easier said than done I know!)

Do you drink coffee/alcohol? If so I would look at reducing these, and speaking to your dr if you’re really worried.

I get this! At night I can hear my heartbeat and it starts racing! Sometimes becomes a panic attack so when it starts now I breathe deeply / read / distract myself. I've noticed it seems to happen more when I'm pre-menstrual oddly. Anyway, you're not alone. Try not to focus on it as it makes it worse. I hope it all improves for you.

I have this I've put it down to bp medication but the GP said no so I guess it is indeed anxiety which I do suffer from. All the symptoms are there and yes if you worry about it it gets worse.

I am sitting here in silence hearing g me heartbeat pulsing in my right ear, feeling anxious and no reason to be, fixated on a headache I have for a couple of days and it is heightening my anxiety, hate this feeling

I believe intensely hearing your heartbeat is actually a part of anxiety, when I get really anxious I can look down and "see" my heart beating between my ribs.

I would definitely say it's part of your anxiety. When I was feeling really anxious over something a few months ago, I could suddenly feel and see the pulse in my neck and my cartoid artery felt swollen. Cue me becoming convinced that I had a blocked artery I didn't, it was just the anxiety.