Racing heart

What is the best ways to reduce or stop racing heart due to anxiety?????? How to stop the pain in the heart that tell us "You are having anxiety problem"????????????

Hi Max

In my experience, the best way to reduce your heart-rate is through controlled breathing (count to 5 while inhaling and 9 while exhaling and gradually slow down to 7 while inhaling and 11 while exhaling) - of course, it helps if you can distract your mind from the anxiety too and a good way to do this is to concentrate on some kind of calculation or trying to figure a simple anagram, etc - something that is difficult enough to occupy your mind but not so difficult that your mind loses interest.

The chest pains are usually the result of muscle tension and can usually be relieved by light exercise.

Chris

hi, i was prescribed beta blockers to help me with the physical side effects of anxiety, they do work but it has been very difficult for me to come off them. Try to get something to use as a mind distraction tool, ie a key in your pocket or something like that, which you simply hold in your hand, this does actualy work as a way to make your mind focus on something else apart from the anxiety. i used it myself on many normally scary trips to the supermarket! lol

Hi there,

The deep breathing mentioned above is probably the best technique. Make sure you make your out breath longer than the in breath as this will produce brain chemicals that will automatically lower your heart rate.

Brain distraction is a great technique too - Try counting backwards in multiples of 7 from 100. It's bloody difficult but it takes your mind off.

Also - don't worry (famous last words...) too much about having a quick heart rate. At least it shows your heart is in good working order.

All the best.

Jon