Ansiety/heart problems I dont know what to do??? Im a prisoner in my home

[Jarrod Robison]

About 3 months ago out of no where I started getting panic attacks, and now im a prisoner in my own house... Now that the panic attacks have lightened up a little bit I have developed another problem.  My heart feels like it holds a beat, and I have never noticed it beat so hard that my head nods with the Rhythm.  For the past 4 weeks I have stopped smoking and drinking caffine and no results...If I must go some where while driving it feels like im going to fall asleep, and whenever im at a stop sign it feels like my heart is going to beat out of my chest... When I do arrive at my destination my legs are wobbly and im light headed... Then I start to notice my heart beating faster and harder.  I am forever feeling my pulse all day long, and from what I can gather its a normal heart beat (70-89 beats a minute) it just beats so hard.  I have never been so scared in my life!  I just know that if something were to ever happen to me like being robbed or attacked I would suffer a heart attack.
The worst part about this whole ordeal is im only 19 years old....  I have a wife and baby and no way of supporting them.... I don't do drugs and I dont take perscription drugs... No alcohol... no medical conditions in my family.... I use to be a very active person and I went just about every where, but now since these attacks I have no desire to do anything....  Please help me

[SATY]

By all means go to a doctor or a mental health clinic and tell them what's up because your baby needs a pair of functioning parents!! When you get some medical help you'll be able to start working on the stressors like finding a JOB. Be proud of the fact that you are still with your wife and child. A lot of lesser men would have left when faced with multiple stressors like that!

[SATY]

By all means go to a doctor or a mental health clinic and tell them what's up because your baby needs a pair of functioning parents!! When you get some medical help you'll be able to start working on the stressors like finding a JOB. Be proud of the fact that you are still with your wife and child. A lot of lesser men would have left when faced with multiple stressors like that!

[Response to Dee]

Hi Jarrod,

I know exactly how you feel.  I went through the exact same thing.   If I were you I'd get to your primary care doc and explain all the symptoms you are having.  The doc will probably run all the standard heart tests and I bet they'll all come back normal.  It sounds like you have PVCs (premature ventricular contractions).  Go to the heart forum on this site and do a search on PVCs, you'll find tons of information on them.  Sounds like you're stressed out to me (a wife & baby at 19, WOW!), which as far as my experience goes, can cause your heart to beat irregularly. Anti-depressants can help, but consider therapy, too.  Therapy can give you strategies for coping with the stress and/or problems you are facing.

I wish you all the luck in the world!

Christine

[Pat L.]

You'll live.  Go to a doctor and explain your symptoms.  They'll likely get some heart tests to rule out problems.  When all of those come back normal, ask for an SSSR (anti-depressant).  Most of them affect your sex life-so ask the doc for Serzone or Wellbutrin.  Stay on it for a month, even though you may feel screwed up at first, and you will feel fine.  Worked for me.

[HFHS MD - RG]

You may be suffering from an Adjustment Disorder anxiety type since you have not indicated that you have had similar symptoms in the past or any significant family history. You present a psychosocial stressor of being 19y/o, married, unemployed, and having a baby. However, I will not discount that this may also be a first episode for Panic Disorder.

Differentiating Panic Disorder from Adjustment Disorder is important as this will determine the type of treatment you will need. Both treatments are treatable but with Panic Disorder, you will need to be on medication for a longer period of time. Both disorders benefit in cognitive-behavioral therapy.

I recommend to consult a psychiatrist for a full evaluation. you may contact your local community mental health if you currently have financial difficulties.