Anxiety and depression

[iamfaithful]

Hi Everyone! I have not been on here in years and I’m so grateful to be back! I have been struggling with anxiety for a number of years and over the past few years it’s been a combination of anxiety and depression. To make a VERY long story short, I struggle with health anxiety pretty bad! It started with heart flutters/palpitations that I was obsessed with and now it’s my blood pressure! As soon as I see a BP cuff my anxiety skyrockets and of course my reading is high. I am already on medication and now my doctor wants to increase the dosage. I’m so frustrated and depressed about this. I know my anxiety is fueling this. Is there anyone else that deals with this? Please help.

[specialmom]

So, I have a lot of anxiety JUST like this with my bp. I found I kept getting borderline high bp readings over and over every time I went to the doctor. It kept creeping higher. I became a bit paralyzed. My doctor wanted me to get a cuff at home and take a reading and record it three times a day. And do that for three months. They told me how to do it --  relaxed feet flat on ground. Relaxed mind thinking about something I like. Etc. I got anxious doing it. But finally, I went to the doctor and my bp had gone even higher and they told me I could start medication that day or go the ER. I got my script and have been taking bp medication ever since. NOT a big deal. I have familial hypertension (meaning it's genetic) and take Losartin at a low dose. Not a single side effect after the first two days of starting it. My bp is now controlled. And I feel better.  My point being, if you have a concern you have hypertension, don't right it off as health anxiety. That's legit anxiety. White coat syndrome happens but it only raises it a bit and if it is every single time, um, chances are you actually have high blood pressure. You can do the at home blood pressure monitoring like they requested I do. But IF you DO have high blood pressure? It's not that big of a deal. It's something you can control. NOT treating it is what is bad for your health. With health anxiety, you have to face the health fear. Rule it out, then work on the anxiety after you know that is the problem and you don't have a health issue to address other than anxiety. ***  I see you are on medication. Yes, increase it. Do as your doctor wants. I don't think this is likely white coat syndrome. You'll get a blip but not enough that it skyrockets. Listen to your doctor