high b/p and anxiety

[quail]

hi wondered if anyone else was suffering with high b/p and anxiety i have severe anxiety which is the biggest factor in my high b/p i think i have a little high b/p but anxiety is the biggest cause ,i also have a phobia[bad] over having my b/p took i normally end up having a huge panic attack,ive been put on labetatol[sp] which ive been told not only helps b/p but also helps anxiety , anybody else with any of these issues please let me know as i would love not to feel alone as my dh dosent understand and just tells me to stop going on,thanks.xxxxalso any tips how to stay calm when having it done,thanks

 

[ds0910]

I have severe anxiety also. I sucks I know. I am not able to take my meds for it anymore because they will pass the placenta barrier and hurt my baby. So I am pretty concerned about being off my anxiety meds for this long but it's just something that has to be done. As far as staying calm, what is it about having your b/p taken that causes you to panic(if you know)? Really think about it and try to come up with something, anything about it at all?

 

[quail]

I have severe anxiety also. I sucks I know. I am not able to take my meds for it anymore because they will pass the placenta barrier and hurt my baby. So I am pretty concerned about being off my anxiety meds for this long but it's just something that has to be done. As far as staying calm, what is it about having your b/p taken that causes you to panic(if you know)? Really think about it and try to come up with something, anything about it at all?

thanks for replying, the only thing i can think off is that i had my b/p took at one of my six week checks with one of my other babys and i had been running to make the appointment and my b/p was up probably understanderbly but the dr i saw was the one know one likes and is ver abrupt and she scared me with her manner, and ever since then i have had this problem , i managed to get through my last pregnancy without any meds for my b/p but i was still on my anxiety meds so that helped although in labour it shot up but once they gave me a shot of pethidine to calm me down it came back to normal only to go up again when panicking about going home once home my mw checked it and it was ok again , ive even been given a monitor to use at home before and i still panic it takes me about 20 atemps until i can calm down. i just wish ther was a way to take it before i have time to panic,lol.xxx

 

[ds0910]

Hmmmm......that's tough. The only advise I can offer (which I am sure you are already doing) is start taking it at home again and do it as often as you can. I know it terrifies you but if you can make yourself do it hopefully it will desensitize you, and it will be less stressful for you to do it yourself at home. Before and while you are doing it just keep reminding yourself that it is just you, not that horrible dr, and keep replaying in your mind that you are just psycing yourself out and that there is really nothing to be afraid of. You are just blowing up a cuff and reading numbers....THAT IS IT. Nothing more, just air and numbers. Nothing scary about that now is there If you are still having trouble, one way that I fight off panic attacks is to get a freezing cold wet washcloth and put it over my face and breath as deep as I can, or standing with my head stuck in the freezer works too....though you might look pretty funny like that I do it anyway if my attack is real bad. Feel free to message me if you want to talk about anything. Let me know if any of this helps and GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[quail]

Hmmmm......that's tough. The only advise I can offer (which I am sure you are already doing) is start taking it at home again and do it as often as you can. I know it terrifies you but if you can make yourself do it hopefully it will desensitize you, and it will be less stressful for you to do it yourself at home. Before and while you are doing it just keep reminding yourself that it is just you, not that horrible dr, and keep replaying in your mind that you are just psycing yourself out and that there is really nothing to be afraid of. You are just blowing up a cuff and reading numbers....THAT IS IT. Nothing more, just air and numbers. Nothing scary about that now is there If you are still having trouble, one way that I fight off panic attacks is to get a freezing cold wet washcloth and put it over my face and breath as deep as I can, or standing with my head stuck in the freezer works too....though you might look pretty funny like that I do it anyway if my attack is real bad. Feel free to message me if you want to talk about anything. Let me know if any of this helps and GOOD LUCK!!!

thank you so much for your help i will ask my mw about doing it at home again,i think you are right that the only way over it is to keep doing it until i dont care, i will keep in touch as you have took time to answer me and i really appreciate that ,as other people just dont understand how bad anxiety can make you feel , my dh thinks you can control it and stop it and just dosent understand that you cant stop the way you feel,its nice when somebody really understand what your going through.

 

[ds0910]

Any time hun

 

[scotmum35]

have u heard about creating a safe place in your mind.its a tool for those with anxiety and panic to calm themselfs down.basically u think of a place where u feel calm and safe or u can create your own a mountain top a beach ect whatever u are comfy with and anytime u feel anxious u take a moment and visualise that place.eventually your mind associates calm feelings with the safe place.its worth giving a go,good lk xxx

 

[Bluesea]

i hate getting my blood drawn so I always look the other way and think of something nice and calming (sometimes it's just replaying in my mind scenes of a good movie I recently watched or book I read or thinking of my family and my nieces etc). Definitely feel for you... take deep breaths and hope you find that 'calm' place... take care

 

[quail]

thank you all so much with your help and advice,i will try some of your suggestions