[Jeff]

It seems that for a lot of us, our heart rhythm problems are either caused by or made worse by stress. So I thought it might be useful to throw out ideas of ways to relieve stress that work for you, and after awhile I'll compile this list and turn it into an article.

In general I need things that are going to engage my brain a little bit, so that it can't think about the palps or the stressing issues causing the palpitations, like:

Going for a walk with someone - a friend, the kids, anyone that will engage me in some conversation about whatever.

Reading a book.

Exercising - my preference is in my little basement workout area (pic below), where I can turn on the TV while I'm on the treadmill or bike or whatever.

Fixing things - our house always has several things that are broken at any given moment, and having to troubleshoot how the thing got broken and how to fix it can be a nice break.

Gardening - this one is probably true for many, but not for me. Because my job is tied so closely to gardening, my gardening feels like work. So I don't enjoy it as much.

Woodworking - this is a newer one for me, but I was doing some renovation work in our house this winter and found that I liked spending time in my workshop, building cabinets and shelves.

Hanging out with my kids in the backyard, doing nothing in particular.

Getting a massage. I swear my voice is an octave lower and half as fast after I get one.

What cuts through your stress?

[Lisa33167]

Well for me I don't think stress has anything to do with my problems, my cardiologist didn't either.

I have been under a tremendous amount of stress for many years and have always had a "don't sweat the small stuff" attitude. For the past year or two, my stress level has gone down by tenfold, but my symptoms & problems worsened.

It's funny listening to my oldest son, he'll be 24 soon and when he says "no biggie" I hear me saying it to him and my oldest daughter daily lol.

I think because I got married and had children at a very young age, I kind of grew up with them. I played games & did things kids did so much that it's just second nature for me to gravitate towards things liked they do at their age.

The biggest thing for controlling daily stresses for me is to take time to laugh, have fun and every once in awhile a good old cry! lol yeah I know but it really does relieve stress.

[jkfrench]

Hey Lisa!
Great to see you here. I agree with the crying thing. For some reason lately, I just can't cry. I want to but I can't. I always used to feel good after a cry. For me, I really don't have any helpful ideas on how to relieve stress because when I having a bad bout with these PVC's, I'm too focused on the fact that I'm afraid. Going to the doctor and getting reassurance is the only way to get rid of my stress associated with PVC's.
Other types of stress I can release through exercising and having a martini!!!!
Jodie

[Lisa33167]

Thanks I think probably the way I with these annoying things, as well as other things in life is to ignore them.

It sounds bad but really if something's bothering me I ignore it. No sense in giving much needed energy to things I have no control over. I may revisit it and try something new. Some days it's easier than others for sure.

Before I got really sick; when something bothered me I had to physically do something, anything really, whether it was clean a closet, scrub a floor till it could be eaten off of, take a walk or run until I couldn't anymore, or something similar, it always made me feel better.

I've almost died twice due to a strep infection that turned septic and a humongous blood loss where I was dumb and refused a transfusion - or was it 3 times now? lol anyway - life's just way too short to sweat the small stuff...now if I can just remind myself of that daily, I'll be doing good

[Susie]

HMMM. to relieve stress, well, when I am in fear mode over the PAC's NOTHING calms me down, in fact, when I try to relax or ignore them, I get even more hyper. I have tried walking, but, I am afraid to go alone and I have no one to go with me, so, I exercise indoors. I guess coming to these forums is my main relief and also praying and reading.