I have had panic attacks and chronic anxiety since I was 8, now I am 17 and it starting to get to the point where I don't know what to do anymore. I experience heart palpitations very often and especially whenever I wake up from a long sleep. I get them during school and I get them every other place I go. I have told my doctor, he explains to me its all my anxiety and nothing else. I have problems believing this because most of the time Im not having an anxiety attack when they occur. So eventually he has my heart tested with an ultrasound, stress test, and recently an EKG. All of them came back fine and it almost worries me more. I must add Im also on the medications Wellbutrin XL, Lexapro, and Inderal. He put me on the Inderal to try and control the palpitations and shaking I have and so far its done nothing. Im worried something is wrong because these palpitations are long and I have major problems just breathing and alot of the time the palpitations cause the panic attacks, not the other way around. It seems like I am confident its not my anxiety, but I know thats very common for anxiety sufferers to believe. I just want to know if anyone can explain these palpitations and if I should worry about long term damage. Also if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

First thing is first: if the doctor ran all of those tests on you and found nothing then I doubt you have a signficant heart problem. A lot of time heart palpitations will indeed induce stress. As I have told many others on here, when I get palpitations or skipped beats I STILL have to get reassurance and I will spend a few hours worrying about the situation. Trust me, they will induce anxiety.

Heart palpitations can occur for a variety of reasons. Just today I woke up from sleep with a pounding sensation in my chest, I can get up from a chair too fast and feel them, I can eat too much at dinner or drink too much (not alcohol, just general drinks or water) and get them.

If palpitations are your only symptom then you are in the boat with thousands of other perfectly healthy people. If you start to exhibit other symptoms, call your doc and let him know (others being recurring nausea with your palpitations, shortness of breath that comes with them (but not associated with anxiety over them or being able to catch your breath when you calm down), dizziness or fainting spells, things of that nature.)

If you have any other questions feel free to post and I or one of the other board regulars will be sure to help you. Try not to worry though, you are with friends.

Thank you, that helped very much.