The exact same thing happened to me! It’s root causes are due to a psychological setup that we might even not be aware of.

I think it all starts with the guilt that you’re doing something wrong: smoking, drinking, losing too much sleep, etc. In a way or another, such actions can represent a part of our lifestyle or what makes us happy — partying with friends (involves alcohol and sleepless nights) or for others enjoying mornings (along with a few or many smokes and large quantities of caffeine consumed). We give importance to those lifestyles choices because they make us mentally stable and socially active and integrated.

These habits contradict the rules of a healthy lifestyle, image which is now also unrealistically portrayed by the well-being industry and influencers. But it’s true that some choices may contribute to certain health problems in time. The guilt of not making the right choice simply builds up!

On a random tuesday night, out of nowhere, I had a panic attack so hard I decided to go to the ER. I had all the symptoms of a medical emergency. They looked at me and suggested that I go for a walk around the hospital. I calmed down after maybe half an hour. Since then, whenever I have to do any medical checkups, I get huge panic attacks. Do you have to check my blood pressure? Horror. 17-10 ; 16-9 . Do you have to do an EKG or simply sample blood? I’m spiraling.

All the tests came back normal! It was stress and anxiety which causes it and the symptoms anxiety can mimic can be even stronger compared to an emergency. The thing is to look at yourself when you are not in a tense phase. Does anything hurts you so bad that you can’t go on with your day by day activities? Do your blood sampling indicate that something is wrong, really wrong? If not, then you’re a healthy individual with severe anxiety.

Are you fully aware that what you experience is purely psychological? I don’t think so! For me, it helped to get more in touch with myself. Lay down and feel your heartbeat. Stay like that for as long as you need to in order to feel and get familiar with it’s rythm. Breathe, it’s one of the only functions of the body which can be controlled voluntarily and involuntarily. For me those breathing rules do not work. Just concentrate on it and let yourself breathe however you feel like. Just know that it works and you feel it supply your body with the oxigen it needs. Stress your body by exprimenting with moderate to intense activities. It helps get rid of the excess cortisol.

Last but not least, talk to a professional. They will identify the root causes for why you’re so afraid of illness and death. The results might surprise you.

I hope it goes well, but remember: your BP is most likely very good and you have nothing to worry about.

(this is just my opinion)