Cardiophobia: A growing fear of heart attacks

The main dysfunctional behaviors adopted by patients suffering from cardiophobia are:

Specialized medical consultations.

In an attempt to get their fear of dying under control, patients tend to seek numerous specialist examinations and consultations, usually with a respected specialist if possible. Visits to hospitals and specialist clinics are regular, ECGs, blood pressure measurements and time spent on the internet researching DR Google are an integral part of the daily lives of those affected. This continual search for reassurance has little or no effect on reducing the patient's anxiety.

Continuous heart rate monitoring.

The attempt to control their heartbeat leads to an experience of losing control. This solution of obsessively focusing their conscious attention on monitoring their heart to control its rhythm leads them to worry about both it beating too fast (tachycardia) and feeling it beat too slow ( bradycardia). They also look for any suspicious or concerning chest pain. As is the case with most forms of rigid and obsessive control (which eventually lead to a loss of control), even here the paradox of cardiophobia is created: as the patient tries to reassure himself by watching his heart, the more he alters the functioning and the natural rhythm of it, thus producing the effect he feared to discover (namely an irregular heartbeat), and he then triggers a panic attack.

Avoidance of certain situations. 

In the post about the mental traps of phobics recently, I talked about the dangers of avoidance. A cardiophobic person usually avoids all settings or situations that could cause stress on the heart, such as funerals, running, football games, parties, etc., gradually reducing any physical activity that could expose their heart to zero. at a risk. The irony is that this leads to a decrease in physical health and an increase in time spent obsessing over their heart and how it works.

Permanent conversations.

As is often the case in phobic and obsessive disorders, the patient continually shares his fears with others, which has the paradoxical effect of increasing his fear and obsessive fixation on his heart. Even if the patient receives rational reassurances from those around him, this only fuels his need for reassurance and his belief that something sinister is at hand.

•  Monophobias, specific phobias and generalized phobias
• Diagnostic criteria for monophobias or specific phobias (DSM-5).
• List of the most common forms of monophobia.
• Dysfunctional solution attempts related monophobias, specific phobias and generalized phobia.
• The treatment of monophobias or specific phobias in brief strategic therapy (strategy, communication and therapeutic relationship).
• Explanation of the therapeutic maneuver "study your enemy".
• Explanation of the therapeutic maneuver "logbook".