https://paulnystrom.com/tags/anxiety/Recent content in Anxiety on Paul NystromHugoen-usWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://paulnystrom.com/posts/internal-gravity/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://paulnystrom.com/posts/internal-gravity/<p>Gravity works inside the body as well as outside. That low spot on your driveway or sidewalk stays wet even after the rain stops because the water seeks the lowest level. Your lawnmower ends up in the mud and chopping through thick wet grass for the same reason. Inside the body is no different. After the storm (i.e., the injury), things will settle before they subside.</p> <p>Two of the most common ways this plays out in the ER are a medical condition (e.g., heart failure) and trauma or surgery. (Surgery is akin to controlled trauma under sterile conditions.)</p>https://paulnystrom.com/posts/meth-and-patience/Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://paulnystrom.com/posts/meth-and-patience/<p>A 30-something-year-old male presented to the ER via EMS. He has a history of methamphetamine use. On this particular day, he had not made any threats of violence, was not suicidal, and was not homicidal. He had not committed any crimes. However, his pre-hospital behavior resulted in him being brought to the ER.</p> <p>When talking with him, he was visibly paranoid and regretful of the decisions he had made in his life. He was worried about people talking about him and spreading lies. He stated multiple times that he just wanted good for everyone and couldn’t understand why people were speaking poorly of him or blaming him for things. He expressed repeatedly that he did not want to hurt himself or anyone else.</p>https://paulnystrom.com/posts/cardiology-anxiety/Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://paulnystrom.com/posts/cardiology-anxiety/<p>I see lots of patients who deal with anxiety because of their medical conditions. Last night, I had a woman who gets palpitations frequently. She calls 911 and comes to the ER. She has been seen by Cardiology and does not have any underlying cardiac rhythms that would be considered concerning. She has PVCs and PACs, which can be distressing but are not typically thought to be dangerous. They don&rsquo;t require interventions or medications, but she has also at times had atrial fibrillation, which is a more concerning cardiac rhythm. She has been evaluated by Cardiology, has worn extended cardiac monitors to try to capture the rhythm, which has been unsuccessful. She is clearly distressed when these palpitations happen because she thinks it&rsquo;s something dangerous. I can&rsquo;t fault her for that; it actually could be something dangerous, but most of the time it is not.</p>