Heart Palpitations from Anxiety: Why They Happen and When to Get Support

Feeling your heart race, pound, flutter, or skip can be one of the most unsettling physical sensations anxiety creates. Many women notice their heartbeat suddenly becomes loud or irregular—sometimes at rest, sometimes at night, sometimes for no obvious reason. The experience can be frightening, especially when it appears out of nowhere or repeats without warning.
It’s common to wonder, Is something wrong with my heart? Why can I feel it so strongly? How do I know if this is anxiety or something else? These questions often add another layer of worry, which can intensify the sensation itself.
This article offers calm, symptom-first clarity about heart palpitations related to anxiety—what they typically feel like, why anxiety can trigger them, how they tend to vary, and when it may be helpful to consider professional support. There is no diagnosis here—only explanation, reassurance, and perspective.

For a broader look at anxiety-related physical symptoms, visit Anxiety & Emotional Health.

What this feels like

Heart palpitations from anxiety can take several forms. Some women feel a rapid heartbeat that seems to come on suddenly. Others notice pounding or thumping in the chest, neck, or ears. Some describe fluttering, skipping, or a sensation that the heart “drops” briefly.
These sensations can feel intense even when they last only seconds. Because the heart is involved, attention often locks onto the feeling, making it seem louder or more dramatic than it actually is.
Palpitations may appear during moments of stress, but they can also show up at rest—while lying in bed, sitting quietly, or trying to fall asleep. When they occur without an obvious trigger, they can feel especially alarming.
Emotionally, palpitations often bring fear or urgency. You may feel a sudden need to check your pulse, change position, take deep breaths, or seek reassurance. Even after the sensation passes, you might stay alert, waiting for it to happen again.
Physically, palpitations can be accompanied by other anxiety sensations, such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest tightness, or trembling. These combinations can reinforce worry, even when the body is not in danger.
Importantly, heart palpitations from anxiety do not mean you are weak, unhealthy, or “imagining things.” The sensations are real—they are simply being driven by how the nervous system is responding to stress.

Why this happens (body / nervous system)

Heart palpitations are closely tied to the body’s stress response.
When anxiety rises, the nervous system activates the fight-or-flight response. This response releases stress hormones that increase heart rate and blood flow to prepare the body for action. Even when no physical action is needed, the heart may still respond as if there is a threat.
Anxiety also heightens bodily awareness. When you are anxious, your brain scans for signs of danger. Normal heart sensations—such as a slight increase in rate or a brief irregular beat—can become amplified and interpreted as alarming.
Breathing patterns play a role as well. Anxiety often changes how you breathe, leading to shallow or rapid breaths. This can affect carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which in turn can trigger sensations like palpitations or lightheadedness.
Hormonal fluctuations, caffeine, dehydration, fatigue, and lack of sleep can all lower the threshold for palpitations, especially in people whose nervous systems are already sensitive to stress.
There is also a feedback loop. Feeling a palpitation can trigger worry, which activates the stress response further, leading to more palpitations. This cycle can make episodes feel unpredictable and persistent.
Past experiences matter too. Women who have previously experienced panic, health scares, or chronic stress may have nervous systems that react more quickly to internal sensations, increasing the likelihood of noticing palpitations.

Patterns & variability

Heart palpitations related to anxiety rarely follow a single pattern.
Some women experience them occasionally during high-stress moments, while others notice clusters of palpitations during periods of sustained anxiety or exhaustion.
Timing can vary. Palpitations often feel more noticeable at night, when the environment is quiet and attention turns inward. They can also appear in the morning, when stress hormones naturally rise.
Certain situations commonly trigger them, such as emotional stress, rushing, conflict, lack of sleep, dehydration, or caffeine intake. In some cases, palpitations seem to appear “randomly,” which can increase fear even though the underlying sensitivity has been building quietly.
The intensity can fluctuate. Some episodes are brief and mild, while others feel stronger and harder to ignore. Many women notice that the fear response—rather than the sensation itself—determines how distressing an episode feels.
Importantly, variability does not mean unpredictability. It reflects a nervous system responding to changing levels of stress, fatigue, and attention.

When it starts affecting daily life

Heart palpitations deserve attention when they begin to shape behavior, routines, or emotional well-being.
You might notice yourself constantly monitoring your heartbeat, checking your pulse, or avoiding activities that feel stimulating because you’re afraid of triggering palpitations.
Sleep may be affected if palpitations occur at night or if fear of them keeps you alert. Lying quietly can become uncomfortable when you’re waiting for your heart to “act up.”
Daily anxiety can increase as well. You may feel tense, on edge, or preoccupied with bodily sensations, which can make it hard to focus or relax.
Another sign palpitations are taking up too much space is loss of reassurance. Even after being told your heart is okay, the sensations may still feel frightening and difficult to ignore.
These experiences do not mean something serious is happening. They indicate that anxiety and nervous system sensitivity are significantly influencing your physical experience.

When to consider professional support

Professional support can be helpful when heart palpitations are frequent, distressing, or difficult to manage emotionally.
Consider reaching out if palpitations occur regularly, interfere with sleep or daily functioning, or cause persistent fear. Support can also be helpful if you feel trapped in cycles of monitoring and reassurance-seeking.
If palpitations are accompanied by ongoing anxiety, panic episodes, or avoidance of normal activities, guidance can help restore confidence and reduce nervous system reactivity.
Women with a history of anxiety, panic, trauma, or prolonged stress may benefit from earlier support, as bodily symptoms often become focal points for distress.
If at any point heart sensations feel different from your usual pattern, feel overwhelming, or leave you unsure how to cope safely, seeking medical evaluation is appropriate. Getting clarity can be reassuring and help reduce ongoing fear.

How understanding helps

While this article does not offer treatment instructions, understanding the link between anxiety and heart palpitations can itself be calming.
When you know that anxiety can create strong heart sensations without causing harm, the fear response often softens. Reduced fear lowers nervous system activation, which in turn can reduce palpitations over time.
Support—whether relational or professional—often helps break the cycle by addressing both the sensations and the fear surrounding them.

Takeaway

Heart palpitations from anxiety are common and driven by the body’s stress response and heightened awareness—not by personal weakness or failure. They can feel intense and frightening, especially when they appear suddenly. When palpitations begin to dominate your attention or limit daily life, support can help restore calm and confidence.