I'm 40 years old. i have been having severe anxiety for a month with panic attacks. i have just got my period twice in amonth. i get rapid heart rate/pounding but the stress test and ekg were normal. could this be a hormonal problem?

Menopause.: Hormone shifts can cause palpitations. It could be early menopause. I would suggest a 30 day heart monitor to see if they can catch the abnormal beats and you may want to see your gyn as well and have some hormone levels drawn.

Possibly: Stress & anxiety--in general & in association with hormonal changes--can produce those symptoms. It's usually most helpful to get a rhythm tracing during an attack, so your doctor may order a 24-hour holter monitor to try to "catch" one. It can also help your doctor to know the hr during an episode, so i would recommend measuring your hr (counting the beats in a minute) during the next few attacks.

Relaxation Response: When you get the panic attack try to create a thought record with what thought triggered that emotion. By working through your fears you can help process the stress. Simple technique like letting go medication - while inhale say let and exhale say go and will be able to watch your breathing and regulate your emotions. Sometimes irregular heartbeats can mimic panic supplement with magnesium oratate.