anxiety at its worse

[Tugboat]

Hello,

i have ave been on here a few times and here I am again. I have No idea how to deal with my overwhelming health anxiety. Ever time time I am due for bloods, mammogram etc etc my anxiety gets out of control. The tears are rolling down my face as I writing this post. I am due for my 2 year mammogram tomorrow and I am beside my self, cannot eat, cannot get out of bed and Crying constantly. I always think the worse is going to happen and I understand people get anxious but my anxiety affects my well being takes over my mind. I’m just not me......I’m so bloody scared that I’m dying. I try to get out of bed and get on with it however I’m really struggling ATM. I know I should try to focus on something else’s but I just seem to do that ATM. I know many people who have had/have cancer and it really scares me. I have tried counselling but never seem to click with anyone that understands me. I have that horrible knot in my stomach all day and often through up! The only time I feel relaxed is if I have a couple of wines in the evening and funny enough the knot disappears. I actually sleep ok but every morning wake up with that anxious knot every morning this does not go away until I get back my results. I have a wonderful Mum, and girlfriend I discuss this with but I’m sure at times they are saying come on girl get your self together. My husband is not so supportive he just says you will be fine as always. I just need someone to hold me tight and tell me all will be ok. Cannot type anymore as I cannot see through the teats. Thanks for listening

[uncut_gems]

Hi Tugboat,

Fellow health anxiety sufferer here! My mother suffered from breast cancer when I was a child and it really, really affected me since then in how I worry about medical test results and the like. It sounds like your loved ones are supportive but maybe can't quite understand just what that awful feeling is like, or at least can't understand what it's like to have that constant "what if" voice in your head.

By this time you'll have had the mammogram already, and perhaps even the results. Do you mind my asking how you went? Would you be interested in doing some programs or trying some tools specifically for health anxiety?

Always happy to chat.

Warmly,

Gems

[Tugboat]

Hello Gems,

Thank you for replying to my post. Yes I have had the mammogram but the results take 2-4 weeks so the anxiety levels are out of control. Definitely interested in programme or anything to help with health anxiety. Thank you again for reaching out.

[uncut_gems]

Hi Tugboat,

I might recommend this course from This Way Up on health anxiety:

https://thiswayup.org.au/courses/the-health-anxiety-course/

I believe it should be free to use. I used it a bit when my covid health anxiety was getting bad and found some success. It uses a CBT model, if you're familiar with that, which basically means that it helps you identify those thoughts that give you so much anxiety and try to change them. I believe This Way Up does this through little comic strips, which are pretty cute. There are also some small "homework" assignments to do. A lot, but not all people, find success with this kind of thing– don't get discouraged if it's not for you or you get frustrated 🙂

You seem much calmer than when you wrote your initial post. Are you feeling any better? Any plans for the weekend?

Best,

Gems

[Tugboat]

Hello Gems

Thank you for the link I will look into it. Still no results so my anxiety is still extremely high. It’s such a crazy thing to live like this it drains me of all my energy. Anyway hopefully I get. my results soon and they are clear. Hope you are having a nice weekend xxx