Anxious about health

[44Max44]

Hi guys, this is my first post on here.

I've been having some issues recently that are really getting me depressed.
A few days ago I turned 20, but I couldn't enjoy my birthday at all because of how anxious and depressed I was feeling. I overthink and overanalyse everything, to the point where I get myself worried over absolutely nothing. Recently, it's been my health I worry about, for example, I will get the slightest pain or an unusual ache or something and every single thought possible will run through my head and I just get super worried that something is wrong with me. It's gotten to the point where I'm not sure if I'm actually feeling these things, or if it's all in my head and I'm just tricking myself into thinking I'm feeling these things.
I've spent the last few days unable to do anything I enjoy because I'm constantly thinking about whether or not I'm healthy or not. I've gone to a GP and had tests done to see if anything is wrong, but all I feel like doing until the results come in is sleep or do literally anything else that will keep my mind at ease.

Now, I feel completely fine physically, I have energy, everything's working how it should, and I'm not getting any symptoms that could be a sign for concern, but I still worry 24/7 about my health. It's almost like I have this 'gut feeling' that something is wrong with me when there probably (hopefully) isn't. I feel like the only thing that could put my mind at ease is getting a full body CT scan and tests on me just to be 100% sure I'm fine, but I know none of that is necessary. It's like my brain has already made up its mind that I have some disease so I should start writing up a bucket list, even though I've had nothing to indicate that I'm even slightly unhealthy.

I'm just wondering if anybody else has anxiety like this, and how they treat/cope with it? It's already ruined my birthday and a few days after it, and it's making me super depressed. Hopefully the tests I got done come back clean and that puts my mind at ease, but until then I don't know what to do.

Any advice is appreciated.

Cheers guys, thanks for reading my post.

[MsPurple]

Hi TeRetz and welcome to the forums

Having some health anxiety is really common on the forums (can google 'health anxiety beyond blue' to find those posts). I had aspects of it. I had throat spasms and I thought I was having hayfever, but it turns out having throat spasms with anxiety is really common. It was just my anxiety.

I suggest booking an appointment with your GP to discuss your anxiety and fear around your health. I did this and it really helped. I was able to discuss it with my psychologist. I think it is ok to have anxiety and to get help for it. I wish I did it for ages before I did. I promise it gets better with help

[44Max44]

Thank you, I've read up on some other health anxiety posts on here and it looks like a lot of people have the exact same problems I'm having. It's at least kind of comforting to know that I'm not alone.

I will definitely be talking to my GP about these issues. I've had anxiety and depression for years now and it's about time I get some help for it.

[grt123]

Hey TeRetz!

Last year I had a dentist visit on my To Do list I was sure that something was wrong and I'd be in for some serious dental work because my teeth hurt and felt weird and my mouth was dry all the time. Every time I brushed my teeth I half expected them to fall out! I kept putting off the appointment because I was afraid. But I bit the bullet (no pun intended) and all they did was give me a clean and I was on my way home 30 minutes later. The strange thing was that all the pain and weird stuff - even the dry mouth, stopped immediately. It must have all been anxiety and yet it felt real.

I applaud you for going to the doctor and having tests etc. A lot of people put that stuff off. But it's time stop worrying now. I think a visit to the GP is a great idea to put your mind at rest once and for all. Some distraction would be good for you too. Keep busy during the day and make sure you have solid sleep. Beware those few hours after midnight when the world looks so black - it's just the 'witching hour' so don't let it freak you out.

[LesDave]

Personally I think it's really important to understand why you have these concerns. You need to go back into your memory and think about what was the root cause. Otherwise you are just putting a piece of tape on a gushing wound. Find out why you think that way and address it. Once you've done that, you need to learn some self awareness and mindfulness. I know it sounds new age, but mindfulness really works. My suggestions are search YouTube and look for things on 'Toxic shame', 'mindfulness', and 'acceptance and commitment therapy'. It works for me. Oh, and it's quite normal to have voices in your head and worries about the past and future. You just need to use the skills you learn in those videos to get yourself back in the present moment.

[willow87]

Hi TeRetz,

I'm sorry you're feeling this way i completely understand what you are going through. I've battled health anxiety for as long as i can remember. Just remember that you aren't alone in having these intrusive thoughts and fears it is extremely common but it is very hard to live day to day life like this it is exhausting and can be completely debilitating.

I suggest you look up "the anxiety guy" Dennis simsek on youtube or google his pod casts. This guy is phenomenal talking about health anxiety, these "sensations" you feel when you have anxiety and what they mean and why they occur. He completely debunks this entire disorder and is very grounding. I know for myself my fear when i am at my worst becomes so irrational i am not able to have a sensible or clear thought beyond panic. I can pop on one of Dennis's pod casts and it immediately brings me back to sense and i can think like a rational human again.

I hope this is some help to you 🙂

[44Max44]

Thank you all for the advice, it's helped out a great deal 🙂

I've watched some 'the anxiety guy' videos and they've helped me so much. I was on the verge of a mini panic attack before watching some of his videos, but then I watched is 'symptoms of anxiety' video and he explained pretty much the exact same things I feel a lot of the time. It's very reassuring to know that these things are probably just in my head.

Thank you again for the help!

[MsPurple]

I am glad so many people have come together with some advice. I will have to look up that podcast too 🙂

Also another thing I do when I feel like my anxiety and fears around my health flare up, is tell myself 'you are ok, you are healthy, you are staff, this is just your anxiety playing up'. Just reminding myself that helps reduce the anxiety in itself

[44Max44]

Just an update:
I got some tests done 4 days ago and had been putting off going to see the results until today. I guess I was just expecting the results to be bad. Anyways, I got the results back, and they all came back clean. I'm completely healthy as far as they can tell. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can finally relax for the first time in days. It's like grt123 said, the second I got confirmation that I was fine all the things I thought I was feeling just stopped.

I'm very grateful for all the advice and tips you guys gave me, they helped out a lot.
Thank you 🙂

[emdnell]

Hi friends,

This is my first time here & the first post I’ve read that seems to cover the exact reason I joined up!

I have always struggled with anxiety and depression, but lately it’s really been the anxiety that’s taking me for a huge ride.

Health anxiety in particular (I’ve only just learned this term from this thread). Over the past few months I have convinced myself I’m suffering from stroke, brain tumour and heart attack just to name the big ones.

The strange thing for me is, for the first time in a while I can’t place my finger on what is triggering my symptoms. Tightness in my neck and jaw are big ones, it will just come on at the strangest time. Same with feeling feint and having heart palpitations/tight chest.

Feeling completely dissociated from my surroundings and myself is also quite common over the past few months and I’ve never experienced this before. This one is the real kicker, I hate it. I was recently over seas and found it so hard to have a good time as this kept coming on and I felt like I had no idea where I was, who I was or what I was doing. I made off the cuff jokes to my partner about feeling like I was in a coma-like dream .. but I was quite serious. It’s also been hindering my ability to socialise a lot.

I’m aware that my anxiety is a result of trauma I have not yet dealt with properly- this is a slow process that I’m moving towards addressing. However without even thinking or reminiscing on my traumas these symptoms keep coming on and seem to be increasing in severity.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Or am I actually having a heart attack? Ha ..

Also, any suggestions for easing the dissociation thing?