Anyone have health anxiety ?

[Myfanwy]

Does anyone on here have health anxiety ? How do you deal with it ? How do you differentiate what is just anxiety and what is a real illness ?

I've been worrying about a heart attack for a couple of months (since I noticed my bp at the GPs surgery was 182 over 127 and the GP said nothing to me about it being so high). I am on blood pressure medication. I woke up this morning with pains in the left breast which has never happened before. I am not sure whether to go to the GP today or wait until my appointment on Monday.

[Jo3]

Hi Myfanwy

I would definitely go back to your doctor today for a check up.  It could be that your blood pressure is very high.  Anxiety can cause lots of issues with physical symptoms eg. headaches, blood pressure. How long have you been on meds for bp? Your doctor may need to change the medication.

I have been suffering depression and anxiety for 3 yrs now and my blood pressure is quite high as well.  I am on blood pressure tablets but a few weeks ago I was at my dr's and my bp went sky high so he made me lay down for an hour to see if it settles down.  I also at times get discomfort in my left side of my chest by my dr keeps telling me I'm okay I'm not suffering a stroke. But I thought I was having a heart attack. And yes it is a worry because you keep thinking the worse.

So please go and see your doctor, even if you're fine then at least you know that everything is okay.

Take care 

Jo

[Mary89]

Hi myfanwy,

i too am suffering from health anxiety, as soon as I get the tiniest bodily sensation I think the worst - I think a headache is a brain tumour, a chest pain is a heart attack and so on. I am only 24 years old so these scenarios are highly unlikely and i tell myself I am being ridiculous but I still get a lot of fear as soon as I experience any sort of bodily symptom. Anxiety can cause a lot of bodily symptoms and it is very confusing because you don't know what's an anxiety symptom and what's not. Also, the other thing I have noticed is my symptoms tend to change; as soon as I learn to deal with one symptom, a new symptom will present itself and then I will freak out about that. I am currently seeing a psychologist which is helping a lot.

However I wouldn't rule out going back to your Gp to check there is no underlying physical problem. But your high BP may be caused by anxiety at being in the GPs office. Anxiety seems to do a lot of weird things to the body!

[Roseanne]

Hi myfanwy

this is my first post ever and my very first time using beyond blue. 

I have been suffering with health anxiety since I was about  six years old and am only now (at the age of 27) realising that i am not the only one. And that I can actually be treated for it.

My anxiety is usually regarding lumps and cancer. It gets a lot worse if I have something nice to look forward to because I then think that I am going to find a lump and have to go in for scans etc and have worry ruining my good time.

Don't worry too much about your bp. Go back and see your doc but remember as the other posters have said, anxiety does strange things to your body. 

The mind is a powerful thing and can make mountains out of mole hills especially for people suffering anxiety like us.

I'm glad that I have found others with the same issues. It makes me feel like I'm not alone. 

[Kathx0o]

Hey Myfanwy. I suffer from mild anxiety myself but these are some things i know can help lower blood pressure. Exercise. Less Alcohol. Healthy Diet. Eating more raw foods and greens. I am mostly vegetarian now and it has helped me a lot. But the real answer to your problem is having perfect piece within your soul.