Constant health Anxiety tips/videos/advice

[Geralt_of_Rivia]

Hey guys,

I’ve battled anxiety and health anxiety for a long time. I felt like a couple of years ago I regained control and now it’s back worse than ever. It’s fatigued me to the point where I just want to stay in bed, I’m exhausted by 3/4pm. My eyes are bloodshot and sore when I wake up, does this happen to anyone else? And constant headaches and fatigue?

Also I rarely actually have an increase in heart rate, does this mean it could be other factors than anxiety? Or does this happen to others also?

I guess I’m just looking to hear some advice, maybe even writing this out has some therapeutic benefits. I’m just exhausted and can’t seem to lift my mood and it’s been this way for a while now. Lockdown doesn’t help either.

Any calming videos or reassuring talks to watch on YouTube would be amazing if anyone had recommendations also.

Appreciate any help so much

Thanks

[Mk2692]

Hi Geralt of Rivia,

Thank you for reaching out and I'm sorry that your anxiety is worse than before. I'm not sure if you are seeing someone for your anxiety like a counsellor or a psychologist, if not then I would recommend to see one. You can ask your GP for a referral. Talking to someone can help with your situation and a mental health professional will be able to help you with your current symptoms and provide you with ways to manage it. Do you sleep well? You can feel more tired than usual and have blood shot eyes if you are not sleeping well. Do you do any exercising or talk to friends? Sometimes talking to people closest to you can help you with your mood, the same goes with exercising or even going for a walk. When I feel anxious, I usually try to meditate, do yoga or go for a walk. I'm not sure if you tried meditating before, but breathing in and being in the moment can help you feel more at ease. There are many of youtube videos available for meditation and yoga as well, if you are interested. Hope this helps.

[Petal22]

Hi Gerald of Rivia,

Wellcome to our forums!

Sorry you are feeling this way.

I understand health anxiety I experienced this in my life I’d have something on my body I’d convince myself that it was something really bad I’d go to the doctor and have it checked be told it was ok but I’d still obsess about it my anxiety was really intense…….

It came to a point in my life that my anxiety became severe I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder by a psychiatrist……. I’ve now recovered ….I did a 8 week therapy and I was also put on a antidepressant to help me to manage my anxiety….. it took time and perseverance to practice the skills I was taught but I now no longer get caught up in my cycle….

Have you seen your gp about the way you are feeling?

I understand lockdown would be difficult….

Try a guided meditation, practice slowing down your breathing…

Talk to people and be around people it helps.

Im here to chat

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Geralt of Rivia,

Welcome welcome!

You are not alone in experiencing health anxiety; headaches, fatigue and high heart rate are absolutely connected with anxiety. Anxiety causes all sorts of symptoms, which is tricky because they can also mimic so many other conditions!

Highly encourage you to have a look around the forums, especially under this anxiety section because it's full of threads with people talking about their own experiences.

As for advice? Keep writing! It can take a little trial and error to find out what's going to work for you. Any sort of movement, any sort of creative outlet and any sort of support is also helpful. Totally happy to brainstorm some ideas (but I'm going to keep this post short since there is so many).

As for YT clips:

• Defeat negative thinking: An animation - Happify
• Passengers on a bus - An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) metaphor - Joe Oliver
• Never Google your symptoms - Henrik Widegren (This gave me a good laugh as opposed to anything)

As for the calming videos, spoilt for choice on YT- nature clips, binaural beats, AMSR, oddly satisfying, psychedelic, sleep stories (Calm has a lot on their channel)..

I recommend Insight Timer as well. While you can pay, I just have the free version and there's so much there you can access depending on what you like/dislike.

Hope this gives you a place to start.

rt