Dealing with health anxiety for 14 years

[Millie93]

Hi everyone I’m new here.

im Millie I’m 27 and have suffered from health anxiety since I was 14. It started when I saw my mum seizuring in her bed and went into a diabetic coma. She was given a 30% chance to live and I stayed with a family friend for 3 weeks thankfully my mum pulled through and came home. This is when I first noticed the physical signs I got tingling in my finger tips and knees. I was so young I had no idea what anxiety was so I assumed it was cancer. My mum took me to the doctor and he said I had an anxiety attack. This was on going for around 6 months I lost a lot of weight. I eventually went into remission as I call it for around 3 years. Then in 2011 I was 18 my Aunty died ( my mums sister) and I had a panic attack which lasted another 6 months I again lost a lot of weight. Then I felt good for about 3 years then at the wnd of 2015 I went back into my old health anxiety ways and have been that way ever since. I have a 10 month old son who is the light of my life and since having him my anxiety has gotten even worse! I think really bad things like what happens if I die where is he going to go will just partner be a good single dad . And all these traumatic scenarios pop up in my head I hate it so much! No I think I’m going to drop dead of a heart attack. I’ve had my heart checked last year and this year and everything is fine but I still think something is wrong like my mind won’t drop it! I just want to stop living in fear and be happy for my son. I see a psychologist on Thursday so that’ll be good but it’s so expensive I really can only afford to go once a month. It’s so frustrating I just can’t wait to be cured! Anyone else in the same boat as me especially with children I’d love to chat

thanks

Millie

[uncut_gems]

Hi Millie,

Welcome to the forums! I'm so sorry to hear that you've been struggling with health anxiety for so long, and that it's gotten even worse lately. I have quite a bit of experience with this myself with my mother's own serious illness (which, like yours, she did recover from) when I was a kid which has really left lasting impressions on me in adulthood.

It is such a common problem and one we hear about all the time here on the forums, especially in relation to almost losing loved ones. I'm so glad you're seeing a psychologist this week as I truly think that is exactly the right move to help get this under control so you can get your life back. Are there any psychologists who bulk bill near you? Recently the Medicare program now covers 20 sessions, which is still not enough but much better than it was before.

Would you let us know how you go on Thursday? We'll be here for you no matter what.

Best,

Gems