Health Anxiety Distressing Symptoms

[Jubbachub]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum, but I'm hoping to have a chat with a few health anxiety sufferers, such as myself. I've had health anxiety for many years now. I've convinced myself that I've had cancer, tumors, ALS, almost every debilitating disease under the sun. The symptoms felt so real, however usually went away once I found a new illness to obsess over. What brings me here today, is that about 8 months ago I noticed a pain in my lower right abdomen, below the bellybutton but above the pelvis. I spoke to the doctor, and had an ultrasound, chest/abdominal xray and blood tests to check my organ function. All came back fine. This pain is still here to this day. It hurts to press, but not enough to disrupt my daily function. It hasn't gotten worse, but I can tell this isn't something anxiety related. At the moment I'm terrified I have bowel cancer, as my stools have been changing quite a bit in consistency/colour, but are still what I'd call within normal range. I don't want to have anymore tests. I'm a 22 year old male, and have now started seeing a psychologist about my anxiety, but have not yet brought this up. I guess what I'm asking is has anyone had a similar experience? Or can offer advice on what you have done to overcome these kinds of fears?

Thanks in advance,

Jacob, fellow hypochondriac.

[geoff]

Hello Jacob, please let me welcome you to the site.

Just because you have anxiety doesn't mean that you want to talk with other hypochondriacs, people do actually feel as though they may have some critical illness so that is a worry.

Can I ask you a question, and please only answer if you want to, has your doctor given you a diagnosis and although I'm not qualified I wonder whether OCD has been mentioned and these thoughts are called 'intrusive thoughts'.

Be good to hear back from you.

Geoff.

[Jubbachub]

Hi Geoff.

I have spoken to my doctor about health anxiety and treatment options. Yes I have been diagnosed with anxiety, however OCD has not been mentioned.

Mainly I'm trying to find a relatable community to have a discussion with around health anxiety and what personal sufferers have done to overcome/manage their symptoms,

Thanks,

Jacob.

[geoff]

Hi Jacob, thanks for getting back.

If you click on 'The Facts' that may help you, but if you also click on 'All Posts' there is a huge section on Anxiety and if you want to get involved in any thread posted by someone else then you are welcome to do so.

You will then get replies back to you from other people.

It's great to hear from you.

Geoff.

[Jdavid]

Hello Jacob I have had health anxiety since I was 7 years old I am 31 now. I have had just about every illness under the sun what all turned out to be just anxiety. I would go from obsessing about one thing to the next I would litrrallly feel unwell when I am perfectly healthy. The things that help me is exercise And keep my mind on things that interest me and not caring about my thoughts at the end of the day there only thoughts. Good luck

[WorriedDad13]

Hi Jacob

ive had similar symptoms, pain in my bowels/gut whatever you wanna call it, to the point of waking up in the middle of the night in complete agony, it felt like I was being stabbed. I was absolutely convinced that I had bowel cancer, I got a bunch of tests done and they all came up good. I was 24 at the time that happened, I’m now 27 and still convinced I’m dying of something every day, next step for me is psychiatrist for sure. It’s amazing what our minds can make our bodies believe.

Hope this helped,

Sean