Health Anxiety in full force

[Lisa162]

I suffer like many others from Health anxiety. I havent had an eposide for a couple of months but today it is out in full force. My health anxiety is toward myself but also my loved ones. My son and daughter had Gastro last week, it started off just my son and my immediatte reaction was that he had some sort of serious illness, as it was the middle of the night I even thought he had had a seizure and was vomitting because of that. So silly I know. Anyway I was so relieved when my daughter got sick the next day and then myself as that goes to show it was a bug and not a more sinister illness my son had. Anyway he had a busy, active weekend and has a sore calf muscle. Well this has sent me into overdrive convinced again it is a more sinister illness. I ask him all the time how he is, how his leg is. Im sure he even lies to me when he does feel unwell because he knows I will stress.

The sad thing is both my kids are now showing signs of health anxiety and have a phobia of other people vommiting. Does anyone else have experience like this? I try not to let them see me stress but they know as I am continuously pestering them when they are sick.

I cannot eat when I have an episode and google ALL the time, so normal everyday life is a struggle.

I havent been to a doctor about this but I feel I may need to, is there medications I can take to help calm me down during an attack or what other methods do we use to cope?

Thank you

[JessF]

Hello Lisa162, welcome here. It sounds like your anxiety is really starting to have an effect not just on your life, but on your children as well. Coming to the conclusion that it's time to see a doctor is a good one. Controlling anxiety may involve medication, but a lot of it comes down to learning techniques to challenge and cope with the anxious thoughts. Your GP can give you a referral to a psychologist to help with this. There are also many many good books on the subject to read in your own time.

Changing the anxious behaviours is tricky and is not an overnight thing, you will need to work at it piece by piece and not be discouraged by setbacks. One thing I would start on straightaway is resisting the urge to google. It will just take you down a rabbit hole. I have done it many times, the intention is to find a solution, a relief for your anxious feelings. You're hoping to find that one page that will tell you everything is going tobe ok, and you won't find it. Breathing is important when anxiety is high. Once it calms, and your mind is not racing so much, you can start to look at the facts - for example, how likely is it that your son's sore calf is a serious illness? What other explanations might there be... you mentioned a busy, active weekend. Which is the more likely explanation, that he is sore after running around, or that a mystery illness is to blame?

These are just starters. I would get in touch with your GP as soon as you can.

[Blue_Jane]

Hi Lisa

Looks like this is your first post with us...welcome and we hope you find our support useful.

How you have described your anxiety is something many of us on these forums experience. However it can be managed and over time you will find a way to live without this dominating your thoughts.

You sound really pragmatic and have said yourself it might be time to see a doctor. I agree with the points Jess has made, as your GP will have a broader understanding of your medical history. If they don't, they can ask more questions before they start suggesting some relevant solutions.

Best to make that appointment soon so that you can get hold of this and not let it impact you or your kids any further.

Doctor Google is a practising doctor's worst nightmare! Think about the people posting online as so called experts...it is really just their opinion and the more you research the more conflicting information you find. I am pregnant and it has taken a lot of discipline to not google and to just wait for my obstetrician appointments where I can receive evidence based advice.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Blue Jane

[Lola03]

Hi everyone. I'm new to beyondblue and thought this would be the most fitting forum for my first post.

I have thought I've had a heart attack, brain tumour, breast cancer, MS, eye cancer, melanoma, throat cancer and ovarian cancer. I am exhausted - I really am.

I've come here to meet people who are like me. Although I have a supportive husband who tries to ease my anxiety, I feel like a burden on him.

I am lost and wondering why I have to be this way. While I have never contemplated taking my own life (and love my family and husband too much to let go), I would be lying if I didn't think about giving up.

Thanks for being open with your stories and I hope you all find at least a glimmer of peace and stillness in those panicked moments.