Hi there, Belle 07!
Thank you for joining us on the Forums, we are very grateful for your brave post, and we feel that many of the community members will resonate with what you have described!
Health anxiety is quickly become one of the most common forms of anxiety disorder alongside Social Anxiety. It is quite understandable to face into this distress at different points in life - health and illness dictate just about everything we can expect to be and do in life. It is a serious subject, and it is worth investing resources to!
That said, when our concern robs us of vitality, instead of ensuring it, it is deeply frustrating, and leads to a never-ending feedback loop.
A form of mindfulness that is very specific but perhaps effective is that of sensory feedback. Using mindfulness meditations with hands in cool water, or brushing different materials against the skin, etc. This can allow us to form a feedback loop in which we can see that most of the sensations in the body, even some of the painful or disconcerting ones, is just awareness and information being passed around the body - especially as we age and, sadly, some pains can simply be the body not being very happy with us anymore, and not signs of anything especially dangerous.
Talking to your GP about some of your local therapy practice groups could be useful! and of course if you would like any community referrals specific to your area, please feel free to reach out to us here. You can call 1300 22 4636 or start a webchat by clicking here
Thank you again for your courage in sharing, and for your choice to join us!
Take care,
Sophie M.
