Health anxiety

[Anxiety_newbie]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed with health anxiety and depression in Feb this year.

Anxiety is such a strange thing. It can create so many different physical symptoms. In my case, the symptoms keep changing.

I am seeing a psychologist

[Anxiety_newbie]

Sorry I accidentally click post. I haven't finished the post yet. Is there a way to edit ?

[geoff]

Hi Anxiety, and a warm welcome to you.

Sometimes it's easy to press 'post', but I would just continue with what you want to say, there's nothing wrong in your wording, except to say that I'm sorry for how you are feeling.

Geoff.

[Anxiety_newbie]

Ok I am currently seeing a physcologist. I have only had 3 sessions so I am not sure if it's going to help.

I have insomnia because of my constant worry about my health. Whenever I have a little ache or pain, I would panic and think I must have some kind of disease or illness.

Recently I have these weird thing whenever I am about to fall asleep, I would get this jolt and wake up. It happens multiple times. I keep thinking it must be some heart problem. That made me scared to fall asleep.

I will be awake all night till my body gives in then I would fall asleep. I am struggling because I only get 2- 3 hours of sleep.

Has anyone experience that jolt feeling when you are just about to fall asleep ?

[LorelaiLee]

Hi,

I too experience this jolting feeling as I’m beginning to drift off to sleep. I can’t offer any advice because I’m not sure I understand why it happens but you aren’t alone. It’s awful, I’m only getting a few hours of sleep a night as well. I also suffer from health anxiety so I guess we are in the same boat. I’m new on here and new too talking about my anxiety as well.

I hope we both feel better soon 😊

[Anxiety_newbie]

Hi geoff and LorelaiLee,

Lorelai, do you get that jolting feeling more than once when you are drifting off to sleep ?

I am new to this forum too.

Yeah I hope we all feel better soon.

[Alexlisa]

Hello.

I know that jolting feeling you're talking about. Sometimes it doesn't happen to me for ages, but other times it happens a lot. When I have weeks or months when my anxiety is persistently high it happens more often. Which kind of makes sense to me because I'm much more jumpy and hypervigilant when I'm awake too.

The other time I noticed that it was more frequent was when I was starting new medication. Have you started or changed anything lately?

I think you need to talk to your GP about what's happening for you. Not just about the jolting feeling, but about how high your anxiety is in general and the lack of sleep. Especially because not getting enough sleep can make anxiety worse, and can become a cycle. It's great that you're seeing a psychologist. This should help, but it might take some time. But your GP might be able to help you in the meantime, perhaps with medication.

For the anxiety related to your health, don't be afraid to ask your GP questions like the one about that jolting feeling. I quite often ask my GP unusual questions so that I can ease that anxiety about my health. She's always kind to me and never makes me feel silly for asking. I think she realises the worries are just part of what my mental illness looks like and that she can help me in this way. I hope this helps a little.

Take care,

Alexlisa x

[Sophiee__]

Hi.

If youre talking about the feeling of jolting awake when youre trying to fall asleep which is usually accompanied with thoughts of falling down stairs or tripping over something then yes im very familiar. Theyre actually VERY common in the population like 70% or something I think! Ive read something about them and this is only a theory they have not confirmed this at all but someone has suggested it when your body tries to relax faster then your mind is switching off so it jolts the body awake as a sort of safety freaking out mode.

Hope this helps in some way 🙂

[Anxiety_newbie]

Hi,

Alexlisa, thanks for the reply. My anxiety and stress level for the past week have been really high because my brother have a little health scare but he is fine now.

I guess sleep deprivation plus anxiety made the situation worse.

I am going to the GP on Monday to talk about the jolting feeling when I am just about to fall asleep.

Also do you guys and girls get muscle twitches ?

I just find it amazing about how anxiety can create all these physical symptoms.

Basically it covers everything from head to toes but it doesn't all happen at once. It seems to be one thing for a while then something else starts.

I really wish it would stop. I am afraid that I will be like this for the rest of the life. It is a toture.

I am so glad to be able to whinge a bit about my condition to people who are going through the same thing.

My family knows about my condition and they are caring but I don't think they fully understand what I am going through.

They keep telling me to don't think about it and relax.

I am actually feeling a lot better than 2 - 3 months ago.

In the past, I was so scared about having a heart attack or stroke or whatever disease or illness that can kill me. I would put 000 on speed dial and carry my phone everywhere in my house.

I would leave my front door unlock when I am alone just in case the paramedics can come into the house and save me quickly.

When I go for a run or walk, I would pick a route that have more people around just in case I need their help.

I have even tried to find out the closet paramedics station and work out how long it would take them to get to my house.

Thinking about it now, I laugh at how silly my thought process had gone.

Take care everyone.

[Anxiety_newbie]

This is so frustrating, I have been sleeping better and feeling better. I thought I am getting better then my health anxiety about my heart started again.

I keep thinking something is wrong with my heart. I would be checking my pulse every 5 to 10 mins. I am convinced something is not right. I would check the pulse on my left arm then my right arm.

I have a GP appointment on monday. This is driving me crazy.