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

[Hazel05]

You are definately not alone. I too suffer from health anxiety which has flared up over the last month! I find my anxiety flares up after going through stressful periods, so it’s a pattern!

I’ve had numerous doctors visits, even gone for second opinions!, numerous tests and everything comes back ok. Once that’s nipped in the butt my mind finds another health issue to worry about to focus all my time and energy on. It’s not only becoming very expensive, but it is mentally draining!

i’ve been practising meditation and trying to “catch myself” every time I start focusing on negative thoughts about my health. I know it’s easier said than done though, but with practice I’m finding I’m slowly managing my anxiety.

As the posted above me has stated, those jolts I believe are quite common and is your body’s way of trying to slow down to rest while you are going to sleep. Anxiety does crazy things to your body!

hope you are okay!!

[healthanxietylou]

I had the worst health anxiety almost 2 years ago after my baby died- I thought I had everything and would google symptoms all day long- I went to emergency and the doctor a lot and had physical symptoms (heart palpatations, tingling hands and feel, muscle twitches, IBS) so I would latch on to everything. It was a living hell and I thought I knew what anxiety was as I never liked flying and the occasional social anxiety but compared to health anxiety those were mild worries. I'm so grateful to not be as bad now thanks to the right antidepressant. It still comes up occasionally and I just wondered what everyone else thinks their triggers for their health anxiety were originally? I honestly never knew it existed- I'd heard of hypochondria but I didn't think it was as bad as what I was going through. I live in a regional area so the support was pretty lacking- it took 5 months to get me to see a psychiatrist and that was only after I got private health care cover back. What do people who can't afford that do? don't be crazy and poor? It's appalling and heartbreaking that access to services aren't up to scratch in regional areas or to people who can't afford it.

[Caseface]

Hey Kristy,

You've pretty much just explained my life at the moment. I have felt so alone until I read your post.

I can't be alone in fear of passing out/having a stroke/dying. It's made me have so many panic attacks, I'm terrified all the time. I just can't seem to believe the truth of it just being anxiety. I'm seeing a psychologist and on meds.

It's been over a year since you have posted, so I hope you see this. But please what has helped you in that time?