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

[Katherine63]

I’m seeing a psychologist today also. Hope they can help

[Lucy5678]

Hi Anxiety newbie,

You are definitely not alone in what you are experiencing. I experience the jolting awake too and health/heart related anxiety. The jolting happens when my anxiety is higher or I am overtired and it's very likely to do with the increased activity happening with the sympathetic nervous system- the fight or flight system - I'm sure you would know all about.

It's not physically harmful or dangerous. I just have to remind myself of this. Though I know it feels awful.

Heart-related anxiety is super common, especially with people who get panic attacks as part of it often involves heart racing and a feeling of impending doom. I've experienced this a lot and it stopped me from doing a lot of the activities I love. I remind myself daily that my heart is strong and the effects that I feel are not dangerous. Slowly the anxiety about my heart is fading but it takes time.

Be kind to yourself and know you are not alone.

[Kristy_W]

Hi there,

i feel this way too. I suffer from ocular migraines so it affects my vision and at the moment I feel like I’m at my breaking point I’m constantly crying in fear thinking I might have a stroke and die

I can’t be alone because I’m terrified something might happen whenever I’m by myself.

Many chest pain or ache in my body I never think it may be just anxiety I instantly jump to the worst thing I can think of and nothing will calm me down unless it’s a doctor but sometimes not even a doctor can reassure me enough.

It’s taking over my life

I can’t be at home or be out in public

I feel like I’m just going to drop dead.

I’ve always wanted children and I couldn’t even think of being able to be a healthy minded mother with this.

Ive has anxiety for 7 years and nothing has helped

I just feel alone and doomed

[Nkme]

Hi Kristy W

I also suffer with health anxiety issues. I have been on medication now for almost 20 years.

I have a compulsive disorder also which is part of the health anxiety. My fear is Breast Cancer. I’m constantly checking myself sometimes up to 10 times a day. It’s so scary and frustrating, because I know there’s nothing wrong I’ve had ultrasounds, my GP has checked. If I was to guess since the start of this year I’ve had 5 doctors check and 4 different nurses. I have also seen a breast care nurse and she was wonderful she explained so much to me to try and give me that reassurance.

I’m now speaking with specialists on a site called Mindspot, this was recommended by my GP. Maybe you could benefit from this also.

Good luck

[Joel673356]

Hi all please tell me if you guys get these symptoms I’ve been worried about my heart for 3 years now I’ve always been a fit kid but I had a really bad anxiety attack when I was 15 since then I can’t stop thinking about it I’m now 18 my symptoms are I have chest pain arm pain it can be one arm or the other or both of them headaches my arms twitch my whole body twitches but my arm pain has never been there I was at a party and I had a few bourbons and I walked home and my arms just started hurting which I thought I was having a heart attack as per usual then I get jaw pain but I’ve had ecgs and all that my anxiety was getting better until that night does anyone else get this thank you

[LillyPhilly]

Hi Guys,

new to the forum - health anxiety to the max here.

have noticed on my last 3 international trips I end up having a panic attack or hyperventilating at night while everyone is asleep, just out of fear that if something happened I’m not near a hospital.

ive had a rough 4 weeks recently as a persistent scratchy throat has me thing the worst and feeling like I can’t breath... I too have had the jolts and thought I was having a heart attack.

does anyone else experience the dry throat/irritation feeling with anxiety?

Thanks for all being awesome 🙂

[LillyPhilly]

I get this too!!

[Anxiety_newbie]

Yes I get the dry throat whenever my anxiety level increases.

The most frustrating thing for me is when I think I am getting better, some weird symptoms will pop up and the viscous cycle starts all over again.

Wish everyone get better soon

[Flowers28]

I have just recently been told that I am suffering from health anxiety from my local gp. It all sorted one night when I was experiencing heart palpitations and short of breath. My partner rushed me to emergency where all my test came back clear. I thought it was over and then I started experiencing these symptoms more frequently. I once again took myself to emergency where after another ecg, chest X-ray and blood test I was told nothing serious was wrong and needed to get an echo done by a private cardiologist. I went home so scared but went to the local gp and got a referral to a leading cardiologist. That next day I nearly fainted from the pain and racing heart I was taken to emergency again. To be told after 9 hours on a cardiac monitoring system there was nothing wrong. I was lucky enough to get an echo done on the Tuesday and had my appointment with the dr the next day for results. When I got home from the scan I was so fearful I was dying that once again the chest pain and dizziness started. My parents called an ambulance and I was taken off to emergency again. Same as last time nothing wrong. The next day I went to the cardiologist for him to tell me my heart was perfectly fine. I was confused why was this happening to me. He told me it was anxiety related and it would go away now. Which it didn’t. I spent all day dealing with a racing heart for the first 2 weeks. Going back to my gp questioning the results. They prescribed me beat blockers for the extra beats and told me they would help. I took them and felt my heart was racing more. It was then I realised this was in my head. I still get a present tightness in my chest but the racing heart has stopped. I know I need to work on my mind now. I have been prescribed benzo for my panic Attacks. But have chosen to not take these and work on my way of thinking with the psychologist.

[Anxiety_newbie]

My physical symptoms of health anxiety is going crazy again. I feel like there is something wrong with me. I get tingling sensation and feel on edge all the time. I get startled easily and I am constantly checking my pulse. It is so frustrating, I feel like the only time I am ok is when I am asleep. As soon as I wake up, I will check all my symptoms and all these pain and aches will appear.

Thanks for letting me whinge a bit on this forum. I don't want to complain to my family all the time because they just tell me not to think about it and relax. They don't understand it is so hard not to think about it.

I have stopped seeing a psychologist because of the cost involved but I think I need to start seeing one again.