HEALTH ANXIETY

[TaySmith]

I have suffered with severe anxiety for roughly 7 years and in recent years it has been mainly health related. I have recently for the longest time had no symptoms and been able to live care-free... then I got off my medication. I had an issue with my ears, they were feeling blocked up and I was diagnosed with a condition that results in a progressive loss of hearing. The anxiety started from there. Headaches lasting for days, even weeks. I started to google my symptoms... diagnosing myself with a brain tumour. I started to worry myself so much about the symptoms that I began giving myself them. My speech was fine until I read it could be affected, I was worrying so much that I began to forget words and stutter. It is affecting my relationship, my partner thinks I am overreacting but how do you determine what’s anxiety and what’s a physical condition needing medical attention? I have an MRI booked in but it is 6 days away and I am worrying myself sick. I struggle to sleep, and not wanting to get out of bed and face the day. I am so caught up in my thoughts that I will be out for dinner with friends and go minutes without talking, and not notice. Have you overcome health anxiety? What’s your advice? If my MRI comes back all clear, I am worried I will begin to think of something else I can diagnose myself with.

[Major_Tom]

Hi TS, I won't go into detail as I am limited in time right now. However your hearing issues, headaches the speech and the self diagnosis of a brain tumor together with worrying yourself sick, unbelievably was me to a T, some years back.

I suspect like myself you will find there is no tumor.

Anxiety can feed itself and consume people.

I will check back later.

Take care.

[Monkeysss]

Hi,

I too suffer from health anxiety. I have convinced myself I have every single cancer that exists. I’m currently awake 3am obsessing over if I have Serotonin syndrome or not bc my medication dose got increased by 50mg. It’s exhausting. I know I don’t have it and my brain will argue with me.

I too thought I had a brain tumour bc I suddenly got headaches and my head felt foggy. Doc sent me for a CT scan to ease my mind, came back clear. I’m sure yours will too 🙂