Health Anxiety

[howhann]

Hey guys, I’m an 18 year old girl who has previously been diagnosed with OCD. My OCD revolves around safety and my fear of dying. In the past year this has further manifested into severe health anxiety, to the point that I think about it constantly. I can’t convince myself that I don’t have cancer. If a bone sticks out too much, if my muscle starts hurting or if I experience any pain I automatically assume I have cancer. It’s really debilitating, and frustrates my friends and family when I ask them for reassurance. Just looking to see if anyone has been in a similar situation and can offer any advice or reassurance. It’s getting to the point where the only thing that would soothe my nerves is actually getting an X-ray, but my anxiety is preventing me from doing so.

[Dorothy1]

Dear howhann,

This situation you are in must be very difficult. To believe that you are sick or suffering cancer might make you feel really bad and it must be unsettling. I am not in your situation but if I was, I would rule out any medical causes. You are the one experiencing pain so what if it was something. Knowing early would definitely help you in achieving best results with related treatments. Do some tests and if the doctors tell you that you are perfectly healthy, then you can look at the psychological side of things.

All the best

Dot

[Kawooster]

I’m in the same boat. Feel like I’m losing my mind sometimes with the amount of checking and reassuring that I need from friends and family members.

mine started off with the same fear as yours - cancer, and that fear still lingers sometimes. But, now, it’s more focused on my heart. I’m always scared I have a heart condition, every time my heart does something strange, like skip a beat, speed up or slow down. I always think I’m about to have a heart attack, which makes it worse.
I’ve been checked by three different doctors, multiple times. All tell me it’s anxiety, but I still can’t relax and feel there is something seriously wrong with my heart.

So yes, I know EXACTLY how you feel. You’re not alone.

If the doctor has ruled out anything serious, especially if you’ve seen multiple, you need to try and relax 🙂

good luck!

[Dorothy1]

Dear Kawooster,

Good on you for getting it checked!

You are right, relaxing and especially breathing is really important when that happens. You now know that you do not have a heart condition so yes, reassuring yourself that you are going to be ok and breathe slowly and deeply. easily said but not that easily done, I know, but it is worth trying 🙂

Dot