Health anxiety

[Bobina]

Hi everyone, 

 This is my first time posting on here – although I’ve been reading this forum for a little while now. 

 I’m just wondering if anyone out there suffers from health anxiety? 

 This year has been pretty stressful with what feels like one thing after another. I feel like I started off the year feeling strong but all the things that have happened this year have slowly worn me down to the point where now I feel like I’m overwhelmed and not coping. This is when my health anxiety kicks in. As I slowly become worn out the physical symptoms of stress become really apparent to me and I start worrying that I have this or that illness. And the thing is I’m not the kind of person to go to the doctor very often – usually because of the fear that the doctor really will find something wrong with me. Although I have been to the doctor recently, I was meant to go do a blood test and am yet to do it – the anxiety is just too great at the moment to face having a blood test done. 

Anyway, so now I’m at point where I’m obsessing about my health daily. In my mind a pain here or a twinge there is a sign that there’s something seriously wrong depending on which disease or illness I’m latched onto at that moment – could be heart disease, stomach ulcer, appendicitis, cancer, you name it. 

 I’m not quite sure how to overcome this right now as I feel like I’m in the thick of it and I’m struggling to remain positive and it’s making me feel depressed and extremely anxious (sometimes to the point of panic attacks). It’s also affecting my relationships. 

Is there anyone else out there like me?

[Chris_B]

Hi Bobina, welcome to the forums.

This is a topic that has come up before, so while you're waiting to hear back from our other members, below are some links to earlier threads on this topic you might wish to check out:

Health anxiety - GramsGirl
Health anxiety - HJNJ
Health anxiety - bdr
Health anxiety - Buckley05

 

[Bobina]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply! Sorry I didn't think to search for other health anxiety posts!!!

It's reassuring to see that there are others out there like me. 

I also wouldn't mind hearing from those people that originally posted to see how they're doing these days seeing as their posts were over 6 months ago.

Looking forward to hearing from you all 🙂

[Amelbourneboy]

Hi Bobina,

I had a sore back one day and made the mistake of using Dr google. About an hour later I self diagnosed my self with stage 4 lung cancer. I got myself so worked up, I was thinking about my funeral, what foods I should organise for the wake, it got WAY out off hand. I went to the doctors for the back pain (even though I knew it was cancer), they did an xray and surprise surprise nothing showed up on the xray. But thats because the cancer wasn't in my lungs it was now in my brain.

I finally opened up to my GP about my fears. Her first response was to never google symptoms, leave it to the professionals. I started seeing a psychologist who has help me work through my fears and anxiety towards cancer and health anxiety.

[freindincommon]

Hi Bobina,

 Don't worry It has been my life for 6 years now. For me it get stronger at times and others I can push it to the back of mind and sometimes I can forget about it all together, but not for very long. 

 For years Ive spent nights in E.D. with delusional and real illness's caused by delusional stress (over eating, hypertension, high chelestrol, chest pain, stomach ulcers) and what is great are the doctors and nurse's and hospital staff (or paramedics) are always so nice about it. I guess they see the pain in my eyes that even if i suspect Im having an episode I still don't want to be there.

I spent months worrying I would die by choking on my own saliva. Ive constantly obsessed thinking I have all those things you said and more (as Im sure you have aswell).

I know the embarrassment you feel from having to tell your family or friends your at the doctors or in the hospital again or the money you lose and respect of your work pears for not being able to come in again, often at short notice.

 I know the pain and frustration and the eventual feeling of "well stuff it just kill me already or go away", even though for some reason that doesn't even help.

 And I'm really sad reading your post because I know it actually hurts and you actually feel these things but treatments wont work because they are not physical. 

All I can say Is I understand and feel for you and you can talk to me on here about it and I will listen and understand. Also my advice is keep searching till you find a careering understanding health team of a great doctor and psychiatrist because they are out there I know, and for me there are lot's of times it doesn't rule my life and I can be happy.

All the best with everything and I hope to hear from you feeling better soon. x

[Queen_Diamond]

Hi friendincommon;

I know this is an old post but I had to reply as your post really resonated with me. I too suffer health anxiety and have visited ER so much it's just embarrassing now and the ward clerk knows my name! 

It's really hard talking to family about it and get ashamed when I have to mention that I'm going to the Dr's AGAIN. 

I also know exactly what you mean by being so tired and overwhelmed that eventually your brain can't handle anymore and just goes "F it if I die then there's not much I can do about it". It's a shame I can't think like this without having to go through the weeks or months worth of debilitating anxiety beforehand.  

Hope since your post things have improved for you and original poster. xx

[Dreb100]

How are you now? Was it really brain cancer? That’s awful. One of my great fears actually