Health Anxiety

[EC123]

Hi, I’m new to this forum. For as long as I can remember I have had anxiety. I mean, as a child I would have panic attacks that would make me vomit at the thought of going to school or sleeping away from home. As I have gotten older, this anxiety has become more generalised and sometimes comes on so intensely without any real trigger. Lately I have been having some health issues, but I am constantly finding myself obsessing over what could be wrong and always google searching my symptoms to find what my condition could be. I know it’s normal to be worried about your health sometimes, but I feel like I am completely consumed by this anxiety. I struggle to eat, study or think clearly and I go through periods of not being able to sleep no matter how exhausted I am. I just want to get to the bottom of these health issues and get on top of my mental health, as right now I feel like I’m drowning. How can I calm myself at least until I get my medical results? And how can I change my way of thinking to a more positive mindset?

TIA for any advice!

[Sophie_M]

Hi EC123,
 
Thanks for posting today and letting us know how you feel. We offer you a big welcome to the forum and we hope you are able to find the supportive community you are looking for here. You have taken a big first step today and we want to acknowledge how hard that can be.
 
Health anxiety can be such a difficult thing to manage and overcome, but we want to assure you that you are not alone in this. Some of our users have experienced similar feelings in regard to their anxiety and have received support in how to manage this. You might find some more methods for managing anxiety symptoms in this previous thread here. In addition, you might find some of the management strategies on the anxiety section of our website useful. Some of these are really good to use when experiencing physical symptoms.
 
If you would like to talk to someone we'd encourage you to reach out to the Beyond Blue Support Service. We are available 24/7 by phone on 1300 22 4636 or you can use our webchat or email. One of our friendly counsellors will be able to talk through these feelings with you.
 
We appreciate you reaching out today. Please keep coming back to the forum and touch base with us, whenever you feel comfortable to do so. 

[Pumpkinella]

Hi EC123,

Thanks so much for sharing! I have also had health anxiety in the past. I am getting better with it now. I think what helped with me was to really resist googling things. It really is not a good way to figure out whether something is wrong and pretty much always led me to thinking I had some serious condition. So what helped me is that if I felt a little off in my body I would say "if symptoms persist see your doctor" its a way to stop me googling and to understand that our body does all sorts of things that when we are not hyper aware of we just ignore, its just normal bodily process the vast majority of the time and is fleeting. So I would try to frame my symptoms that way. Then if they continued I would see my doctor.

Waiting for results you are stressed about can be hard. I just found ways to distract myself - whatever works well for you - put on your favourite show, go for a walk, talk to someone close to you about it as well, I found it can be quite reassuring. The other thing that helped was to know that there are so many fantastic doctors and other professionals around that dedicate their lives to helping other people with their physical problems. So I think that even if there were something to address they will help me, they will guide me through it and actually sometimes it can lead to really healthy outcomes

My problems ended up being mainly with digestion and now I am on a diet that makes me feel so much better. So my stressing about seeing the doctor was actually the beginning of something good. They are there to help you heal.

I hope that helps a little and feel free to post again if you want to chat more about the anxiety you are feeling.

Love

Pumps

[EC123]

Thank you for replying! I’m so glad to hear you’re able to manage these thoughts a lot better now. I definitely agree, I need to stop googling. It’s such a strong impulse because I just want to get to the bottom of why I feel so unwell, but at the same time, googling makes me feel so worked up.

That’s a really good way to think about it. I have a lot of problems with digestion too. I was unwell when I was younger, lost a lot of weight, so now when I get unwell and can’t eat that perpetuates my fear of losing weight and becoming sicker.

It’s comforting to know people feel this way and find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you for sharing!

[Pumpkinella]

I agree its such a strong impulse to check with google. When I stopped checking it did result in going to the doctor more frequently to check with them, but that was a better option because I was honest with them about my anxiety as well and they can be much more reassuring (and knowledgeable) than google. Eventually it helped me see this was at times more an anxiety issue than a serious health concern and I was able to not check with the doctor every two seconds. I even got referred to go to a scan and didn't go because my symptoms vanished so I thought - why bother. In the past that would have been unthinkable lol. So it can change.

It's hard isn't it? - the relationship between the anxiety, the digestive issues then the digestive issues triggering more anxiety. I am the same in the way as you - when I am really anxious I find it hard to eat. I'm sorry that triggers the experiences you had when you were younger. Perhaps a psychologist can help you out with that association and the general anxiety. (if you are not already seeing one).

I think its so important to find the right professionals to help that connect with you, that help you feel in control and that provide holistic health care. The ones that work for you and you feel good going to see because you know they are going to help. I had to do a bit of searching before I found the right psychologist and the right gut doctor to help me with my digestion with diet, supplements and antibiotics. In my experience specialists have that deeper knowledge for complex digestive issues.

I guess the take away is that there is help out there and I have no doubt with a little help from the right peeps you can get on top of this. Sending you my love.

Love

Pumps

[Petal22]

Hi EC123,

Sorry you are feeling this way….. it must be difficult for you…..

I understand anxiety I had severe anxiety OCD , I have now recovered from this condition thanks to the help of health professionals…..

With this condition I also experienced it with health……. I would obsess over my eye thinking there was something wrong with it, I’d have it checked by a doctor they would say it was ok but I’d still obsess over it……. My anxiety would consume me……. I’d perform compulsions to try to bring my anxiety down…… I’d google symptoms, constantly seek reassurance and check things…… I was stuck in the vicious cycle of OCD………

OCD is treatable……. I have now recovered….. my recovery started from seeing my gp we did a mental health plan together, I saw a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist who diagnosed me with OCD this then led me to a group therapy that specialised in OCD….. this is we’re I learned to master my OCD……

I highly recommend you see your GP and let them know how these obsessions are making you feel…… and if they are affecting your life…..

With therapy you can learn how to challenge your thoughts…. This is very useful…….

Before my diagnosis of OCD I was a very negative person but after my mental health journey I’ve learned to be a very positive person…… I choose to see the positive in every thing! You CAN change your mind set it just takes practice……. You can learn to change your prospective on things from negative to positive…… I read a lot of positive affirmations every day and tell myself positive things about myself and the world every day……. 😊

I’m here to chat to you

[jaz28]

Hi there,

As someone who has experienced health issues and anxiety, I can understand this completely.

Something that works for me when I am between test results and appointments is to practice gratitude for what I have. Despite everything, I actually do have an amazing life. This is just something that grounds me. Then I am also reminded of the amazing family support I have and the fact I live in a country like Australia where I can access all my medical needs for free/low cost. Then I can take a deep breath and realise that no matter what happens - it will be okay.

It's easier said than done, I know. But gratitude and mindfulness really help me to stay grounded and bring myself back to reality when I am anxious.

Try this - next time you're feeling anxious - notice 5 things that you can see, smell, hear and touch. This will help you come back to the present moment. Or download an app like Calm or Smiling Mind - they have some great mindfulness meditations to listen to.

Sending love,

Jas.

P.S. Stay far away from google!

[EC123]

Thank you for sharing! I too have suffered from OCD since a very young age, it became a comfort mechanism. A safety net where my compulsions provided comfort against my intrusive thoughts. Knowing that you have recovered and completely changed your mindset is so good to know. I do currently see a psychologist and we’re working on lots of techniques to help desecalate my anxiety, but I also want to focus on the OCD, as they do go hand in hand. Knowing group therapy helped you encourages me to want to do the same. It’s comforting and empowering to know people going through similar things have over come it.

Thank you so much!

[EC123]

Thank you for sharing your story! That sounds like a great mindset to have to ground yourself, I will definitely use those affirmations from now on.

I like Calm, and I use The Tapping Solution as well, they are really good apps. I’ll continue those and try to use your gratitude affirmations.

Thank you for you advice 🙂

[Petal22]

Hi EC123,

I understand…….. OCD is a vicious cycle you can learn to break free of its grips as I have….. once you do you will begin to fly! 😊

I did meta cognitive therapy….. I believe this therapy is the best for someone suffering with OCD……… I did this group therapy at a university…. It was run by trainees and overseen by a doctor…..

We learned what our OCD cycle was and how to disengage from it……. It took perseverance and practice but once you master it it’s life changing…… things that kept me in my cycle….. I’d have a intrusive thought I’d give this thought all of my attention….. I’d analyse the thought…. Question it, look for a meaning, I’d perform compulsions…. Seek reassurance, check things, mentally perform compulsions……. Now after therapy I’m able to have the thoughts just let them be there and fade away without doing any of the above……… it’s amazing now to be the observer of my thoughts and not get caught up in them……. Meditation was one thing taught me this……. We were given a certain meditation in our therapy…….. if you are looking to do a group therapy that specialises in OCD I highly recommend you do it…… maybe see if there is one in your area….. my clinical psychologist and psychiatrist found mine and referred me to go there……. The best thing I ever did…. There were 12 of us in the group who all had the same condition…… your definitely not alone and you CAN break free of its grips….. 😊

It’s also amazing to have a re newed mindset I did this over a period of time it all started when I was doing therapy I learned a lot about myself I learned there were things I didn’t like about the way I thought about things in a negative way…. I learned to change my perceptions, I look for the best in everything now, I now have learned to understand people I also learned to forgive myself and others and to let things go…….. forgiveness will set you free letting go will help you to grow…..

Thats great you are seeing a psychologist well done ….. i highly recommend you try to do a therapy that zones in on the OCD…. Mine was an intervention into the OCD…… this way your anxiety will dramatically drop because you will learn to stop doing the things that keep you in your OCD cycle…….. you will also be given a range of useful tools to help you …

im here to chat to you… ask me any thing 😊