Hi Danno87,
Welcome to the forum and good on you for reaching out. You are taking the right step by going to see your GP. Let us know how the appointment goes for you. Finding a counsellor or psychologist to help you work on your health anxiety is a great step. Anxiety is treatable and with time many people have had their quality of life improve significantly by taking action and getting the right support.
Having anxiety about health is quite common in my experience and with the rise of ‘Dr Google’, people find that they fall into all sorts of illness criteria when they Google symptoms and find a few that fit. They then self diagnose and start feeling even worse.
I recently had some Mouth ulcers and found myself in a ‘Google hole’ looking at all the things that might trigger them. By the time I thought I had found what was happening to me, they were healed and gone . It happens to the best of us.
Going to your GP and getting an evaluation is far better than using Google, particularly when you have anxiety. A Doctor will instantly offer an assessment of you and reassure you or take action. Google will give you a thousand answers and you can read about other people’s symptoms and stories but can sometimes create even more stress.
Using the internet and peer sharing, like on the beyondblue forum, is a fantastic way to feel less alone and read about other experiences. It should also be used in conjunction with gaining some professional support specifically for you. I couldn’t diagnose you just by reading your post and would definitely recommend you see a Doctor as you are doing today.
What you are going through is really common and that by getting some support for your anxiety you will be able to focus less of your health worries and more about the goals you have for your life.
And if your symptoms result in a diagnosis of illness then you are taking steps towards getting clarity in diagnosis early which is important.
Keep using the forum as I know it is really helpful for so many people.
Wishing your the best possible outcome,
Nurse Jenn
