Severe health Anxity

[nick99]

I have suffered from heart palpitations, health anxiety and general anxiety for about 27 years. Add to that an absolute fear of doctors. I have thought for the past thirty years I've had all manner of terminal illness's.

My palpitations can occur for long periods, seem to be elevated by eating certain foods, like salty crisps. I recently had to rush to the emergency ward of the hospital because I had been getting zigzag lines in my vision. They took my blood pressure and heart rate and the first thing the doctor asked was do I suffer from anxiety. After four hours of a team of doctors studying my eyes I was released with the diagnosis of ocular migraines. So now I have this horrid eye thing and my palpitations have returned. The health anxiety is going through the roof now. My question is if doctors examined me and they took my heart rate and blood pressure would they have kept me in if I had a heart issue? I was released without anything except my blood pressure was a bit high but they suggested it was because I was so stressed. Never really gone to a doctor about it as I have such a fear of them. Only went to hospital this week because I thought I had a retinal tear and didn’t want to go blind.

[Petal22]

Hi nick99,

Well come to our forums.

I'm sorry you are feeling this way I understand its a hard thing to go through.

I have also suffered with health anxiety in the past id constantly obsess over things that I thought were wrong with me, id go to the doctor and have them checked only to be told everything was ok but id still keep obsessing.

It was a never ending cycle for me.

My anxiety became quit sever in my time I was diagnosed with OCD .... Obsessive compulsive disorder its a anxiety disorder, one of the things that kept me in my cycle was reassurance seeking.

Ive now recovered thanks to the professional help I received.

Have you thought about speaking to your gp about your anxiety and how its affecting your life? You could do a mental health plan together this will enable you to see a psychologist who can give you many strategies for anxiety.