Always feel like im dying & anxiety

[My-life-is-a-constant-Mess]

HI Everyone
I have developed severe Generalised anxiety and Health/illness anxiety. I am constantly anxious all day everyday and I constantly feel as if Im dying of a health issue, this issues switches between blood clots in my neck (most common) Heart attacks, Pulmonary Embolisms, various cancers, strokes, brain aneurysms, rare bacteria and viral infections and illnesses, internal bleeding, meningitis, phenomena etc. I have chest pain/discomfort and a tightness and throbbing in my neck, weird feeling almost like its a nerve thing in my head practically everyday and its really worrying. I am constantly anxious all the time and worried about the fact that im dying or could be dying in the future even if I have no physical symptoms and its getting worse. I am having what I think are panic attacks regularly ranging from the start of a panic attack (mild) to me going into my Mum & step dads room at ridiculous hours crying, panicking presenting with a variety of concerning physical symptoms that are indicative of heart attacks, strokes, meningitis etc. and begging them to help me, to call a doctor or take me to the ER. Its stupid because logically I know that nothing is probably wrong with me and that its probably anxiety or something like a muscle ache but its the fact that there is always a chance (however small it may be) that i'm right and that something might actually be seriously wrong and requires medical attention is really distressing but my parents wont take me seriously. I will often go to the doctor with my symptoms and they will dismiss me in a subtle way and say its fine or nothing etc and they wont take me seriously because i'm 17 and anxious, I just want the doctors to take me seriously and to do some tests to check my health and then if the results are clear I can (hopefully) put my mind at ease so that way I know its almost certain my symptoms are anxiety or stress induced. Im also scared to go to sleep in case I die in my sleep as there are a few medical conditions that can cause you to just die in your sleep without warning and this is really terrifying because I don't have any control over it. I have been to the GP and given a mental health care plan and have been refereed to headspace which is good but I have just been told that I wont get my first session for 2-3 months and I don't think I can cope that long with the anxiety and I also have to worry about yr 12 and im doing academic subjects. I feel like im losing it and im not coping.

[Hope_for_the_best]

Sorry to hear what you are going through. Would you be able to contact Headspace and explain your situation? It might be possible for them to put your session earlier. Alternatively, have you tried talking to your school counsellor? Also, you could try calling helplines like Beyond Blue, Kids Helpline and there is one for headspace too.

[MsPurple]

Hi My-life and welcome to the forums. We are a peer support based forums, so please keep that in mind 🙂 We are a great community who want to support each other.

I am glad you have seen your doctor and gotten a referral to headspace. I myself went to headspace and found it really beneficial. Each headspace has a different waiting period and it can vary on a patient by patient basis. Not sure of their criteria for urgent. If you are concerned about the wait period might I suggest you ask your school about their counselling services. I know all the high schools in my area had them. You can also consider trying eheadspace. Copy and paste this link https://www.eheadspace.org.au/ On eheadspace you can go onto a chat or call them up or email them. Sometimes they can arrange a phone time which will work for you and the counsellor. Another option could be to call around local psychologists who specialise in youth anxiety and see if you dr can change it (would need to ask the other ones regarding costs). Some areas have other youth services other than headspace, so maybe google your suburb and see if there are any near you.

In terms of heath anxiety I know exactly what you mean. I would feel like my throat was a getting a bit tight, or tingle. It made me so stressed I would take hay fever medication. I was stressed it would close over. But it was just anxiety. Anxiety can cause a lot of horrible physical symptoms. It can definitely cause headaches and tension headaches. I know because I have experienced them myself. If you are concerned maybe get the dr to do a general check up. Such as blood pressure and checking your heart with a stethoscope. These are the first steps before more serious tests shown on tv (e.g. mri). They don't normally go to those tests unless something abnormal has come up when they have seen you, which I'm assuming nothing has, hence why they haven't put you down for more tests. Let this reassure you that the dr believes nothing else is wrong other than anxiety.

When I was getting really anxious like that I would tell myself You are fine. You are healthy. You are well. This is just anxiety. You are not sick. You are not dying. You are safe. I would say this a few times. I would also do deep breathing while saying this. It helped bring my heart rate down it would bring me focus and remind myself nothing is physically wrong. May sound silly at start but it does help over time.

MP

[Anonnymus]

Go to hospital emergency room.

They will help.

They have so many different staff members there who can help you!!

I embarrassingly went to hospital one night during a panic attack (family drove me there because i was inconsolable. Shaky. Blurred vision..said i wanted to kill myself)

That for me was embarassing to admit to family. I then had to admit it to a stranger or two in the hospital.

They gave me medication...this calmed my heart rate but not my thoughts.

A psychologist came in and helped cheer me up.

I was amazed at her capabilities.

She helped me find help outside of the hospital and sent me home with more medication to help stop my night terrors for the next three nights at home.

Wish u well..u can do this.

If your parents wont help..

Help yourself.

Be a man and take charge.

Be brave like i know you can.

God Bless Mate