Health Anxiety fears.

[Andy_X7]

Hi i'm new this forum and never usually talk about my self on these things but lately i have been having alot of things happening to me that are just stressing me out and upsetting me and i think it's time to talk to someone.

Ever since i was a kid i think i have always had obessive thoughts about my health and other problems but the last 8 months have been a nightmare for some reason i convinced myself i have many types of cancer and that i'm done for. First i believed i had testicular cancer then it went to skin cancer, brain tumors, lymphoma, thyroid cancer and now stomach cancer. I have been to the Dr so many times this year and had scans and tests which have all returned fine but when one thing gets the all clear it's not long before a new fear shows up and it's so upsetting and stressful.

My latest fear is of stomach cancer it started as just small pains in my stomach at night that have been occuring over a few months but as it has been months and i am fine i never worried and i was preoccupied with other worries however this past week i had sharp pain in my stomach breifly which then caused me to panic i started to worry that i had ignored the signs over the last few months and that i may have stomach cancer. I then start to google infomation as i always do when i'm concerned and it confirmed my worries which made me worse.

I then also  began to remember the symptoms a family friend had who died of stomach cancer had such as loss of appetite and being unable to eat food. And now all of sudden it hurts to eat and i feel so sick all the time i also have pain in my stomach which gets so bad that it becomes very difficult to take my mind of it.

I then always return to google to search my new symptoms which makes me feel worse. I am unsure if the pain is real or just in my head i try to convince myself that it's in my head but it never works.                                                                           I think the reason i might be having these panic attacks is that i'm scared of dying before i have achieved anything or had a family as i'm only 22. It's really unpsetting because my life is great at the moment with my studies and friends and i'm happy but then i always think i don't have long left and this scares me.

I don't want to keep having to go to the doctors but i feel this won't end. I just have a question can a persons mind actually cause pain and physical symptoms such as difficulty eating because it feels so real.

Thankyou.

[Neil_1]

Hi Andy

Firstly I'd like to extend a warm welcome to you to Beyond Blue and would like to thank you for providing your post.  Very indepth and giving a good run down of what's troubling you.

The mind is a very powerful thing, as we know.  I think that it can possibly take hold and cause you to think that you've got a pain somewhere OR if not quite that, it can force you to think the pain is far greater than it might actually be.  It may even have the ability to cause you to have difficulty eating.

All that you've written is understandable and I can resonate with part of it also.  Over a year ago, I thought I had cancer - as I have a long family history of it and I had these lumps near my ribs that were hellishly sore.  Got them tested out fully and fortunately, there was no cancer - but just some kind of nodules that happen from time to time.  No biggie, which was a massive relief.

Now, what we need to do is to get you to feel that massive relief also.  Just 22yo, yes my boy, you're just a pup and it's also very great to read that you've got a great life at the moment and that you are looking forward to further great things as you go along your own journey.  Now for this to happen.

I would like to propose a couple of things.  Firstly, not sure how you feel about your own doctor, but if ok, then please make an appointment and go and see them.

If not, Beyond Blue have on this site a big list of GP's;  and you can search for them and hopefully you may find one (or more) in your local area.  The thing with these GP's is that they are also fully qualified in being able to deal with mental health issues as well.  If you see one of these, they may very well be able to refer you to another type of professional (you know, just for some additional counselling).  Someone who you can talk to about your fears and the things that are causing you worry and anxiety.  They might well be able to give you some coping mechanisms to assist you in the future.

I'll send this off now and I do hope you can get back to us Andy.  This is a super important issue for you and I look forward to hearing back from you

Kind regards

Neil

[Andy_X7]

Hi Neil thanks for the advice it has definitely helped me feel a bit more at ease.             Good to hear you got the all clear i can imagine that would have been quite a scare.         I was thinking of going back to the doctor just to be sure but this time i intend to discuss my mental health issues aswell.

I like the idea of consulting a GP on the Beyond Blue list i think it's time i get a little bit of help with my problems as it's really starting to interfere with my day to day life.            Thanks for that it's nice to know i'm not the only one who has had these worries.            

Andy. 

[Neil_1]

Hi Andy

Hey, thanx for getting back so soon.  And yes, it was a worry for a while, but as you've been doing also - it's so important to get things checked out.  Cause you really don't know;  better wiser and safe than otherwise.

I like the sound of your latest post - filled with some good emotion and postiveness.

And you're so right - you aren't the only one who has experienced feelings like this.  So you can also feel very proud that you did something very positive and came here to send out a message.

What also could be a good thing to do if you've got a little spare time - is to check out other people's posts on here in any of the forums that Beyond Blue have going.  You just never know, someone might be saying something that you can resonate with and who knows, you might even find you'd be comfortable in providing your own reassuring advice to someone?

Just a thought.

Hope to see you around here.

Neil

[Andy_X7]

Sorry it took so to get back to you. Your right a check up will put my mind at ease a bit so it can't hurt to go again just a bit tired of being in a Doctors surgery lately.

I have been looking around at other people's post on the forum and it has really been a big help. I really appreciate the tips and advice.

Thanks for everything.