Just joined

Hi just joined and looking for any help with coping with anxiety

[Hidden]

Welcome

How can we help, there are many here that are very helpful and understanding

BOB

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Bob. Looking for help from anyone that can help me understand and cope with anxiety about my health

[Agora1]

Hi Mile A Minute, I would like to welcome you to the Anxiety & Depression Forum.

You will find that you aren't alone in dealing with Health Anxiety. As we interact

with each other, we learn different methods that have worked for others. Most of

all we get the understanding and support we need helping us to cope with our anxiety

issues. I'm glad you are here. Feel free to join in at any time. We are only a message

away. xx

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thank you

[sweetiepye]

Welcome, I have suffered from anxiety about everything , but mainly I focused on my heart. I had palpations and thought I was having a heart problem that would eventually kill me. I have had every test known to man and all showed a perfectly healthy heart. It took me years to believe I was ok. I was in my twenties when this started and by my thirties I had conquered it. It took therapy, medication, and time. You can over come this and get your life back. I'm in my seventies now and still have the occasional heart palpation . I don't get too excited about them any more. Pam

[Hidden in reply to sweetiepye]

Thanks that's exactly what I'm going through now and all my test come back perfect but any palpitations I feel is severe enough to make me go into anxiety mode

[sweetiepye in reply to Hidden]

I know, and I wasted years of my life and a thousand trips to the ER. doing just that. At some point, when you feel ready , you have to take a leap of faith and live. Doing some breathing exercises when this happens will help calm and center you. Instead of worrying about dying worry about living each day to the fullest. Pam

[TrustnGod]

Hello Mile_A_Minute. So sorry to her you’re going through all of this. Your story sounds nearly identical to my own. I’ve been to ER/Urgent Care around 10 times in the past month looking for some form of an answer. I’ve head every heart test under the sun and my heart is fine.

There was once when I made a trip to urgent care and I was in tears, not because of the pain but because I was so tired of living in constant anxiety and fear of dying. After doing an EKG, a doctor came in and told me that I had a “million dollar check up” on my heart and so I should rest assured that it is ok. She told me that sometimes our bodies just have the most awful random sensations and when they come, we must retrain our bodies to think “oh there’s that sensation again. It’s ok. I will get through it” rather then going into a state of panic and anxiety. I began to do this and have only had 2 urgent care visits since. I also bought an oximeter so that I can see a visual representation of just how fine I am. When I get heart attack like symptoms or feel like I’m going to pass out, seeing that my oxygen is still at 96-99 is so comforting and allows me to calm down. I would suggest looking into buying one so you can also have a visual representation of you being ok. Remember, the first thing they do when you get to the ER or urgent care is take your vitals which includes pulse, oxygen and blood pressure. When these aren’t good then they worry but I’ve noticed that once they see that these three readings are ok, they’re less panicked about my condition. I don’t know why but being able to see that info myself helps.

Just a suggestion and I hope you get to feeling better!

~Lia

[Hidden in reply to TrustnGod]

Thank you for the uplifting words

[SpiritualT in reply to TrustnGod]

I would like to put something out there I also suffer with severe health anxiety have been to the hospital on more than 50 occasions. I have a blood pressure monitor oximeter and tympanic for my temperature. I work at the hospital so I know when readings are NOT normal however I WOULD NOT advocate to buy a oximeter or any other device to monitor your health at home, if you suffer with health anxiety this will only reaffirm to your anxious brain that this behaviour is needed In order to make you feel better, this is how people end up with a compulsion to do it in order to feel better.

[Julietdream in reply to SpiritualT]

Is there comparison with Post traumatic stress?I've not heard of Health anxiety before-Suffered panic,flashbacks, insomnia,agarophobia,(u name it!)after r'ship breakdown,following close person being victim to knife attack.. Recommended-?--C.B.T.didn't really help-plus lots of mundane q.'s in papers that didn't seem to relate to either the symptoms Or the tragedy itself.Wore me out.(:

[TrustnGod in reply to SpiritualT]

Wow I see the dangers of this. Definitely agree with that. I use a lot of self discipline to make sure I’m not dependent on it but I know not everyone is going to have the ability to do that. Thanks for your words of caution!!

~Lia