Okay so as you probably know from previous post I’m 21 been suffering from health anxiety for around a year. I’ve been in therapy twice this year and improved tremendously. However there are still huge issues for example. I think the beliefs I have are totally crazy and mean there is something wrong with me such as not using hair gel as my mind tells me and I believe it that I’d i hear it it will get stuck in my throat some how and cause death by choking. I won’t eat things that I’ve touched by hand because I believe I will become ill from it (food poisoning) so when I’m eating crisps for example I eat 90% of the crisp and then through the part that I touched away because I think it will make me unwell. Worried that watching certain television shows will give me bad luck or even lead to death some how. My family believe this is because I don’t do enough and have zero routine. But at the same time I think I can’t handle day yo day stress without bring totally overwhelmed which leads me to think I cat have a normal life and live and feel normally like most other people .What could this be what can I do to get rid of it?
I think there’s something else other ... - Anxiety and Depre...
I think there’s something else other than anxiety going on here?
Medically speaking, it could be a lot of things.
Personally, I don't think the root cause is as important as how it makes you feel right now. You have some quirks, and it seems they are rooted in fear.
When we can't understand something, we typically respond with fear. If you only like the first chip in a bag, or you hate the last chip, or the oil on your fingers, that is your perogative. It's scary to not understand your habits, or why you believe certain things.
I suggest you try to let go of your reasons. Do what makes you comfortable. If you don't want to use gel, don't ask yourself why. Have you considered maybe you are attaching fear to your habits because you overthink, question, or second-guess yourself?
Also, it seems the fear is preventative. Are there any situations where your fear motivates you to act, rather than not act?
Thank you for your reply it was very insightful to read. I acted when my fear was being sick or voiding my bowls in public as I couldn’t stay inside the rest of my life. I also acted when my fear was driving because I thought I’ll have to do it eventually but this kind of stuff I just feel like when I do act I start to feel things e.g when I use gel it actually makes me feel like my throat is closing do I don’t really know how to combat it
What if you're alergic to gel?
Yes even though I know I’m not at all and I can’t really combat the stupidity of the thought it convinces me
I'm glad the therapy has helped. Are you still doing it?
It sounds to me like iocdf.org/about-ocd/ but I am in no way qualified to a medical opinion... Does it feel right to you?
Either way, the treatment is probably primarily therapy. And it sounds like it works for you. Is more an option?
Hello thanks for your reply it was very helpful. I have considered other options but I’m also pathologically afraid of taking any medication whatsoever
But how about talk therapy?
Oh sorry yes I have been to CBT twice for a combined 16 sessions
You've only had therapy twice?
Have you seen a psychiatrist.?
There is help for this.
Hi yes sorry I explained it poorly it was CBT therapy twice 16 sessions in the space of like 5/6 months September to November was the first time then April to June was the last
Oh excellent cbt was what I was thinking would help you.
It has done yes thank you. It works gives me a huge boosts and helps but just feel like I need it for a longer period
Hi Meyer, this sounds to me like more anxiety. As funny/strange as some of these fears may seem, I wouldn't worry much about them. To me they all show that you have too much anxiety and if that were under control I think you could much more successfully redirect your thoughts to the positive things in your life and feel so much better. I'm not a doctor but I've had years of suffering from generalized anxiety and now it's not even an issue in my life. I hope you find your answers and are doing better very soon! Take care...
Thanks for your reply that’s great that you overcame it! Do you not think about it like at all anymore? And how did you fully overcome it?
I only think about it when someone else brings the topic up. I believe in positive & realistic thinking and for me that includes not looking back too much, but living in the present as much as possible and focusing on all that's good and uplifting.
Getting better was helped by a huge loss of stress that I experienced but can't claim to be responsible for. What I did do was listen to my body and cut my benzo down a little bit when possible...when I seemed too sleepy-headed during the daytime. I worked to keep my stress levels down and in about 10 months found myself taking zero of the benzo that I had needed solid at 4mg/day for about 26 years. That was about 2 1/2 to 3 yrs. ago and I've not had any problems. Does that completely explain my "cure"...the state I find myself in? No, I know there was additional healing from a miraculous source I'm not supposed to talk much about here.
I'll just say there's nothing special about me and if I can be freed of that nasty problem, so can you or anybody else. I am also now free of 90% of my fibromyalgia symptoms! This stuff does happen! Don't be afraid to ask and I'll be asking for you.
Best wishes and take care 👍😊
Thank you for your sharing thank you very very much! It has helped massively you should be so proud of yourself
I'm also really interested in stories of recovery, if you wouldn't mind sharing!
I obviously can’t give a medical opinion as I am in no way qualified to do so. However, this sounds very much like OCD.
I suffer from OCD with health anxiety being my main problem. Health anxiety (though it can be a thing on its own, from what I understand) is often a part of OCD.
CBT is highly recommended for OCD. I see you’ve had a total of 16 CBT sessions and it’s great that it’s helped you. 16 sessions isn’t that many - everyone is different. I know some people have therapy for years. Some only need therapy for a short while, others in between. I’ve been having weekly therapy for about 11 months now. I panic often that I’ve been in therapy for ‘too long’ but my therapist reassures me it’s quite ‘normal’. So, I think it could be useful for you to explore the option of more therapy.
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