Health Anxiety Sufferer

[Dadzo]

Hi. I've been living with health anxiety for the past 20 years. It comes and goes but is always in the background making "noise". Hoping to have like minded (no pun intended) people who have advice as to how they've improved their lives and learned to deal with this frustrating illness.

[kenster1]

hi dazo acceptance is a good start in dealing with your illness having good support goes along way also.eating healthier will improve along with fitness regimes.but we would try almost anything to have a run of feeling better.

[Dadzo in reply to kenster1]

Thank you. I'm in pretty good shape as my recent blood work confirmed and I do exercise and take supplements. I need brain exercises!!! Thank you again.

[kenster1 in reply to Dadzo]

learning something new will get the mind going.

[lillyofthevalley37]

I think the thing that works best - for me anyway -.is actually accepting or imagining life with the awful illness you are terrified of getting I.won't tell you what illnesses I am scared of getting but I will say it isn't cancer

And then asking God for mercy and also try to trust God

[Dadzo in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

Thanks. I do pray often and I am attempting to accept the situation to understand I can't control everything.

[BecR1025]

I haven't found a way to be anxiety or depression free (who has right?). I do cope better now than I have before. I am on citalopram 20mg once daily. That helps, but I also have started breathing exercises when I feel panic coming on. I know that sounds ridiculous and like a basic answer, but it took me years to realize I wasn't breathing right during a panic attack. I thought I was, I kept telling myself to breathe and I was breathing, but it wasn't until my son saw my having the worst panic attack ever that he told me "mom you're not breathing right." It was all over the place, short and shallow and I would randomly hold my breath. This was weird to me because in my mind I swear I was breathing just fine. So as simple as it sounds, focus on your breathing when you feel out of control. It will help the dizzy spells and brain fog.

As for long term with that background noise (you used the perfect description on that) I try to keep busy and care for myself. I took up doing puzzles, journals, I do face masks sometimes, read a book, force myself to get out of the house before it gets bad, stretching, I work out regularly which I think has played a huge role in kind of keeping that background noise tamed. Even if I have nothing to do for a day, I make myself do something. Whether it's to browse an antique store, walk at a park, anywhere, getting out can help keep me centered.

[Dadzo in reply to BecR1025]

Thanks so much for that thoughtful answer. I do have to keep in mind the idea of getting out and doing things. I don't have physical attacks as much as mental attacks ( I ruminate on a deadly disease and can't get it out of my head). Trying to brake the cycle can be difficult. I do take an SSRI for it but hate the idea of long term use. There has to be a way to change my thinking patterns.

[BecR1025 in reply to Dadzo]

I too get crazy about deadly illnesses and diseases. Even rare ones. SSRIs aren't terrible. If it's helping you, I wouldn't worry about long term use. Benefits outweigh the risks and it's no different than people who have to take blood pressure meds or heart meds ya know?

[TrustnGod]

Hey Dadzo. I am in the midst of my own health anxiety issues but like some other comments said, it really helps to just accept and not fight. A member on here taught me what’s called the “ride it out” method. I don’t know about you but I’ll be anxious about my symptoms all day but there are moments when my symptoms are UNBEARABLE and I feel like I’m about to slip into a coma or something. I recover best from these moments when I don’t try fighting them or ignoring them but rather I picture myself riding out the anxiety wave. The visual that helps me is to imagine I’m in a capsule in the ocean and my anxiety/panic attack is a huge wave that comes and I am just in my capsule riding it out. I’m not sure why but that REALLY helps.

~Lia

[Dadzo]

Thank you. I will try to form a visual to help. Good luck.