Health anxiety

[notnervous]

I’ve been losing my mind all day worrying about symptoms that I feel. I keep thinking that it’s something serious. The past two days I’ve gone to the hospital because of this. I keep thinking that I’ll find solace on google but it only helps to send me over the edge but I feel like if I don’t search my symptoms I won’t be prepared for what’s to come. It’s a vicious cycle. I keep giving myself new things to worry about. I don’t even have health insurance to get actual help. My life is in shambles. I’m 21.

[Sodown]

What's your symptoms x

[notnervous in reply to Sodown]

Well lately it’s been tingly hands and legs and fluttering in the chest. Unfortunately those can be attributed to like a million other medical issues. Doctors say I’m fine but I still feel very anxious

[Sodown in reply to notnervous]

Yes I relate to u. What about weird behaviour x

[notnervous in reply to Sodown]

Yeah I’ve been easily annoyed lately. I’ve also been isolating myself from my friends.

[Sodown in reply to notnervous]

Restless?

[notnervous in reply to Sodown]

Yeah lots of that

[Padayn01 in reply to notnervous]

What fluttering are you getting? Heart fluttering?

[notnervous in reply to Padayn01]

Yeah it feels like it’s my heart that’s fluttering

[Padayn01 in reply to notnervous]

Like you I have health anxiety and when my heart flutters it sends my anxiety into overdrive so I know where your coming b from, when you went hospital did they do ECG on you?

[notnervous in reply to Padayn01]

Yeah I’ve had so many ecgs but there’s never anything wrong. But even if there’s nothing wrong, there’s always a small part of me that’s like well they didn’t catch anything this time and after a while of thinking like that it just becomes overwhelming and there I am in the hospital again

[TrustnGod]

Hey notnervous! This was me just this summer. I convinced myself I had SO many disease and I got each and everyone of them tested. My advice to you: do not get any testing done and STOP GOOGLING. unfortunately, anxiety can produce any and every symptom you can think of, and as you continue to google, you’ll see that you experience every symptom you google. My anxiety first started with your symptoms. I was extremely tingly and my chest had all sorts of odd pains and feelings. sometimes I’d feel like my heart was like folding itself (that’s the best I can explain it). But all of it, every single symptoms I’ve experienced, has been anxiety.

I advise you to firstly, stop googling. Set little goals “I won’t google after noon today” if you slip up, that’s ok. But google is your worst enemy right now and you’ve got to just put the phone down. Next, look into finding a therapist because they help immensely. Thirdly, looking into ways to relax your body such as meditation and journaling. Lastly, do your best to allow the symptoms to just be. The more anxious you are about your symptoms, the more heightened your nervous system becomes and it will become a vicious cycle if you don’t try to accept the symptoms and distract yourself now, it will become a lot harder later on.

Im always here if you need any support!

~Lia

[notnervous in reply to TrustnGod]

Thank you Lia, I’ll definitely try my hardest to put your advice to practice.

[jocie609 in reply to notnervous]

I totally agree with the previous comment!!! My vice was Web MD!! I was searching different illnesses on WebMD thinking I had all of them. I gotta stay off of both of those websites.

[Junella in reply to TrustnGod]

This is excellent advice.

[Want2BHappy3]

That's a mistake people with anxiety do all the time. You said you don't have insurance, your going to find yourself in debt, something else to worry about? Stay off the internet, the WORSE thing you can do, so much questionable information? I got caught in that trap, it's so tempting. Look into counciling. Do you live in the USA? There are countries that can help if you're in financial need.

[Bostonian]

I've been living with anxiety for ten years now. Before I was diagnosed, I would be in and out of hospitals, thinking something had to be wrong with me physically. I'd often go on Google, trying to diagnose myself with anything and everything under the sun.

Once I was diagnosed, I had to develop skills to help me function with this disorder. Some days are certainly better than others, though I live one day at a time. It's not easy by any means, though it is how I keep from falling off the deep end.

The world we live in is incredibly hard and shitty, though you are not alone. Remember to breathe and ease your mind as much as possible.

[labnerd]

Hello notnervous,

Recently I have also had health anxiety. Googling left and right. I’ve had anxiety since I was about 14 but it just recently got bad. I was reading your symptoms in a reply to someone, andI have heart palpitations as well. That’s the fluttering you are feeling. Mine actually almost take my breath away. Also, my face will burn and tingle right before my anxiety starts to act up. Try to stop googling, I know it’s hard. I do that as well. I’ve gotten better about it lately. I hope you start to feel better soon. Dealing with anxiety is exhausting.

[brokenspirit100]

It sounds like you are doing exactly what I do when I have really nothing to worry about. It's called looking for things to be wrong. As far as wanting to be prepared for if something is wrong health-wise there is really no way do that. When we get 5 news our bodies and minds know exactly how to react at that moment. Is it a possibility that you are worrying yourself with health issues to avoid some other issues you don't want to deal with?. You know your body if you are not feeling good definitely see your doctor I hope this gets under control for you and I hope you feel better soon.

[Junella]

Dear Friend, I can relate to all you have said. My problem built up after I lost an older sister when I was 8 and wasn't told what happened to her (apparent suicide I learned at 30).

I got better but in my 20s a symptom triggered severe anxiety and a medical visit that required many tests--they turned out OK, but I couldn't shake the fear.

I went 10 years off and on with illness anxiety and developed panic spells, heart palpitations, hypertension. After ten years of symptoms, thyroid medication helped a great deal then, and I thought I was cured.

I wish I had done more for myself when I was young like meditation (not TM), prayer, deep breathing, etc. But doctors didn't have a clue then. One told me I have ADD (not the hyperactive kind) as I get distracted easily and have periodic depression.

This improved with 20 plus years on Paxil which they are now saying is like a placebo. I still get scared going to some medical visits. I am a senior now and I can't guarantee it will ever go away.

What helps the health anxiety has been in recent years to eat a vegan diet. for all the research shows that is the healthiest diet and people live longer and stay healthier on it. It must supplemented with B-12. (See Drfuhrman.com for info). Exercise has been my best anti-depressant, and I go to the gym or pool most days. I get down when I don't. You need time outside as well. You also need friends as support and a social life that is healthy; keep away from toxic people who will make you worse. Also avoid violent or troubling movies and even news.

Two years ago, because of several losses close together, I had a relapse and have been struggling again. Before that I did quite well for years. My job included writing and now retired it's a hobby, but I fight to keep motivated. I have found affirmation in Bible study and reading books from theology to devotionals. And write about them on a blog. Some OT reading can be troubling because we don't understand the culture then and tend to take it too literally--all the wars, etc. History always records wars and the Bible doesn't gloss it over. But we must follow the theme that God is love and is represented in Christ for the Christian. This is what works for me--take what you can use from it.

[Khuneycu]

I just want to chime in here that WebMD can kiss my A$$!!!

If you get a hangnail WebMD will have you convinced you have terminal cancer in under 10 seconds. I'm an RN currently working on my master's and I'm fairly certain WebMD isn't even run by medical professionals of any sort. It's THE WORST source to click on for any type of medical advice. Avoid like the plague.

All that said, as I stated above I'm a well educated medical professional and still I suffer from nearly debilitating health anxiety. For me it stems from seeing my patients with terrible diseases/medical issues and I slowly start to imagine myself with all the same symptoms as my patients and before I know it I'm totally panicked that I too have that specific disease. It's a vicious, horrible, terrible, relentless and nasty cycle that hasn't ended for me in nearly five months now. I feel like I'm back at square one being terrified of having a disease that I was terrified of five months ago that started this whole thing... I've since self diagnosed myself with no less than 12 potentially life threatening diseases and it's just awful. Some days are better and I convince myself I'm fine and it's my anxiety .. others it's all I can do to get out of my bed because I think "well I'm going to be dead in a few months so what's the point of going to the grocery store today?" I feel you. I really, really feel you.