Health Anxiety

[anxious_health]

I am new to the forum and would like to start by saying hello to you all and I hope you are all well during these difficult times.

Here is a brief run down of me:

I am 23 years old and have recently been to the GP about my anxiety as I became concerned about my level of worrying. I seem to really struggle with health anxiety and can't work out whether I am genuinely ill or just anxious which obviously worries me even more. I had a blood test done at the GP a few weeks back and was asked to have a certain part of the blood test repeated due to the result, which has worried me sick for weeks and have had that 2nd blood test re-done and now I am in panic that something is terribly wrong and that I am going to be diagnosed with cancer and will die leaving everybody I love behind and it's the most awful feeling and can't seem to break this anxious cycle I'm in. Instead, I go on DR. Google and find anything to fit the bill to feed my anxiety and I don't know why I do it.

Does anybody have any coping strategies or advise on how to manage this overwhelming fear?

Looking forward to speaking to you all! X

[FullofIt]

Hey. I suffer with the same. And can say it is the most horrible thing to deal aside from actually being seriously unwell.

I’ve had health anxiety for many years and recently had a flare up from stomach pains I’ve been having and seem to latch on to every bodily sensation thinking it’s something drastic. It’s exhausting!!

Best thing you can do is seek counselling, specially CBT. Which will help with your thinking patterns and to rationalise your thoughts.

[anxious_health in reply to FullofIt]

I totally sympathise with you! It's horrible living your life in fear of becoming ill and convincing yourself that you have every bad illness under the sun! Do you feel run down and ill all the time because of it? I've noticed that since I've been aware of my health anxiety that I tend to feel aches/pains/twinges/twitches and they stem into HUGE worries for me.

I have self-referred for CBT and am waiting for an appointment to come through and I'm hoping that will help me manage my worries a bit more and give me the help I need. I'm a health care worker too which doesn't help my worries as I'm exposed to ill people most days and compare their symptoms to a way I've been feeling or have felt in the past and it feels like I'm completely on my own

Thank you for your reply x

[FullofIt in reply to anxious_health]

Yes. For sure. Especially the mornings for me. Knowing that I have to go through turn whole day with the feeling of dread!

Yeah, I get headaches often and feel generally like shit. I had a few years anxiety free but this recent health issue has brought everything to the forefront again. I need to try and figure out how it all started and came from so that I can begin to deal with the root of the problem.

Oh wow! That’s exactly what I’ve been having recently: muscle twitching, pins and needles, the lot. It’s weird how anxiety effects the body with physical symptoms.

That’s good you’re taking steps to deal with it. And you realise what it is. That’s the first step.

I can imagine that the job having a big role in your anxiety. Maybe try something else when things go back to normal. You’re DEFINITELY not on your own. There are many ppl who suffer like we do!

[anxious_health in reply to FullofIt]

Exactly the same here - from the moment I open my eyes, my brain starts with the health worries and all day I sit and worry about about what symptoms I'm experiencing and what they could possibly be, then DR. Google comes in and I know I shouldn't, but I look for something to put my mind at ease which never works because I seem to only find the severe conditions which sends my brain into over-drive for the entire day and leaves me feeling depressed and not wanting to do anything.

The physical symptoms from anxiety are crazy, you are absolutely right! I didn't believe it was possible until I read into it and realised how much of a role it can play in how you feel.

Hoping the CBT will help, really do hope because it feels like that's all I have left to help break this cycle and help me manage but in the mean time I need to find something that will help break the anxious cycle.

Thank you for your support x

[Cardium in reply to anxious_health]

Im a health care worker too, and suffer from the same. Its too bad I have so much of medical knowledge as I can relate any small ache with the worst possible diagnosis. Moreover, I'm worried sick about my family members and common health conditions like diabetes and bp. Recently my mom noticed a lump in her neck but she has been putting off going to get it checked and that has been driving me CRAZY!!!. I have imagined every worse care scenarios associated with it and Im tired of living in fear of the unknown. I have strictly forbidden myself from Googling things...and it helps a little bit.

My condition was triggered after I got Covid infection 4 months back. I was living all alone and I was so scared.

Any advice on how to deal with this condition?