Health Anxiety

[nalia2020]

Ugh health anxiety literally sucks so much. I’ve been tired all day and then I was laying down and got dizzy and it freaked me out so much that I called one of those health advice nurses and they told me I should probably see my doctor in a few days and then I called my mom to ask her what I should do and we determined that I’m most likely feeling this way because I haven’t eaten lunch yet and I’m a little dehydrated and I also drank some Irish Black tea which has caffeine in it plus I drank it on an empty stomach and that just makes the caffeine effects even worse. I just wish my health anxiety could go away so that I stop worrying about every little thing that seems different about the way I’m feeling.

[Hidden]

Nooooo more caffeine!! Believe me bbg.

[nalia2020 in reply to Hidden]

Does that really help??

[langedechu]

it's a good idea to see a health professional if you are worried. best of luck. stay safe x

[Jeff1943]

nalia2020, at least you've worked out it's health anxiety. So you understand it's your sensitised nerves talking and not some bug or tumour. Always confirm it with your doctor which should give you reassurance.

And yet, we know all that but still jump to the worst case scenario when a sore muscle or stomach ache comes our way.

You see, anxiety disorder means that we've been putting up with too much stress and our nerves have got kinda over sensitised. So every ache and twitch becomes exaggerated by a factor of ten. That's what a sensitised nervous system does. And we always add the flash of second fear to first fear pumping out more fear hormones which maintains and worsens the sensitive state of our nerves.

I say, stop stressing and obsessing about your symptoms. Instead give your whole attention to your hyper nervous system that runs through every part of your body. If you can calm your nerves and reclaim your quiet mind then all the not-for-real symptoms will disperse like the morning mist.

You say you wish your health anxiety would go away. Why should it when you're constantly fuelling your nerves with fear and endless worry? You must make it go away, and you can. I give you my personal guarantee because millions have cured themselves over the years.

Here's how.

1. Face the fact that your problem is anxiety disorder caused by nervous exhaustion and over sensitisation. No your doctor didn't "miss something". And the caffeine in one or two cups of tea is not the cause of your distress. You are the cause of your distress.

2. Accept the bad feelings and strange thoughts for the moment. Don't fight them, fighting causes you more stress. Agree to co-exist with the symptoms of anxiety for a while. Let them come and remind yourself you have nothing to fear and by Accepting them you will drain them of their strength and power.

3. Float through your day. Get off of that couch and on with your day. Too tired and weak? Imagine yourself being carried forward effortlessly by some invisible force. No task too daunting when you can float through college, work, socialising or doing those chores.

4. Let time pass. Don't look for recovery every few minutes, yes those aches and strange ideas are still there, it's early days. Accept them as an uninvited guest who will be leaving shortly and you can help them on their way by refusing to fight them.

These six words can put you back in charge of your life: you know the symptoms of anxiety are imposters and it's time you took back control.

[Hidden in reply to Jeff1943]

I really needed this today; great advice as always!

[nalia2020 in reply to Jeff1943]

Wow you have no idea how much this helped. For some reason I didn’t get any notifications about the replies but reading this right now is like a breakthrough thank you so much

[Amatrick7039]

I was diagnosed with GAD. Not even sure what that entitles? But I've been to the e.r. so much I know the nurses names. The dizziness scares me so much. It just never goes away. Does it go away for you?

[Jeff1943 in reply to Amatrick7039]

Have you had your dizziness investigated by an ear doctor also called a 'dizzy doctor'? Dizziness is a common symptom of anxiety disorder, usually of the light headed, unsteady type.

The fear it causes when you feel it release more adrenaline and cortisol: your mind senses your anxiety and thinks you are in danger and need those hormones for 'fight and flight'. But these days you're not going anywhere and the fear hormones just feed your jangled nerves maintaining the over sensitivity of your nervous system.

Break the vicious circle of dizziness causing fear causing adrenaline causing more dizziness causing more fear and so on and on. If only you could do that you could starve your sensitive nerves of that that keeps cursing you with symptoms. And that includes the jelly legs and vocal difficulty too.

You can you know. Just by accepting for the time being the dizziness which you know is harmless (though annoying), replace fighting it with acceptance. And in the fullness of time, gradually at first, your nerves will settle and the day will come when you stop and say: "Hey, I haven't felt dizzy for days now! Praise be to God."

[Whiskers16 in reply to Jeff1943]

I’m really trying to practice these things but the symptoms change from minute to the next .. so hard.I’m working on trying to manage intrusive thoughts. But it’s not easy

[Jeff1943 in reply to Whiskers16]

It is difficult, specially in the beginning when we may only 'glimpse' the desired direction. But it is still far less difficult than putting up with anxiety disorder every day.

[Whiskers16 in reply to Jeff1943]

I’ll keep going... just wish life would stop throwing me curve balls.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Whiskers16]

We are allowed to have intrusive thoughts. They are annoying but do not harm us. Accept them just as all the symptoms of anxiety must be accepted. True acceptance is not the same as 'wishing' they would stop coming.

[Sillysausage234]

Don’t skip meals