Daughters health anxiety

[Footello]

Hello everyone - I need your help. My lovely daughter who is 33 suffers from terrible health anxiety - she’s very together has a lovely family - she’s a brilliant mum and very pragmatic about her kids health but her own health issues are off the scale. Its driving me and her family crackers - . I try to be supportive - this is where I need your help - but every day I wake up to 10/12 watsaaps from her convinced she’s got either a brain tumour (headache) or cancer.( a blood test result for thyroid triggered that) - she’s inconsolable and asks me about it all day. She’s seen a neurologist about her head ( this was 6 weeks of her convincing herself she would be having a brain scan,crying, shaking ) and he told her she was fine and explained that people get headaches - and miraculously since that consultation the headaches have gone! She’s been referred to a psychiatrist - on Feb 11 - I know it’s real to her and so terrifying but how can I help her. How can I be supportive? She’s driving us all mad with this anxiety and then she just snaps out of it whilst I’m on the floor wondering if she really is very ill! 🙄

[witherrae]

That's rough for everyone involved. My anxiety isn't health related and I tend to keep to myself when I'm freaking out so I don't know how much help I can be. My dad did a bit of research into my mental illnesses to try to understand me a little better which helped a lot. He's also always asking me about things I'm learning in therapy and if there's anything he can do to help me, which means a lot to me.Remember that you need to take care of yourself too. It can be draining to be someone's support and taxing on your own mental health.

[lillyofthevalley37]

It's a difficult one and this problem seems to be on the rise and covid seems to feed into it Your daughter seems to be reassured by health professionals maybe she could go under hypnosis to help her health anxiety? Paul Mckenna is a well known hypnotherapist and has made many cds which your daughter may find helpful

I have read good reviews of Dominic Knight a hypnotherapist on Harley st London

[froggymom88]

It is so difficult for everyone involved but I'm glad the doctor has cleared her of any serious illness. It sounds like she might be in need of some attention. I would remind her of what the doctor said each time she brings it up and then redirect her attention. Maybe talk about fun event coming up or plan one. I will keep her in my prayers.