health related anxiety

[Swim4]

Hi, I’m new on here so not really sure how it works.

mice been suffering from GAD for 24 years now. Close to the menopause and have 4 grown up children and I worry about them and their happiness and health all the time.

my biggest fear is health/cancer and unfortunately seem to have passed this fear onto them.

[emmi331]

Hi, Swim, and welcome to our forum! You do not mention whether you are on medication or have had therapy for your GAD. Both can be helpful.

People with GAD tend to worry a lot (raising hand!). I have to remind myself of the old saying, "Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere. "

If you are not in counseling or therapy, I hope you will consider it in order to get a handle on your chronic worrying. If you read the posts here, you will see that many others share this tendency, which is basically a form of fear.

In the meantime, keep coming back here and keep us posted!😊

[Swim4 in reply to emmi331]

Thank you very much for your reply. I take seroplex 15mg and have been for about 4 years now, before that I was taking fluroxetine and alprazalam, don’t feel any really work if I’m honest. I live in France and although I can speak French seeing a councilor here isn’t the same as in the uk. I seem to spend most days hoping it’ll pass without any negative event if that makes sense and it’s exhausting and I feel my days are wasted due to worry. My biggest fear is health and the slightest thing sends me into a panick, should mention I’m a qualified nurse and so, as my mom says a little knowledge is dangerous. Anyway thanks for getting back to me. X

[Hidden in reply to emmi331]

I love the rocking chair analogy. So true😀

[Swim4 in reply to Hidden]

never heard it before and yes has quite an impact x

[punkster]

Hello. I, too, suffer from health anxiety, but it is not projected to my adult children but focused on myself. I was already in therapy for GAD when Covid hit and I developed health anxiety. I was so anxious that I had to take benzos for a short time and then an antidepressant (which I recently weaned off). I had Covid 10 weeks ago, and it seems to have helped reduce my health anxiety. Therapy has really helped me and it has given me tools I need to reduce my anxiety. A therapist can help you work through this. If you already see a therapist and you are not experiencing relief, find another therapist. I have also found that self care makes a difference. I practice meditation, try to exercise regularly, go on walks, take baths, play the piano, read books, lose myself in my work, etc.

[Swim4 in reply to punkster]

Thank you for your reply. I don’t feel I’ve passed on GAD to the children but more on the health side of things but then I guess most people these days worry from time to time about health. I take seroplex 15mg daily and I’ve tried counseling but didn’t really help. I did get into swimming which did help but I’ve got a shoulder injury since last august so unfortunately sports out for the moment. I find worrying is exhausting and my mind almost searches for something to worry about if that makes sense xx

[Hidden]

hi Swim4 and welcome! Worrying is my specialty. I like to think of it as problem solving that never seems to produce any answers. Like you, I have GAD and health anxieties as well. Doctor always reminds me of the stress we put on our body when worrying and how this has such a negative effect on health in general. I liked emmi331’s analogy of worrying being like a rocking chair. Whatever would we do if we stopped worrying?! I don’t have any magic solutions for you but just wanted you to know that I’m right here worrying with you. 😩

[timmothysmith01]

When you worry so much about being sick or getting sick that it starts to control your life, you have health anxiety. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is connected to it.

[Neuromom]

I’m sorry. I’m suffering from this also.