Health Anxiety

[Bermudagal]

New to group, hoping this is a step towards learning to live with health anxiety. I have had HA for many many years, but it has reared its ugly head again this month with full gusto. My husband went into hospital for a short stay procedure in August, and spent 28 days, 5 on a ventilator, in septic shock because his small bowel was nicked. My Adelaine kicked in and I became superwoman for almost 3 months now. He had to walk, feed himself, the works, and we are alone, no one to help. I am still working, and now started to worry about ME! But not in a good way. Running to Dr. Google, testing, ultrasounds, antibiotics, canceling plans. I am spinning out of control.

I do see a Psychologist and thank God for her, but I hate feeling DREAD every morning. Just glad to be part of a group that may understand.

[Agora1]

Hi Bermudagal and Welcome to a caring understanding site.

Oh boy do we understand morning fear and health anxiety.

Anticipation in waking up to it each morning can precipitate the feeling

even more so. It usually starts when our life gets out of control. It's as if

we are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Usually the last thing on our mind are the problems of the day and what we

have been through. They play over and over in our mind causing us to fall

asleep in unsettled rest.

Come 3-4am Cortisol and Adrenaline kick in and start the ball rolling for

us to wake up in fear. Once fear begins, unless we find ways to lower our

stress, fear begets fear and the cycle has begun.

On this site you will find others like yourself who have struggled and found

solutions to this feeling. (including myself)

You just took the first step forward in regaining control of your life. We will

walk beside you helping you with each step in reaching your goal. It's going

to be okay eventually. xx

[Bermudagal in reply to Agora1]

Thank You. The word "Understanding" is not one you hear too often❤️

[Agora1 in reply to Bermudagal]

I know that others don't understand what we go through. Family and friends alike

cannot comprehend the emotional pain we go through. It is a community like this

where everyone has experienced the struggle in where we get true comfort because

we do "Care". I'm glad you are here Bermudagal :)xx

P.S. By the way, I too struggled for many many years but came out the other

end. I am now passing my success forward as others on this forum are doing.

[Bermudagal in reply to Agora1]

I appreciate your kindness. I woke up this morning with dread again. Am I going to be ok?

[Agora1 in reply to Bermudagal]

Bermudagal, you ARE going to be okay. As others including myself have found

that with time we can change our way of thinking to a more positive approach.

It's never too late to start. As Anxiety took time to develop to this point, it will

take time to retrain our subconscious mind. It can work. Remember that

what you believe is what you get. xx

[Bermudagal in reply to Agora1]

Can I ask how you came out the other end? I woke up afraid again?

[Bermudagal]

I did, I amazed myself. I was at hospital every day for 28 days, at 7:30 for nursing switch, to hear how his night went, some nurse made the mistake of stating he thought my husband might have brain damage-I demanded a CT scan...so off he went with tubes and ventilator and 4 nurses and me down for a scan. I didnt leave until 7:30 at night. We just recently went to see his Pulmonologist. He said---"Oh theres Miss Bossy Pants" My husband had no idea but by the 5th day on the vent, it was their 3rd try and I willed that vent off him. Yes, so why have I all of a sudden turned to a bowl of Jello? Afraid of everything now?

[shopaholic22 in reply to Bermudagal]

I am also like this. I have turned into someone who is afraid of everything. I am trying my best to think of times when I could do so much more. I have schizoaffective disorder which was diagnosed in 2020 so I have to be on antianxiety and anti psychotic medication. Before 2020 I was fine. So at one end I have these phychotic thoughts and the other end I have major depressive disorder. I have always been an anxious person but nothing that would require medication. Now I worry that how will I take care of myself if something happens to my husband. Luckily my son is turning 18 soon and he is good at taking care of himself. I exercise every day since I need to lose weight. I have diabetes and high cholesterol.

[CLB1125]

Welcome glad you found us! You can check with your DHS office, they may know of a program that could help you. My advice stay awake from dr google, he can mess with your sanity. I tend to use humor to release anxiety. So don’t mind me.

[Bermudagal in reply to CLB1125]

Thank you. I used to be humorous !

[Nona00]

I am so sorry to hear you are going through all that. I have also struggled with MA for a very long time. Check out the anxiety guy on YouTube. He has a meditation video for medical anxiety and it has been a life saver. Check it out it may help.

[designguy]

There are a lot of good comments here and I want to add that you might check out the youtubes of Paige Pradko and also Mathew Codde at Restored Minds, both are therapists who had health anxiety and healed themselves and now offer good, clear practical help and advice. You may also have some degree of OCD which can cause or contribute to health anxiety, both of them did and offer info and help for that also.

I have some mild OCD and it kicks in when i'm having health anxiety.

[Worrier1960]

Oh boy, do I know the early AM dread.