Struggling with Health Anxiety

[SteepinginSoil]

Hi all,

I'm new to this group and I am glad to have found this resource. I've been enduring an ongoing struggle with severe health anxiety. Specifically, I have been absolutely terrified of getting a cancer diagnosis since I was maybe 12 years old or so. There's not much rationality behind this fear. I haven't lost anyone to cancer, I haven't had cancer myself ever, its not particularly prevalent in my family. But for some reason its become the fixation of my anxiety. I don't think about it all the time, but the problem is that I have a long-term autoimmune disorder (diagnosed when I was 20) which necessitates me having lots of medical tests, blood work, etc. Getting these tests causes me great anxiety no matter how routine they are, and sometimes even the idea of reading or hearing my results sends me into a panic, as I'm always "convinced" that they've found cancer. Ironically, I don't have anxiety around the implications of the disease I actually do have, but that's anxiety for you. Anyways, I've been avoiding tests and doctor's appointments and stopped taking my most recently prescribed med because I couldn't even bring myself to communicate with the doctor anymore due to the tremendous anxiety. Just wondering if anyone else has experience with this type of anxiety, and/or has found effective ways of pushing through it. Thanks for reading!

- Matt

[Ellamaye]

I personally don't have my main anxiety about my health but have seen these worries on here before so I hope you take some comfort your not alone

[SteepinginSoil in reply to Ellamaye]

Thanks Ellamaye I always take comfort in knowing that

[FB0704]

Hi, I am dealing with something similar as you are, and to the point where I have doubted doctors and thinking the worst. What has helped me is having a support system. I talk about the way I’m feeling and if I need to cry, I cry. I have different people to talk to because I get different perspectives and it helps me so much. I am not sure if you believe in God, but I thought I’d shared this since my number one thing that helps me is prayer. I listen to podcast that teach me prayers, I read books, I find comfort in knowing that people from the Bible struggled also with anxiety, fear, doubt, and God was merciful and was always there for them, just like he is for us. This has been very helpful to me, but in addition I am also taking medication. I am here to talk if you ever need someone. I will keep you in my prayers.

[SteepinginSoil in reply to FB0704]

Thank you FB0704 I rely on my higher power as part of my process addiction recovery and perhaps it’s wise for me to allow this power to work in these other areas of my life as well. Much appreciated.

[designguy]

My anxiety was mostly social anxiety but occasionally it would morph into health anxiety, I also had some OCD which apparently can contribute to health anxiety. I also found medication helpful. My suggestion is that you check out the youtubes and websites of Paige Pradko and also Matthew Codde at Restored Minds. They are both therapists who had health anxiety/OCD and healed themselves and are now helping others. They both offer good, practical clear advice and have affordable programs if you are interested. Another really helpful thing is learning and practicing simple mindfulness meditation to be able to start learning to observe your thoughts and let them flow in and out of your mind and not attach to them or believe them, because it's the belief about the thought that is causing your anxiety, not the thought.

[SteepinginSoil in reply to designguy]

Thank you designguy I will definitely check those out. I haven’t known anybody in my life or on the internet that deals with these specific problems. I will keep trying to get myself to regularly engage in meditative practices (thus far I haven’t made it a habit). Thanks again.

[designguy in reply to SteepinginSoil]

You're welcome, I hope you find them helpful. There is a lot of good info available for free on youtube just do a search for healing health anxiety. The more you learn and educate yourself about it and how to heal it, the better off you will be and the quicker you will heal.

[Worrier1960]

I have similar issues. Take the meds. Go see a doctor and ask which, if any tests, are needed.