health anxiety

[augustine02]

recently i’ve been having severe health anxiety. it just started a few months ago, i worry about EVERYTHING. i google my symptoms for reassurance and all it does is absolutely terrify me and it hurts me so so much. does anyone have any tips or advice on how to make myself feel better when i’m having an anxiety attack about my health??

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

First things firsts: stop with Dr. Google. It's terrible. I know this because I've done it too.

It'll have you thinking you are dying of everything.

Plus anxiety has a way of mimicking symptoms. If you look up something for 1 thing and start reading whatever illness it gives you along with other symptoms that could be present with this illness, you'll start feeling those other symptoms too! Which makes it terrible. That's why stop with Dr. Google.

Next if you are concerned with your health, you can start by making a doctor's appointment. Go get a physical done. To rule out anything wrong with you. That way when it comes back that your heart is good and lungs are good. It'll give you peace of mind and you can work on the real problem. Which is in your mind and it's called anxiety.

Anxiety can lie it's butt off to you. Give you panic attacks that you think you are about to die. Shaking hands, tingling in the limbs, sweaty palms or just sweating in general, nausea, dry mouth, lump in the throat which can then lead to nausea, a pounding heart etc.

But noticed despite feeling these awful sensations, you are still in the land of the living. Your heart is a very powerful organ. It can handle the racing heart. Your lungs won't forget to breathe. Your brain won't allow that. Remember that. Your brain needs you. So it won't go kaput on you. Also you have your age on your side. Like it's really rare for a person at 21 to have Afib.

I have some books you might want to checkout that have helped me with my health anxiety.

Dare: A New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks by Barry McDonagh

Hope and Healing for your Nerves by Dr Claire Weekes.

If you like an app Dare by Barry McDonagh. The free version works just as well. Also if you buy his book you can. Get access to the paid version of app for free.

Wishing you healing and peace 🫂 ❤️

[Amiwrong]

I was going to say that sounds like ocd and then I saw that you have it. But I’ve read some say it is from Anxiety and not ocd. Do you know which is correct? Perhaps knowing the root cause may change how you would deal with it?? Maybe?

What about distractions? If you can distract yourself for 5 min, and then 10min, and so on?

Is it like a feeling that you have to try and snap yourself out of it? With anxiety they gave me tips to put my face in ice water, or to ‘shake it off’ by shaking each body part. It helped my mind to go elsewhere from the place where it was ruminating.

[secrets22]

I sadly do this all the time and scare myself witless, and most of my symptoms are triggered by other concerns, and it builds up into a terrible state, so much so i want it all to end.

[b1b1b1]

Do you actually have any medical or physical problems? If so, as CL3V3R-G1RL suggests, see a doctor to rule out any significant problem. If there is a problem, get it treated. If there are more minor physical problems that are worrying you, you can also get them checked out as well. Also, find a doctor that you trust and feel comfortable with. Otherwise, as she suggests, stop googling, and look into therapy for your anxiety.

[augustine02 in reply to b1b1b1]

i’ve been having some issues with my mouth, i’m so scared to go to the dr. and find out what it actually is. i’ve been terrifying myself so much though.

[b1b1b1 in reply to augustine02]

Well, there is only one way to resolve the problem and that is, even though you are scared, to go to the doctor or dentist and find out what if anything is wrong. It is more likely than not to be a treatable problem and you will feel much better emotionally after you see the doctor.

[majones_0608]

Google or relying on the internet to diagnose you is not exactly reliable. I used to do that too and the doctors told me to stop right away. It just makes you worry more which can actually make your health worse. I know that to be true because it made my health worse. The internet even had me thinking I was pregnant years ago, but it was not true at all. I have not ever been pregnant. So my advice to you is to stop with asking the internet AI systems to tell you what you have and go to the doctor if you are sick. If you can't get there for whatever reason then there is an online doctor through some offices that can help you with some cases. If it something they need to see then you will have to go there. My doctor has online options, but who knows about yours. NO MORE internet AI fake doctors!

[designguy]

You might try the websites and youtubes of Paige Pradko and Mathew Codde at Restored MInds. They both are therapists who had OCD and health anxiety, healed themselves and now help others heal. Both have good clear advice and info and even have affordable programs available.