Here's a new Health Anxiety: Tongue Issues?? Anyone else, or is this just a new one created by me?

[Mrworrymaster]

So I'm mostly off the ALS scares. Finally!!!!!!!

But, as Health Anxiety people know: when one symptom goes that means another one has appeared.

I haven't googled it, because I've sworn off googling and my health anxiety has improved immensely because of it. So i'm hoping to get some help from you lovely folks.

Ever focused on your tongue movements too much because of anxiety? I notices some white irritation on the side of my tongue a few days ago (probably from spicy food) and since then I began focusing on my tongue. Now, i'm having issues with "sh" noises and "ch" noises. It's like my tongue isn't working properly now.

Also, does the line in the middle of your tongue remain completely straight? Mine looks mostly perfectly straight, but when I stick it out I notice that the line towards the very front of it is a little crooked.

Your thoughts, comments, and similar experiences are always appreciated!

Thanks

[Maisie1]

Been there. Thought I had ALS for about 2 years. The more you focus on something the worse it will be. Normal people who have a slight health problem may worry for a short while then forget about it. Once it gets into our brain it goes into over load and so we suffer from sensitisation. I had headaches a couple of months ago and thought I had a brain tumour. I even started getting noises in my head and flashing lights. This escalated and I felt really ill. In the end I got the all clear but I still have some symptoms. I know how you feel but the worse thing is to keep checking. If it gets really bad see your GP and I am sure you will get the all clear. We always seem to go for the more rare or deadly diseases. When I thought I had ALS I was checking myself all the time. Can I hop on one foot, nearly broke my neck trying. Is one arm thinner than the other, have I got weakness. If you worry enough you will get symptoms. Our brains are very good at fooling us. I know it is hard but try and relax and don't speak to DR Google, he will make matters worse

[Mrworrymaster in reply to Maisie1]

I was hopping on one foot st 3am last month. Lol. Thank you for the response!

[Maisie1 in reply to Maisie1]

At one point I was I was trying to come down stairs backwards jumping with 2 feet on the step. This was another test to say you hadn't got ALS. Fell down stairs damaged my hip. Try explaining that at A+E

[Mrworrymaster in reply to Maisie1]

Haha. I'm sure you received quite the look from your Doc.

[Goldfish_]

When one symptom goes, another doesn't have to replace it. I'm sure you know that these descriptions of symptoms do not represent anything worrying or indeed any illness. However doubtless others will experience similar.

Excellent to stop googling.

[LaurieRose]

I think some things and anxious feelings we get are side effects of medication or/and lack of nutrients in our diets. Try to focus on maintaing a healthy balance and find another purpose in life and your tongue sensations will probably disappear. Best wishes.

[Mrworrymaster]

Thanks for the comments and feedback. I'm almost positive my tongue is getting irritated because I'm focusing on it too much and causing it to hit my teeth. When I was worried about my breathing I screwed up my natural breath and hyperventilated all the time. When I was worried about my heart, my heart rate jumped all the time. When I was worried about ALS I felt weak and my muscles twitched. When I was worried about Parkinsons, my pinky twitched. When I was worried about a tumor, I had constant headaches. Whew....what a list. haha.

I guess the point is that when we overly focus on things our body does naturally we either mess up the automatic process, or tense up, or just basically throw them out of wack. And when I say we,,I mean me

[Maisie1]

I have all the same things you have had. It is a nightmare

[Mrworrymaster in reply to Maisie1]

It's def not too much fun. I'm constantly asking myself internally "what if,, what if something really is wrong with me and all the doc's visits, scans, blood work, etc. is all wrong"?

[Lynl]

Ok , you sound like me, please just breathe. Your tongue is fine, the white irritation on the sides is from biting the skin with your teeth if scraping it with your teeth. The line down the middle does not have to be straight, and you are getting hypersensitive about the sounds because you are putting it in your head and believing it . You are fine. We create our symptoms in our heads and make them come alive, now we have to make them go away in the same way.

[Mrworrymaster in reply to Lynl]

Thank you for that Lynl. I woke this morning incredibly depressed and feeling just plain defeated. Of course, the issues with the tongue have subsided and now I'm back to worrying about my arms, and perceived weakness/shaking. I'm just so tired from constantly worrying. If it's not my breath/tongue/ heart...or whatever else I can cook up, it's something else. I've been worrying about my arms now for months. I just feel like giving up sometimes. It's hard.

[Lynl in reply to Mrworrymaster]

I totally understand I am trying to not obsess but I scratched my chest by accident after I took a shower and it was like a little pimple bled and I'm checking the skin around it wandering if it's done skin cancer .ugh it sucks.

[SER14]

So.. health anxiety! It's the worst, seriously. Of course your tongue is fine and you don't have ALS. There, it's easy for me to say but now you just have to believe it. My health anxiety of the day? Focusing too much on my eyesight. Why does it feel like I have so many floaters in front of my eyes today? A few black spots here and there. I'll probably be freaking out about this all day long. I shouldn't google anything right?

[Mrworrymaster in reply to SER14]

There's the irony of anxiety. When you describe your eye issues to me. I think "what are your talking about, that's crazy talk, floaters are normal. You're just focusing too much on it."

BUTTTTT----it's so real to you.

When I describe my ALS fears, you think: "that's crazy. Of course you don't have that!" But it's so real to me.

I hate health anxiety. I hate feeling like I'm crazy and obsessive. I hate the fear every day. Dammit I hate anxiety!

[SER14 in reply to Mrworrymaster]

Wait.. so you do have floaters? It's not just me? I totally just googled it and it says I'm a 75 year old if I have that symptom lol. Just being hypersensitive to it. You are right.. it all sounds like crazy talk until you are the one dealing with it.

[Mrworrymaster in reply to SER14]

Sure, I have floaters from time to time. I just don't pay attention to them. But then again, I never overly focused on them and googled the symptoms.

My favorite google quote for health anxiety: The internet only shows you what you're looking for, and you're looking for all the wrong things.

[SER14 in reply to Mrworrymaster]

The worst is that worrying about this crap, sets off anxiety and then it's just a vicious cycle that is hard to get out of. I get anxious so I have symptoms.. the symptoms freak me out so I become more anxious. Sigh..

[Lynl in reply to SER14]

No dont do it😳😊. I did that one too and as I just looked up from my phone I saw floaters too, I'm over do for my exam and I'm never overdo for anything. They are normally not concerning at all. Ho do something relaxing. Like wAlk or if you have a fur baby take him or her for a ride. Get your mind off it . I know it's not easy. I d been looking in The mirror a few times now.i would love to feel completely normal and just go about my day .

[SER14 in reply to Lynl]

Well I'm at work now so can't really do anything relaxing. But from the google search I did do, it didn't sounds too concerning. And I'm pretty sure I don't have a detached retina I need to worry about. Hopefully throughout the day my feeling of anxiety over this will pass. It just sucks that once you focus on something.. that's all you notice.

[Mrworrymaster in reply to SER14]

Amen to that! I've been focusing on my arms, and strength now for months. It's agonizing to overly examine every movement.

[Lynl in reply to SER14]

That's so true , have a great stress free day