Hypochondria is ruining my life!

[Stay_strong85]

😣😟😢😭Please make it Stop!!!!!! 😳😳😳

[Sharon51]

It would be lovely if we had a switch to turn anxiety off ! hope your ok what's made it worse ? xx

[Stay_strong85 in reply to Sharon51]

Stress...tired of being in my situation. Can't find peace with it. Couldn't sleep at all...on edge all night.

[Hidden]

Hey Stay_strong85

Please don't despair, you know we're here, we hear your pain because we've felt the same, I wish more than anything that I had a magic wand or a super immediate solution for you and all other sufferers, I'd give it you in a heartbeat, please try and find a little comfort in knowing your struggle is known to so many, huge warm hugs xxx

[Stay_strong85 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. I just didn't sleep well and now am having one of the worst days ever. My anxiety is manifesting in horrid ways.

[Hidden in reply to Stay_strong85]

Being tired doesn't help, you know deep down your going to be ok, your safe, this will pass just as it always does, we're all here with you, just allow it to come n go and hang in there, try and imagine your fellow sufferers holding and squeezing your hand, xxxxx

[Stay_strong85 in reply to Hidden]

I feel like a STUPID CRAZY MENTAL CASE. And if you met me you would be surprised I am struggling this way. 😢I was a dental assistant for 11 years, supported myself, paid for my own living on my own, apartments...cars, and I comforted others so well with their fears in the dental setting, I was confident and bubbly. Moved in to take care of my grandmother who has dementia and now I am crushed and sick in the head!! I don't leave the house or my room. How did this happen???? I am fearful 24/7 and so upset at myself for letting myself become this. Scared of illness and death so much I don't even drive anymore. Well rarely. I want my life back. It is no one's fault but my own, but I simply couldn't manage. I want to survive this so I can say "I MADE IT!" But not sure I will make it. I feel like I am holding on so tight to the fear and the self punishment by not forgiving others or myself. Am I truly this mentally f ed up?????? I am only 31 years old and my life already feels over...even tho I know it isn't...please God give me my "normalcy" back. I feel such guilt.

[Hidden in reply to Stay_strong85]

You know only too well that this awful illness has no boundaries or preferences when it intrudes on people's lives, it doesn't care who or what you are, it just appears like a creepy monster, even though we are strangers it pains me to read how dreadful your feeling, I've been in that terrifying place myself, anxiety is so cold and cruel, we become fooled and convinced that the old life we enjoyed has gone forever, but this is nothing more than thoughts and fears, it's possible to get your life back it truly is, there's so many fully recovered people out there, living proof that this anxiety can be overcome, you must not call yourself crazy, a crazy person would not even be aware that anything was wrong, a crazy person wouldn't be explaining their life as you have, a crazy person wouldn't recognize anxiety, your just completely over sensitized and overwhelmed by these exhausting feelings/symptoms/thoughts and if you really think about it thats quite normal under the circumstances, your mind and body is tired, I don't know your full circumstances or treatment you may have tried? but please consider seeing your doctors, you just need support and guidance to overcome, you can do this, you can take back your life, you just need support with healing, its the illness, its NOT your fault, please please don't despair, your going to do this simply because you have too, xxxxx

[Stay_strong85 in reply to Hidden]

You made me smile my first genuine smile in a long time. And yes I have appointments set up already. I know I need help, and I want help. Thank you kindly. 😶

[Hidden in reply to Stay_strong85]

Your going to get through it, I'm pleased you smiled too wishing you the best x

[Beevee in reply to Hidden]

Great post Suzie482 👍👍

Stay Strong - there is nothing wrong with you. You are not broken, you are not going mad. It is just the anxiety tricking you in to thinking and feeling this way which I think you strongly suspect to be the case. This is good because it demonstrates to me that you can separate those thoughts and feelings from the real you and part of a process you go through when developing your attitude towards acceptance which is the cornerstone to recovery.

Please do not worry, the real you is still there, you are just buried beneath all the weird symptoms of anxiety and waiting to rise above it all. Just letting yourself think and feel everything without trying to fight it will see the (not so) old and confident you return. The beauty of it all is that you do not have to do anything special to recover other than to understand that it is just anxiety and to let it all happen, let it all go. Just be an observer to the thoughts and feelings (say "hello" to them and watch them come and go). Let them scare you and develop a "so what" attitude instead of "what if" which is you adding more fear and fueling the flames of anxiety. Anxiety is only excessive energy being released so don't get in the way of it by worrying about it or trying to get rid of it. The energy magnifies all your emotions, blows them all out of proportion. For example, something you used to feel a little guilty over and easily dismissed now becomes a huge unbearable burden. Even things that you thought mildly unpleasant, but again easily dismissed before anxiety got involved, are now complete show stoppers and shocking to the core.

Acceptance sounds easy, but know how difficult it all might seem when you are in the thick of it. However, if you know (and I think you do know) that it is all a pack of lies, it makes acceptance a lot easier. Acceptance won't happen straight away, it takes a bit of time to master but you will get there through practice and experience. It gets easier and easier and may reach the point where you truly welcome in the thoughts and feelings because you no longer care if they are there, or not. You don't have to be especially brave to get through it, we all have it within ourselves to learn to accept (not live with) anxiety and do nothing about it. As I have said in numerous other posts, it is all the trying to get rid of thoughts and feelings which keeps anxiety very much alive so do the opposite and do absolutely nothing about it and watch recovery come to you. Your mind and body will heal itself so don't even bother about thinking how you will get there. It happens automatically! 😊

Best wishes

Beevee

[Roma26 in reply to Beevee]

Recently you posted an interesting article ....a short one... With a long article. I really enjoyed reading it and somehow I lost it. Do you know what I mean. Thanks so much. This is for Beevee.

[Beevee in reply to Roma26]

Hi Roma

Think you might be referring to "Letter to myself. Nothing works." Think I posted it about a month ago and is on my profile page if you are able to look it up.

Regards

Beevee

[Roma26 in reply to Beevee]

Tnot sure how to do that.

[Sharon51]

I know it can get overwhelming to the point you just can't cope but it will pass just push the bad thought's and bring some positive thoughts in you've got through it before it will pass, sending big hug x

[Stay_strong85]

Yes it makes me hyperventilate.

[Stay_strong85 in reply to Stay_strong85]

Tired of being so scared that I feel I can't breathe. Ugh.

[Sharon51]

I know it's so hard we go through that many emotions no wonder our body's go into panic it's fear, anger , desperation , crying ! emotions are all over but just put your hands over your nose like your going to sneeze an hold them there an take deep breaths for as long as you need for the feeling to go , hope this helps x

[Stay_strong85 in reply to Sharon51]

Wow, that really works! 😥😊Thank you!

[Roma26 in reply to Sharon51]

Put a little peppermint oil on your hands and inhale......helps relax!

[Mrworrymaster]

You can make it, and you will get better. It just takes time.

Hypochondria is my biggest hurdle. The most simple advice I can give is don't fight it. Don't stress yourself by checking symptoms and comparing yourself to others. Don't search for issues or warnings that your body is failing you. The more you do, the more you feed the fear and fuel the anxiety cycle.

It's a tough road, but it's not impossible to overcome. Meditate, exercise, and accecpt that you're having a tough time right now.

You can't control the wind, but you can direct the sail.