Health anxiety help?

[emilayformat]

Hello, all. Admittedly, I am a hypochondriac. Last year, I went into the ER because I thought I had appendicitis, and it turned out to be psychosomatic related to my anxiety. Recently, however, I convinced myself that I have leukemia. I have a pain that comes in my arm every few months, which my doctor related to the crazy Louisiana weather. I also tend to not stay hydrated. On top of that, I have a pain under my ribcage that concerns me. However, a Tums helped quite a bit. Anyway, does anyone have any advice on how to cope with this? Cancer is one of the biggest fears that I have, so any kind of advice would be awesome.

[Lbk64]

Hi Emilayformat. For someone with health anxiety it's easier said than done to not worry about physical symptoms but, try not to worry about every little twinge. Our minds are very powerful and can play tricks on us in an attempt to keep us worried. It doesn't do it to be malicious. It does it to protect us.

My thoughts are that your muscles are hurting because you are stressed and muscles fatigue from worry. We tense them up without even realising which creates pain in all sorts of places.

With your pain under the ribs, I'd say you have trapped wind If tums helped. Again, anxiety can cause a lit of digestive upsets.

Try to do some meditations on dealing with health anxiety and changing your thoughts on the symptoms. There are plenty on YouTube. Try NOT to google your symptoms. This makes the worry worse.

I do know what you are going through. It does get better.

[violetgenie]

Hi I am so sorry you are going through this anxiety!

It does not sound like you have leukemia. A lack of enough water can cause body pains for sure. All of your muscles need the hydration so they can work. Can you try to work on that a bit at a time? Maybe that could relieve the stomach pressure you are feeling.

Big hugs!

[Icanbeathis2016]

Yes same here. I am a hypochondriac so says my boyfriend. I was in the clinics, urgent cares, er so much and I would convince myself I had the worse illnesses. I started doing better after my last doc visit in December and now the last month it seems like things us going backwards again like I'm back worried afraid and thinking the worst again. I couldn't help it but I had to go to an urgent care today to do blood work again because these past few weeks were the worst for me mentally and I have no peace. I wish us the best through this.