Health anxiety..

[Nicciconnell]

This is my first time trying anything like this. So I'm hoping it works a bit because I am ruining my life with this anxiety. Everyday I convince myself I am dying. Cancer is the main thing I get paranoid about . I suffer a few symptoms most days. Slight pressure and numbness in my temples and face my vision becomes strained headaches tight chest along with pains going around my chest and into my back. anyway regardless of what symptoms I have I think it's the end. I am terrible for looking up symptoms and as we all know that never ends well! This worry is taking over my life every pain I get I start to prepare that it's the start of me dying. I can't live like this anymore. I used to be so happy cheery and full of life. I got married last year and I have 2 small children. I have become constantly down and on edge every single day all I do is worry I panic it really has ruined my life. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm at my gp non stop and have now convinced myself that they will have a mark next to my name to warn them about my worrying therefore they don't really look into your symptoms. Please someone reassure me I'm not alone. What can I do that will help. I'm at my whits end. Thanks in advance

[melc77]

Hi Nicci,

You are not alone! I also frequently convince myself that I have cancer, or that I am dying. Any weird pain or sensation in my body, and my mind immediately jumps to "it must be cancer." I know I am being ridiculous most of the time, but still, that is where my mind goes. I am a nurse, and what often helps me is to imagine that a patient is coming to me and telling me about her (my) symptoms. I can then look at it from a medical standpoint to try to decide if it is just anxiety, or something I should actually call the doctor about. For example, how long have I been having the strange feeling in my bladder? A day? Cancer would cause symptoms for a long time, not just a day or two. So it is most likely not that. Try to fully relax (deep breaths, meditation, guided relaxation, meds, etc.), and then check in with your body.

Are you seeing anyone for your anxiety issues? If they are intruding on your ability to function, it may be time to see someone aside from your GP.

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You're not alone. I've been chugging along for ten years this way. Therapy and medications have made quality of life much better. Therapy is a big commitment but very worth it. It hasn't ceased my worrying but has helped me work through it better and be aware of my triggers and just made living easier. Make sure you find a GP and therapist who understand. My GP is great. He knows my first question when I see him about something is 'do I have cancer'. Now I don't have to ask. He checks me out, runs tests where needed (so we don't blame everything on anxiety and miss something) and knows me well enough to say, 'don't worry, it's not cancer' without me asking anymore. Lol. He also doesn't treat me like a hypercondriac - as he knows enough about anxiety to understand that the symptoms I feel are real. Not made up. Nothing worse then being treated like your symptoms aren't 'real'. Some doctors understand mental health issues better then others. Find yourself someone who understands.

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PS. Something that I found helpful was when I was really bad I'd take a Valium. This helped me discern the difference between symptoms from anxiety and symptoms from other illnesses. If it was anxiety related the Valium helped. This especially helped me because my symptoms constantly changed with anxiety. I had burning feet at one stage - when I'd take Valium the feeling would go away. It helped me stop Dr Googling everything.

[Nicciconnell]

Thanks so much guys. Over the last few days I've been feeling so much worse so I'm going to write a list of everything I've felt and thought and head to my gp 2moro with my husband and tell them everything. I've tried before so I'm a bit worried it won't help much but this time I'm going to insist I can't really go on like this anymore. It does help to know I'm not alone, I hope like you both that I can start to manage it more healthily because right now everything is pretty bad! It's means so much that u guys replied xx