Living with health anxiety

[Alskib]

Hi all am new here but have had health anxiety for most of my life.

My condition started in child hood because my mother had cancer and also munchausen by proxy where she would make me ill and take me to the doctors.

I found out when I was 17 that she never had cancer and it was a lie but the damage was done......

My health anxiety is always cancer related.

Found this site when looking for help.... am hoping to find support and others living with this condition hope to give advice and get support and advice

Much love x

[Gina-wen]

I'm so sorry to read this...do these parents even realise the damage they cause? My own health anxiety is mainly controlled now, I understand totally how frightening an episode can be. xx

[Alskib in reply to Gina-wen]

Thanks for reading my post and taking time to reply......No they don't realise well my mum definitely doesn't.

On the positive my own childhood experiences have taught me so much.

My biggest fear was to not love my children in a normal healthy way but am happy to say that I do..... I also never take them to the doctors unless absolutely necessary

its funny how we can be such a mess within ourselves but so capable and wise with others!

Can I ask how you have managed to control your health anxiety?

x

[Gina-wen in reply to Alskib]

You're right...I'm a Mum to two lads - now 18 & 20 - and my childhood experiences taught me what not to do to your kids!

My health anxiety was massive at one point, the 'voice' in my head would suggest all manner of life-threatening conditions...long story short? I stopped watching any health-related TV programmes (stopped watching 'Casualty' back in 1998..it used to feed my fears). I also stopped watching the news. I realised - that after many years of going to bed fearing I would die in my sleep - that I had a 100% success rate of 'waking up'. I thought "why do I allow this cruel voice to frighten me, why do I listen to it when it's talking rubbish...it's lying to me!"....so, I stopped listening to it. All it is is 'thoughts' NOT FACT...I replaced the thoughts with self-compassion, I faced it head on and decided to speak to myself in a kinder way.

I still have 'wobbles' but I quickly recognise it and stop the thoughts as soon as I realise. I hope this makes sense to you. xx

[Alskib in reply to Gina-wen]

Thanks for all this~ I like the idea of basically just letting go of the thoughts and being kinder to yourself

I try and distract myself and keep as busy as I can.

Some days it works some days it doesn't.

Take care xx