Health Anxiety

[Jwilcock]

I’m really keen to hear from others with health anxiety & your experiences. I am really struggling with it & struggle that all my physical symptoms can be due to anxiety. I’ve had tests galore, MRI’s, seen a neurologist & they tell me it’s anxiety yet I can’t take their word for it. I’m still convinced it’s MS. Got the shakes, dizzy, fuzzy head, hot, weak right side, strange feelings over my arms, heart pounding, etc. Does anybody relate to this?

[sunrisesunset]

Health Anxiety is that negative voice in my head that tells me I'm sick or dying. I've had multiple scares myself including MS. I haven't had as many tests or referrals as you.

If it's a new symptom, I wait 2-3 weeks before seeing a doctor. I set a reminder on my phone and then tell the negative voice I am delaying my anxiety.

If it's a fear like MS, and you've had tests, then maybe it's time to accept that it isn't MS. I've had an MS fear pop up for years now. I started taking vitamins and my symptoms went away or improved. Would MS do that? Anxiety and deficiencies can affect our bodies just like MS.

Imagine the worst case scenario. Most people with MS don't match the horror stories you see. They change their lifestyle and diet to improve, maintain their current condition or even live life like the old days. MS is not the end of the world.

It's time to trust the doctors. Sometimes the body can malfunction like a machine for no reason. Bodies aren't perfect. I understand the frustration of not knowing why, but I feel happy that they didn't find anything sinister e.g. tumours, lesions, cancer, etc.

The doctors did their part. You can keep looking for answers yourself. That's what I did. Experiment and see if it really is anxiety. Try techniques to reduce stress and anxiety e.g meditation, exercise, etc. Get blood tests to see if you're deficient. Consider changing your diet e.g. cutting sugar intake. Remember that some symptoms go away by themselves over time for reasons unknown.

[Jwilcock in reply to sunrisesunset]

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. X

[Hidden]

Like you I have had many tests. I'm about to get a neurology exam for my headaches I fear aneurysm doc says it's migranes.I just got 2 ekg and an echo done. All are good but of course when I saw my echo results I started asking my doc about each thing that was listed in the results. He told me none are serious and echos are never 100% normal the exam records everything about your heart and the valves. But of course I'm an over thinker and I worry, I left the result papers with him on purpose because I knew that if I took them i would be googling each thing on it. I always get dizzy, lightheaded and come near fainting like you, specially when I go out, throat and chest flutters are the worst, I even changed my diet that's how much health anxiety I have(I cheat sometimes though). I understand how you feel. I too wonder how can this just be anxiety???. But it's something I need to deal with and not let it over come me

[Jwilcock in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, it can be so hard & cruel. Take care & thanks for taking the time to reply. X

[CopingwithEx]

Everything you are describing sounds like me! The amount of times I've been in a&e convinced I'm having a brain hemorage or heart attack! Mad how anxiety can make you feel a certain way and give such strong physical symptoms along with it, you're not alone !

[Jwilcock in reply to CopingwithEx]

Sorry you feel this way but certainly glad I’m not alone. Take care. Xx

[Tonyhope]

I have had those same exact symptoms call me 7736001987 Tony

[Morgjt]

I get literally all of these symptoms your describing except the heart pounding, my symptoms cane out of no where in January last year. I’ve had loads of blood tests, constant Doctors trips and all has come back as anxiety and now ‘health anxiety’ as I’m obsessed! I have some nights where I convince myself I’m dying because I’m symptoms are so bad but most days I am believing it is just anxiety and it is starting to get better. Just know you’re not alone ☺️

[Jwilcock in reply to Morgjt]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write something, it means a lot & hopefully I’ll be able to accept & believe what the drs tell me like you. Xx

[Jodz]

Yes get this all the time . My anxiety has been good for a few months but back with a vengeance and it lasts all day . I try not to take a xanax but it puts my bp through the roof . I wake during the night with internal tremor S. Chest pain during the day , just buzzing and feeling so sick to the pit of my stomach . I’m not stressed all but this anxiety just comes from no where . I just want to stay in bed