Health Anxiety

[toast122]

After feeling "under control" for a little while, my health anxiety has suddenly skyrocketed. I am struggling with physical symptoms such as burning tongue (have had this for a year now with no explanation) and a facial tic (comes and goes for years now, also unexplained). I've gone to several doctors and my symptoms are always put down to anxiety. I am on SSRI's, using coping techniques and feel fine other than these symptoms that won't disappear, regardless of my stress levels. I've convinced myself that I am severely ill and that the Doctors are missing something. My mind is racing with thoughts of neurological disease, MS, etc. In desperate need of relief and don't know where to turn anymore.

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Everything you're experiencing is all familiar to me. I had SEVERE GAD several years ago. I tried the pills. The only one that worked was Lorazepam (short-term), which stopped the acute cycle I was locked in. Zoloft was a zero ... actually made total health worse and Buspirone was ineffective.

What did work was natural therapies, supplements and lifestyle changes. I'll send you tips that put mine into remission. If I can heal my severe case; anyone can heal theirs.

[Lovefrance in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Hi there. Looking at your reply to tat122, I too suffer with anxiety and take Citalopram. I was wondering if you could give me some help also and let me know how you manage your anxiety. Many thanks.

[Hidden]

Hello

Health Anxiety feels the worse when you suffer you spend every day so tuned into your body that the slightest thing we pick up on and of course our brains go into overdrive and straight away we believe it is something worse than what it is , if anything at all

I am glad you had a spell where you got it more under control that is brilliant , I wonder what you did and if you can remember you can start putting it back in practice again

I see Health Anxiety a bit like an addiction , like someone stops drinking then something will trigger them of and they start again , it can be this way with Health Anxiety , we can put it down and all of a sudden we have picked it up again !

Facial tics can be an anxiety thing and a burning tongue to

It could be certain foods that cause your tongue to burn or irritate it , I would not worry about either ( easier said than done )

Does your tongue look red and sore or coated at all , if so then the Doctor needs to look at that again it could be Thrush nothing serious if not then we can get a feeling and it causes fear and then we just continue to focus on it and think we can feel it when actually it is more our anxiety making us believe we are feeling something

You seem to be doing the right things but know you are not alone especially suffering with this Health Anxiety and always someone to talk to on here x

[b1b1b1]

There is actually a condition called "burning tongue." Check with a good dentist. They are more likely to know about it.

[Polaris]

Hi Tat122

A burning tongue, along with crippling fatigue, neurological issues, dizziness, tingling in fingers, toes and balance issues, etc. are strong symptoms of B12 deficiency/PA and many people are misdiagnosed with MS as many GPs know very little about how complex it is.

You could try writing to your GP with latest BMJ research document summary (full document behind a paywall) below asking for tests and make an appointment, taking someone close with you for extra support:

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5226

The Dutch link below explains more about testing, B12 misconceptions and the importance of early and adequate treatment:

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

Neurological symptoms, such as tingling, etc. should be treated without delay with B12 injections 'every other day until no further improvement', to prevent permanent damage'.

Best wishes for finding answers and treatment 🤞