Health anxiety

[lynstone60]

Hi .Iv had HA all my life I'm 63 ,I am so tired of fighting this ,my latest scare is they found a cervical polyp when I had my smear ,my doctor is not concerned when she looked and said it is really small .The thought of it being their is to much for me so I asked my doctor to refer me to the gynaecologist which is this sat 26th ,I'm so scared and worried they will do all sorts of tests womb overlies the lot ,I don't have any symptoms that are concerning but my HA is through the roof thinking what if I hate this iv been worrying since I had my smear which came bk clear .

[designguy]

Hello, i've dealt with anxiety on and off for years and mine sometimes morphs into health anxiety. You might check out the youtube videos and website of Paige Pradko, she is a therapist who has had anxiety and OCD and now helps others with it. I really like her approach and her teaching. She also has an online course available for health anxiety and also one for OCD. She suggests that health anxiety and OCD can be related, I know I have some OCD so it's possible. I've also found medication (an antidepressant) helps me and I think it does help reduce some of the ruminating. I also have found learning and practicing simple mindfulness has helped me be able to detach from my thinking more and to not believe the anxious thoughts.

[lynstone60 in reply to designguy]

Hi .Thank you for your reply ,I will check this out x

[designguy in reply to lynstone60]

You're welcome, hope it helps you.

[Jeff1943]

Health Anxiety makes us exaggerate small worries ten fold. A stomach ache must be cancer. Muscular tension of the chest muscles must be heart failure. Temporary blurry vision must mean I'm going blind. We've all been there.

And even though in our heart of hearts we all know these things are benign symptoms of a sensitised nervous system we still stress and obsess - causing more anxiety hormones to flood our bodies ensuring our nerves continue to remain over sensitised. It's a vicious circle.

But it's a vicious circle that can be broken leading to recovery and the return of our quiet minds. All we have to do is to accept for the moment, truly accept, these false aches and pains knowing that they are toothless tigers that can do us no real harm and be prepared to let time pass.

I have said before of health anxiety symptoms: you can't cure yourself of an 'illness' you don't have no matter how hard you try.

I wish you God's speed on your journey along the road to respite and recovery.

[lynstone60 in reply to Jeff1943]

Hi and thank you for your comforting reply .yesterday I had the gyni app and all went well I was so worked up as I have been for the last 2 months ,my daughter and my husband came with me,so the polyp was removed and she said it didn't look like anything nasty .She even checked my womb as I am post menopausel got the all clear on that aswell I was so relieved I broke down .HA sucks it gets it grip on you that you just cannot get past the thoughts I am currently seeing a mental health nurse who is refering me to be seen but when this will be is anyone's guess I defo need help with the way I handle things I'm just so convinced something bad is going to happen ,it also affects my family to my daughter understands as she also has HA but hubby bless him he just don't get it but he always trys to and he supports me really well ,I don't think anyone who don't suffer with HA gets it ..Thank you for your reply it helped me yesterday as I read it before I went for the appointment 😘

[Jeff1943 in reply to lynstone60]

I'm so pleased that things turned out well. The information I gave you is based on Doctor Claire Weekes' first book 'Self help with your nerves' which helped me recover from H A as it has for millions worldwide in the past 50 years since it was first published. It's easy to read and brings understanding, reassurance and a method that can bring recovery. Still selling well all these years later and available new or used on Amazon and Ebay. I found it life changing. What's to lose?

[timmothysmith01]

5 Techniques For Managing Health Anxiety:

1. Keep in mind that your body is constantly communicating with you. Individuals who have health anxiety frequently mistake typical bodily symptoms for indications of illness or disease

2. Get accustomed to novel sensations

3. Strive to refrain from self-diagnosing

4. Identify negative ideas and resist them

5. Take action by asking for assistance