Am I really sick? I don't know whether I am ill (constantly) or is it just anxiety?
This has become a vicious cycle; do I feel anxious because I feel physicial symptoms, or are those symptoms originated because of my anxiety? Is anxiety so powerful to manifest physicially?
Any recommendation to deal with this? I don't want to live like this.
Anxiety is powerful. It can actually cause physical symptoms and sometimes you don't think that these symptoms can be caused by anxiety. Moreover, when you are concerned about a particular disease, and if you have health anxiety, you keep getting the symptoms of that particular disease, and if you get checked and get clear of any physical illness, anxiety will gove you new symptoms so that you believe that your tests were inaccurate and that you do have a serious health condition. This all happened to me several times. Try to get help for your health anxiety.
I think you’ve made a good start by recognising that there could be a link between physical symptoms and anxiety; in fact, the “flight or fight” response (which is what acute anxiety triggers) wouldn’t work unless it did produce physical symptoms!
The problem comes when the anxiety becomes chronic as that can lead to chronic physical symptoms. It took me about 20 years to realise this and, as a result, some of my chronic symptoms have reduced. They’ve not gone completely, and I do get flare-ups from time to time (as now!), but it does show that improvements are possible.
As you seem to have realised this already, I suspect you’ll start to notice improvements, but it is a gradual process, so don’t expect any quick fixes.
Hi my friend..I have followed your journey for 7 years now and want you to know that
it is true that Health Anxiety can and does cause physical symptoms. It's a matter in which
came first, the anxiety or the symptoms. Since you seem to be very diligent regarding your
health care, it could very well be coming from your anxious mind. "veryanxious84" as well
as "Superzob" advice are right on target. Anxiety loves to play this mind game with us.
Just as the mind is powerful enough to produce symptoms of fear, with proper retraining
of the mind, you can allow it to work for you and not against you.
I've had the intense chronic migraine headaches as well as muscular contraction headaches.
I've had the stomach issues as well, practically living at the GI's office. Only when we
no longer fear the "what if's" and work on the positive thoughts will our brain respond to
a more kinder approach to our emotional/physical pain.
After much researching and trying different methods for relief, I found Meditation to be
the answer I was looking for. Meditation/Breathing can and did eliminate my fight or flight
fears. I took control back of my life and Anxiety ran like the coward it was. Not an overnight
relief but a continued restructure of my thinking process. If my brain can make me feel
as if I am sick and about to die, then why can't my brain make me feel well and look forward
to a long prosperous future??
The brain is under our control. It can be done. Never give up . Please continue to
post and respond to other's on HU. You will get information that has worked for them
that may very well be the "key" you are looking for. Everyone is different in what they
respond to but let it be known my friend, the answer lies somewhere in this forum. 
xx
Anxiety Brain Fog
panic attacks 
health anxiety 
Health anxiety - realised I took the bi annual bowel tests wrong!
starting Sertraline (Zoloft)
