Health Anxiety

Hi Sharon. Everything you explain above is exactly how I've felt over the past month or so. I'd like to think of myself as quite a strong minded social person but all of that seemed to go out of the window when I had my first attack. I became really withdrawn and frustrated, I cancelled all of my appointments (my hair now looks terrible!) and just didn't want to leave the house. I realised one night however that everytime I experienced an attack, I was coming out of it alive and well (if not a bit shakey) When I felt I was gasping for breath, I took my pulse and it was perfect, then I realised it was all psychological. As much as it felt like a physical issue I realised it wasn't. I started to push myself to go out, first in the car a few times with my partner, then walking the dog and I realised nothing was happening. I was a bit tight chested but I found it easy to deal with and it soon wore off. I've stopped drinking as much coffee and alcohol and have rebooked my hair appointment so will hopefully feel a bit tidier after a chop! It's taken me weeks to pluck up the courage to get up and out but I'm actually feeling quite well apart from small niggles. If I feel the hot flushes, I think 'that's nothing, it'll dissapear', If i'm struggling to breathe and have chest pains I take my pulse and concentrate on taking deep breaths. The attacks are much smaller now. I also keep a bottle of gaviscon handy as I find that a lot of my chest pains are actually from indigestion.

How are you feeling today?

I keep thinking I am ill all the time....I am due for an eye test, and I am thinking WHAT will my optician FIND?? The thought of me being ill makes me panic and SOSO scared. I am 59, so ANYTHING could happen!