Doing WELL with my Health anxiety

[PinkPearls20]

I have MAJOR health anxiety and I'm waiting for counciling to start.

Thing is... I started taking the combined pill Leverest a couple of weeks ago for the first one and I have been spotting every day since.

At first I did my normal 'FREAK OUT' ...Shit I'm bleeding, what's he point, its Cervical cancer routine. I stopped eating and I lost weight over that week. The spotting hasn't stopped. However my panic has slowed down but it's still nagging me that it's cervical cancer cancer and nothing to do with the pill.

12 months ago I had a clear smear. One month ago the GP examined me as I was spotting in between periods and she said 'hormonal' and encouraged me to take the pill.

So here I am... with my health anxiety... doing the best I have ever done at dealing with my worst nightmare happening down below...eating and functioning....but I just need some reassurance that it's probably hormonal so that I can have that boost to keep going .....

[PinkPearls20]

I honestly really need that boost btw. It would mean the world and really help. Just a few words on the internet directed at my personal problem

[PinkPearls20]

For some reason the spotting today is worse then it has been since I started this pill. It's scaring me

[earthyambitions]

Hi, I suffer with health anxiety too so know exactly what you are going through. Your symptoms are absolutely normal when starting on a new contraceptive. I had an implant and spotted for a month before it settled. I'm sure you are fine.

Counselling massively helped me to better understand my anxieties. It hasn't gone away but I am now able to ride them out and rationalise because I understand why I am feeling that way.

Keep going, you are doing fine. Your primal brain is trying to keep you safe by flagging up a concern. Your rational brain can reason that there is a perfectly good explanation which is absolutely nothing to worry about.

I also find keeping busy helps. It's when my mind has time to wander that the HA gets me.

[PinkPearls20]

Earthy, I don't know what you worried about health wise, but when you spoke to your councilor, would you have been able to talk about bleeding etc...because that's my main one. Every second of everyday, even when I'm laughing.

Thanks for replying

[PinkPearls20]

The spotting is worse today tho then it has been since I started. Infact yesterday it seemed like it was calling down. I'm so scared

[PinkPearls20]

Also my skin is awful for me atm. So bumpy on my forehead. Is that the pill? My skin is normally like a babys bottom

[earthyambitions]

Yes all probably the pill. My anxiety started after a breast cancer scare and is focused mostly on cancer but I worry about other conditions too and health of my family. Yes I could talk about whatever was in my head with my counsellor and she would give me strategies to use to calm down and also help unpick where some of the panic is really coming from.

[PinkPearls20]

Thankyou.... in trying very hard to tell myself the spotting is just hormonal.... I normally check every ten mins or so if im spotting. I havnt checked for 2 hours now because I keep telling myself it wont help and i will be spotting

[earthyambitions]

Yes I try to think 'will it make me feel better if I check/Google, or will I still worry anyway'. Usually I know it won't reassure me so I don't do it. It does depend how strong the anxiety is as to how strong my will power is with that though.