Extreme health anxiety and new symptom help

[rainsbows]

I'm due my period but getting short sharp pains on left hand side inside hip. Not typical period Pain and my mind has painted a&e pictures. Please help calm me.

What cbt techniques could I use?

[Valerrie]

I have severe health anxiety too, so huge sympathy.

A pain on your left side is unlikely to be anything horrific. Appendix is on the right.

If you are due your period it's very probable that it's related to that. I get all sorts of a stabby, burning and aching pains around one or the other ovary.

It could be harmless ovarian pain, could be bowel movements or something as simple as gas, which can be incredibly painful!

[rainsbows]

I just hate how within a micro symptom of feeling it my mind has gone awol and then I calm down when it's gone to then paint the pictures again the second it's back. It's frequent. I've self diagnosed liver failure fgs.

[rainsbows]

Micro second

[Kahlua4me]

Hello, I am exactly the same, it drives you mad doesn’t it?
I have had a tummy ache for a few days and now convinced I have cancer!

Deep down I know it is probably anxiety, but I cannot help myself and keep googling and searching for something that fits my symptoms even though nothing will. Last month it was cardiac, now this....

I am having counselling for a whole myriad of things which I am finding really useful. Have you tried any counselling?

[rainsbows]

I'm really panicking it's something awful. As usual I have to act normal but this is really hard. I keep imagining being hooked up in a&e

[Valerrie]

Try not to panic. This is my life - I have severe HA and a phobia of anything medical so going to hospital is my worst nightmare.

It won't be something horrendous because it's not in a place where it could be and you'd have had a myriad of other symptoms. Your brain is telling you to worry and your physical responses will make the health anxiety worse.

When I'm really bad I avoid Google at all costs, I drink camomile tea, I think reassuring thoughts about other pains I've had that have turned out to be nothing. Hot water bottle, a calm down essential oil, rescue remedy and something that will take your mind off it. I use reading, crochet or even typing what I'm feeling helps.

[rainsbows]

Thank you val my rational head says it's likely to be menstrual related. My irrational head says, nope, this is new therefore it's got to be awful.

I've had so many "illnesses" from cardiac problems, strokes, MS, allergic reactions. Every damn day of my life I have something wrong with me. I'm 29 fgs

[Valerrie]

I'm exactly the same. Every little pain in my arm, jaw or chest is a heart attack. Every funny feeling is a stroke. I have bowel cancer, a brain tumour, MS, MND, clogged arteries, ovarian cancer, the list goes on and on. I can't go to a GP, I can barely leave the house and I'm terrified I'll die but can't get checked out. I constantly pulse check.

It's no way to live.

[Ohb0llocks]

I’m the same. It’s horrible. You feel like your whole life is on hold every time you deliscover ‘x’ symptom. I had a baby 5 and a bit weeks ago and it’s been horrible since then, I just want to enjoy him without constantly panicking about our health!

[lovechocolate123]

I suffer from HA. It was so bad two years ago because of some health problems I had that I had to see a counsellor and had to see a CBT therapist. It really helped. Also, the book Overcoming Health Anxiety really helped. I know how bad it can be but please remember you are not alone x

[Twoweekcruise]

I too have HA, it’s horrible. I suffer from anxiety in general which gives me physical symptoms, so I am always in this cycle of anxiety, physical symptoms then major HA thinking the symptoms are something nasty, it’s so draining. Have tried CBT but it just doesn’t work for me unfortunately!

[Valerrie]

I've got that book, it's good but that and CBT haven't worked for me, I think it's gone too far :(

[Fairydust26]

I suffer from HA too and it really is horrible! some days I’m fine and forget about it but others it’s all that consumes my thoughts which makes symptoms worse and the vicious cycle begins. I found a cbt for health anxiety worksheet that has some pretty good points in it and helps you understand why your experiencing these symptoms and how to deal with them ect. Here’s the link some of you might find it helpful.

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=53