Health Anxieties

[LoopyLoz]

Ok, I have severe health anxieties. I'll explain a bit so you know how bad I am.

I go to the drs about 8 times a month. I had headaches for about 4 days straight and I convinced myself I had a brain tumour. Everytime I have anything slightly wrong, back ache, heacd ache, funny mark on my skin I write myself off. I worry myself stupid scared I've got cancer.

I can't sleep worrying at the minute cos I've been having some problems with my periods and have been referred for a pelvic scan. I can't sleep or concentrate.

I'm so scared every day and I won't plan anything because I'm scared, I suppose, that I won't be here to see the day. I see a CB therapist every fortnight but it's not helping.

I'm sick of crying and being scared all the time.

Anyone in a similar way or have any advice?

[loopylou6]

hi LL, i am exactly the same as you, i hate planning holidays coz i think i will die if i plan something nice, like you my health anxiety all surrounds cancer,a nd any aches or pains i have i convince myself i am dying, it takes over life completely, even down tow atching tv, i will watch but dont take any notice as my brain is full of my thinking what illness i may or may not have. i have recently been prescribed anti depressants which i was very reluctant to take, but i have taken them for about 6 weeks now and i really do feel a bit better, the anxiety feels like i have a bit of control over it for a change instead of it controling me, so if you dont already, why not ask your gp for a prescription? if you want to talk more, i am always hovering somewhere over the board.

[Momino]

Hi both, i'm exactly the same and have diagnosed myself with so many different cancers in the past six months. I've had a persistent sore throat that keeps me awake at night. and now i have chest pains so thinking the sore throat is linked to lung cancer. i don'tknow how long i can go on like this. i'm so frightened all the time. especially at night.

i'm going to a counsellor who helps a little. Like you LL, i go to my GP so many times a month, I'm lucky she's understanding. and like you. LL6 I'm reluctant to go on ad's but am glad to see you have and it works. I may do the same.
I'm on beta blocker propranolol for anxiety but don't think it's doing much. LL6 what have you been prescribed?

[loopylou6]

hi momino, i have been prescribed citalopram 20mg, i did start on 10 mg but they put it up

[fedupandisolated]

Hi LL - yet another person telling you that you are not alone.

There is a fantastic website out there called No More Panic and is here I think. I have found them absolutely fantastic when I've been bad. There is a whole board on the forum dedicted just to health anxiety - it's more common then I realised.

[Momino]

Great website fedupandisolated. i've just been on it and will revisit when i've more time. thanks for this.

[fedupandisolated]

Cancer is the most common fear Momino. It's made worse because we are all so aware of the "risks" as the media talk constantly about it.

Something to keep in mind:

1 in 3 will get some form of cancer - so that means 2 in 3 won't ever develop it. The odds are in your favour already.

Of those who DO develop cancer the treatments are ever more sophisticated and lots of these people reach the magical 5 year survival and then go on to live a normal life.

Most cases are in elderly people and as the population ages more cases develop. All these cases add to the statistics. If you are 88 and develop a slow growing skin cancer (which you will almost certainly outlive)this will count as a cancer in the stats.

It's hard to keep our fears in proportion (and believe me, when I am at my worst I am also at my most irrational) but these facts are worth keeping in mind.

[Momino]

fedup, I'm going to contact you before I fly next time to help me overcome fear of flying - you must have happy statistics for that too! your post made me feel better and see things more realistically. I'm so relaxed right now, I'm actually having a glass of wine! (I'm normally afraid to drink anymore - don't want to increase risk of mouth/throat cancers. silly)

[Twiglett]

mindfulness meditation should help

it's all about focusing your mind in the now and what is real

if your therapy is not working, look for an alternative counsellor

[fedupandisolated]

Glad to be of service Momino. Hope the wine was good.

[Iworryalot]

Wow cant believe theres others like me ......
i am like you all i suffer very bad health anxiety and like you loopyloz im at the doctors all the time .
iv been so many times just lately just today i called about another thing i think iv got ...
any advice on how to cope .....

[Iworryalot]

loopyloo i to have been prescribed citalopram 10mg i havent taken them yet am so worried about side effects i may have ,
i guess a part of me hopes i will wake up one morning and feel fine again ....... which i do sometimes untill i see or hear something bad on tv or in magazine then im convinced i have it to ...im sure you know what i mean .
thanks for listening .

[ConstanceWearing]

Iworryalot, your post made me smile as it reminded me of myself some years ago. I am terrified of eating most foods. I just won't eat them incase they poison/kill me.

The doctor prescribed me AD's. Now how did they think I was going to make myself swallow chemicals, when I can't even eat most biscuits?

I do take AD's now though, because I ecame so depressed I didn't care if I lived or died, and therefore didn't care if the AD's killed me

The side effects aren't too bad, really, and as you know that what you are experiencing is side effects, not actual illness, it's not so scary at all.