I got good news from the hospital so why am I still anxious?

[Howtomakeitbearable]

I’ve had a phobia for years of having heart problems . I’ve spent much of the last ten years utterly convinced, to the point of physical illness .

My GP referred me to a cardiologist to discuss my worries, and they rang today . I don’t have heart problems in their opinion, I have severe anxiety and panic attacks .

I will be getting regular screening for several years (I think they said ten years at least) to check because of family history, and I have to avoid endurance/HIIT exercise but they aren’t worried at present .

I feel totally flummoxed . I’m always anxious, I never settle, I’ve always focused my anxiety on my heart and I’m now not sure what to do . Part of me thinks I need to accept this is anxiety, start trying to recover but how? I stopped doing all sorts because of anxiety - uni, work, exercise, socialising ... How do I restart?!

I thought counselling would try to get to the root of the problem, the anxiety about X is just a displacement for not dealing with some other trauma that is even more uncomfortable to deal with than living with anxiety.

Happy to be told I'm ignorant. But am pretty sure that no amount of good news can do anything to get rid of anxiety when it's a clinical condition.

OP, I have been in your position a few times - I have always struggled with anxiety (especially about health matters) and in the past found that I could never accept any number of reassurances about my health - I would always fear something had been missed etc etc or as soon as one fear was laid to rest, I would find another to attach my anxiety to. I have been taking Paxil (Seroxat) for 20 years which has helped a load. For the first time, I was able to do things like sit down and enjoy an episode of a TV show without being constantly drawn back to my anxieties. I accept that this is what I need to do in order to live my life. I have also found CBT to be really useful for recognizing unhelpful patterns of thinking. I still become anxious about things, but can generally talk myself down from getting to the point where it is debilitating or takes over my every waking moment. I find my anxiety worsens if I have too much alcohol/not enough sleep etc. as well. You have my sympathies - it is the worst.

@yeOldeTrout sums up my experience exactly.

Thank you

I suppose counselling is probably the way to go yeah . I’m on an anti depressant and beta blocker already . It’s just learning to manage the anxiety feelings, it’s so difficult . I thought maybe if I got the reassurance from the hospital that would be it and I’d feel fantastic and relieved but I’m just knackered and tearful . I haven’t got anyone to sort of debrief with either (in rl I mean) which is difficult .

I understand why you’re anxious - you thought you had a physical problem but instead you have a mental health one, which is arguably much more difficult to manage than a physical problem so much more harder to stomach. However on the flip side, having anxiety is probably better than any heart condition.

It’s early days yet, hopefully you will feel better in time. You’re currently taking all the right steps. With this diagnosis, hopefully your GP will also offer more support to aid with your severe anxiety.