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Please help bring me down from a health anxiety spiral

2 replies

Mimi55o · 10/12/2025 21:06

I’ll caveat this with saying I have episodes of crippling health anxiety related to my child that I try to keep at bay. I’m fine with run of the mill stuff but I seem to have certain ‘triggers’. I feel like I may have a panic attack tonight so if anyone could help, that’d be great (I’ll also speak to my GP in the morning).

7 days ago my 5yo came home from school with a headache/stomachache, he then had 3 days of a virus where he seemed really quite poorly at times and then times where he seemed totally himself. The main complaints were headache, stomach ache and a sore throat. The headache seemed like head pain, mostly being very fleeting but occurred when he’d ran up stairs or shouted, and the pain seemed to stop as quick as it started most times.

He recovered from the virus by Sunday and has had almost 4 days of acting and being completely normal and not complaining at all. Today (a full week after he first felt ill) he’s come home from school and said from late afternoon his headache has come back, again this seems to be head pain made worse on sudden movements eg running up the stairs. He seems again a little under the weather but nothing else specific, he said he felt sick but he’s ate and drank fine.

Is there any common reasons for a headache to reoccur several days after a child has seemingly recovered from a virus? I’m hoping the 3 days of no complaints at all is/was a good sign it’s nothing very serious.

He is usually a very healthy and happy boy and prior to last week the last time he had a headache was 2ish months ago, with a pretty cracking viral infection that time.

I’m incredibly anxious and will speak to my GP in the morning but just looking to see if anyone has had similar in their child.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 10/12/2025 21:10

He probably hasn't recovered yet. Some of these lurgies are lasting for weeks and young kids have a remarkable talent for rallying. I'm assuming it's still an immune system in training thing.

But get him checked over anyway.

BillieWiper · 10/12/2025 21:10

Yes, sinus infection. It's very common as a secondary issue after a cold or illness.

The pressure of movement can worsen it. He may feel hot, stuffy nose, lose smell or taste or have foul odour in his nose. But it can just feel like headache.

Try giving a gentle facial/head message. A steroid nasal spray could be required.

Go to the pharmacy or GP. But please don't worry! X

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