AIBU to wish health anxiety didn't exist?

[mdpis3]

I have a list of conditions and diseases I should worry more about and I definitely have a full plate with the health issues of my DD who is mentally and physically disabled but as well as that, every lump, every mole that isn't perfectly formed...it causes me such panic and anxiety both breast cancer and malignant melanoma feature heavily in my immediate family so they are always at the forefront of everyone's mind but my goodness I wish I could stop obsessing about every new little bump or blurry edged mole

Am I alone in these fears? Do others have these same fears? They are definitely worse since becoming a Mum nearly 7 years ago but AIBU to wish I could just stop worrying about the unknown?

"I have it too, particularly when it comes to cancer. Every niggle / blemish turns into cancer in my mind."

Considering the amount of adverts on TV about this it's hardly a surprising reaction. I don't watch much TV but over the holidays I spent a lot longer in front of it than normal and i was appalled that anyone could feel healthy after a few hours. Talk about being brainwashed into thinking every little thing could have a sinister outcome, I was horrified that some people sit there for a long time every day having that drip-fed into their subconscious.

It's really not your fault to feel anxious, but please remember, thoughts are only thoughts, thoughts are not The Truth, they are only thoughts which come and go as fleetingly as a breeze.

Wow, I never realised this was a 'thing'. I reckon I've had it for years without realising. I had a colonoscopy two years ago as I'd convinced myself I had colon cancer... all clear. Yesterday I had ultrasound as was sure I had kidney/uterus/ovarian cancer. All clear. I sometimes think I'm going out of my mind. My body is a constant mass of aches, pains, twinges and I sometimes get breathless, palpitations, diarrhoea, constipation, back ache etc. Every time I convince myself it's curtains.

I had my DS, then 3 months later my DDad passed away and I swear it all started then.

I'm also a vegetarian and think I'm probably B12 deficient. I've been taking a supplement for 3 days now. If that helps, I'll be absolutely over the moon. I would so love to not worry over every tiny little ache and pain. This thread has completely opened my eyes. Thank you!

HA was ruining my life. Same as everyone else, the moles, hating showering, stopped having baths, etc.

I couldn't stand it any longer. Even 7 years of counselling didn't help.

I got a prescription for citalopram and it's given me my life back. My HA hasn't gone, but it's heaps better.

I enjoy long leisurely baths again now!

OK so if you google Health Anxiety, do you think that's confirmation that you have it? It's like a vicious circle. I have a 'well woman' appointment at the GP coming up soon, so I might mention it then. It says IBS (which I almost certainly have, having had a clear colonoscopy) can be made worse by HA. That's just unkind isn't it?

I have HA too and second all those who recommend CBT. I had CBT after convincing myself I had stomach cancer two years ago - I was utterly convinced to the point I think I started giving myself symptoms. CBT was wonderful, in fact the best bit was meeting a therapist who actually gave me the 'diagnosis' and assured me I was not alone, or mad but that many many people suffer from it and it can get better. At times my every waking thought was consumed by believing I had cancer. Mine too got worse after having children and usually flares up when things are going well or there is no other kind of drama in life going on. Since the CBT I would say I still occasionally have the 'thoughts' (every mole is scrutinised) but I no longer obsess over it. And I don't Google anything anymore. My DP is a doctor and although he has been very understanding and patient I no longer seek reassurance from him about my worries. I would say CBT was the best money I ever spent too.

I didn't realise so many people had this, I didn't even realise I had it until I read this thread, just thought I was a hypochondriac!! I'm going to stay away from Google and check out all your links

Health Anxiety has spoilt so much of my life over the last few years, so I also really wish it didn't exist. The constant anxiety and fear that I am going to conk out and leave my family and the constant catastrophising saps the joy out of so much daily life, I really wish I could wave a magic wand and go back to being the old 'carefree' me.
Sending a big unmumsnetty hug to all affected by this awful anxiety.

Why not get the moles removed.

I have life insurance and wills made just incase something happend to either DH or I.

It's helps me knowing that who ever has the dc if I do die will have the money to raise them.

piper because the mole isn't the actual problem. If you remove it, you'll worry about a different mole, or your breasts, or your internal organs...

We have wills. We have life insurance. Our DD has a trust fund. However as Crohnically just pointed out, it's not about the actual mole. And no dermatologist is going to cut out every mole on my body. I agree that having things in place in the event of a death or emergency can help ease anxiety but my anxiety leaves me feeling that every day is the last. It's exhausting. And no amount of being prepared, helps

I have terrible HA , I have lost 2 people under 30 to cancer and another friend 33 who is stage 4 at the moment .

I feel like literally I am waiting to die I'm just not sure what cancer will get me . I kid you no I think at least 10 times an HOUR of that could be wrong with me and its been like this for a fair few years. I had good days and bad but on I do feel totally exhausted mentally.

Would a yearly medical be an option.

I too suffer from anxiety and think the worse is going to happen.

I have some medical knowledge ( Have worked in the medical field for about 10 years not anymore ).. More than joe public but not enough to comfort me. I actually think its the worse combination.. I know loads of things that can kill me and always go for the worse case scenario

In all honesty, I think you'd be a hardy soul indeed to make it to the middle of your life without HA these days. That's, of course, different to having a clinical anxiety disorder where it becomes your "ruler"... but then, that's the thing to think about.

It's somewhat unreasonable to wish health anxiety didn't exist, because if you were never anxious about your health, it would probably mean you didn't value it or your live or the lives of the people you love. It's just the emphasis you place on it and how much you allow it to dictate what you do on a daily basis (and by do, I mean thinking as well, it being a verb itself).

We can't control thoughts or feelings, it's true.. but like blanklook said, you can choose to notice them and be aware of them without training a laser-like focus on them. These thoughts and feelings are not the problem you think they are, neither are they "real" in these sense that a chair or a table or a pillow is.

Right now, you are you-here-now. Fear arises when your mind imagines you as you-then-there, somewhere that you are afraid of being. It feels as real as if it were you-here-now sometimes, but it's not real. It's just your imagination. Honestly.

I had extremely severe health anxiety with obsessive compulsive symptoms after the birth of my second son. It took a lot of therapy and a major commitment to living a life of value rather than fear, and some medication along the way, but you really can live a life that's not dominated by these fears.

I still have these fears. Why? Because I like being alive. I love my family, I love where I live, I love my work and cancer is scary, so I will always be afraid of it. The difference is that a fear comes and goes now, I do nothing with it and I get on with living this life I love. Turn what this fear means to you on its head. It's only there because life matters to you.

When I was younger, I thought I was immortal. Then I was diagnosed with an incurable health condition, and I became a hypochondriac almost overnight. I'm sure in my case it's purely psychological: I know that I'm at greatly increased risk of all kinds of things because of my illness, and I worry about every possible symptom.

I definitely think that health anxiety is made worse if you have chronic health problems - or if you have close friends / family with health problems. Fortunately, CBT can be extremely helpful in dealing with health anxiety, if you can access it and if you have confidence in your therapist.

Goodness I hadn't realised this could actually be down to having DC. In the early days when DS1 was born I was convinced I was developing MS as it is in the family. In reality the numbness and tingling in my fingers was probably caused by DS lying on my arm as he breastfed and me often falling asleep in this position.

I did the same peutetre, really terrified myself. Sure now it was the breastfeeding in bed/sleep deprivation/too much caffeine to try and cope.

Love this beat poet on anxiety: m.youtube.com/watch?v=gVEf6jS8GdU