Health PISSING anxiety!!!

[sazzysazz337]

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DS 12 months is teething, I think. Chewing fingers, drooling, snotty nose and pulling ear, woke up crying, generally abit ratty.

I’m suffering badly with this stupid health anxiety.
Gave him some calpol and I’m so fucking anxious I’ll have to take him to A&E (no fever, breathing fine)

I’m having CBT and it seems to be helping, except in times like this where I just want to run away.
(Background DS was in hosp with RSV bronchiolitis and query sepsis early on in his life around 6-10 weeks old)

I’m so anxious, palpitations and cotton mouth and I feel like I can’t breathe.

Please someone convince me DS is fine and I’m just fucking insane.

Health anxiety is often a form of OCD. Which ERP (exposure and response prevention) is the gold standard treatment for. It all boils down to stopping trying to escape the fear. There are brilliant books, podcasts (The OCD Stories is ace) and YouTube videos (Ali Greymond has hundreds and is amazing) that can help without, before, or in conjunction with seeing a therapist.

Most doctors have no clue about OCD, sadly. Most people don’t! Everyone I’ve ever met thinks it’s the movie version - hand washing and checking the oven is off. It can be any theme - the core component is compulsively trying to escape intrusive thoughts or images. Which the compulsions only make stronger.

@sazzysazz337 it’s a very tricky time if you have health anxiety, well done for not going to A&E and sitting with some of the anxiety.

On the other hand, if you’re having CBT for health anxiety specifically (not just for generalised anxiety) depending how far in you are e.g past the second session then you’ll know this reassurance seeking post is a big safety behaviour that feeds back into the anxiety. Reassurance seeking is a theory A behaviour, think about what the theory B would be! (Sorry if you haven’t gotten to that point in CBT yet but if you’re past the 2nd/3rd session you will have).

I know it sounds horrible and unkind because we all want to help but to really help someone with health anxiety don’t give reassurance. If reassurance really worked then you wouldn’t need to keep seeking it, it just keeps the pattern going. If you’re really concerned check with a medical professional and stay off google and forums! Wishing you the best with your CBT. It’s hard work making the changes but stick with it.

I’m trying to sit calm haha it isn’t much good though I’m crap at it. Just thinking in my mind if he was really poorly and had bronch he wouldn’t be able to walk or crawl as he wouldn’t be able to breathe.

I’m doing my best to not rush to A&E because of the pandemic and it’s a waste of their time. It’s just so hard. I wish I had a hotline to the Best Doctor Ever so I could phone and harass.

Can you try a new hobby like knitting or some craft type thing (I should do this more). If it’s completely shot even with CBT have you tried meds?

If you go to A&E you’ll increase risk and strain resources. You know this. I want to be nice and reassuring but it’s not helpful so I won’t. I do totally feel sympathy with the anxiety though. It’s shit.

That’s the exact reason I’m not going, I’m powering through, as much as my heart is pounding x

Tried him with mash potato and he swallowed too much and threw up so he’s had a yogurt instead. I’m trying my absolute hardest to convince myself this is just teething. But I don’t think it is. He’s slept quite a bit today.

I have HA from time to time. There is an Instagram called @healthanxiety . I find it helpful.

Teething can also cause them to shit to their shoulders (I’ve had LOTS of experience of this, no matter what anyone else says!)

When does it end??? Lol I just want him back to himself eating all the food and being smiley

Can you maybe set this up as an experiment? I think someone mentioned doing this earlier. Might also be worth asking yourself have you had this level of worry before? If so how many times have your worries/fears come true? If not often, is it likely this might be similar or if your worries have come true what’s the outcome been e.g was it as bad as you predicted, and if so did you get through it/were you able to cope? I bet you did and could again now if you had to!
Anxiety =overestimating the likelihood and awfulness of something occurring and underestimating your ability to cope.

It sounds like you had a difficult and traumatic experience with your baby so of course you worry but don’t forget yours and your baby’s resilience. (Sorry if this seems patronising just don’t want to feed into the reassurance).

That’s what I’m doing I think, holding out and watching him like a hawk. I was gonna ring the health visitor but he’s eaten that much sugar and shite today I’m not bothering, when he had a sickness bug I phoned for reassurance (twice, after an A&E trip) he got a rash as well which was obviously post viral, they told me to go to A&E and I didn’t so I achieved something

DS is back to normal, he’s off his food abit but that’s not a concern as he’s absolutely fine in himself

However I gave him some milk that went out of date yesterday on his cereal and he didn’t eat it so now I’m anxious about that! Ah there’s always something in this house

No complications from the cold or the stinky milk!

He’s ate nearly half a sandwich but his runny nose has gone green gluey nose so I think it’s safe to say he’s had a bit of a shitty cold, however I’m kind of glad in a way because it’s taught me that not all colds mean bronchiolitis. Thank you all so much for giving me ears to vent and panic to!

Glad you're feeling a bit calmer OP. I know what you mean about short episodes that teach you everything isn't serious - my daughter was hospitalised with rotavirus at 8 months (despite having the vaccine) and it took me a few more sick bugs after that to realise that it's mostly over after the first rough 12 hours

I have it too. I know your pain. However your son is fine. HA absolutely can be managed. Cbt is a good start x

Have you tried medication Op? I have always had health anxiety but it got much words after a traumatic experience a few years ago ,if I read something about cancer etc I would convince myself either I had it or my children ,setraline helps me .

He’s been whingy today, and really off his food for the past week. Snacking a lot. My health anxiety is getting worse as I just want to see him normal. However he cut a new tooth on Monday so I’m unsure whether the tooth on the other side is causing him bother. This can’t be a cold etc surely. It wouldn’t last this long would it?

I hope this is helpful...my DD got all 8 of her first teeth within three months and was clingy and miserable most of that time. Teething can take a really long time.