Am i going mad?

[Astressie]

I've suddenly developed awful health anxiety. Every small ache, pain or sore spot is a symptom of some awful disease or impending death. I am finding it difficult to concentrate or enjoy life. Never happened before and think it may be related to living through the Covid epidemic. Anyone else feeling anything similar since Covid. Handholding needed feeling soo anxious and silly!!!

bumping

I'm sorry! I'm sure it's related to the pandemic and the general anxiety from that. I've had health anxiety at stressful times of my life and I've somewhat gotten past it by keeping awfully busy (which is of course more difficult during a pandemic). Is there a book series, a tv series, or a hobby that needs a lot of thinking to take your mind off things? I know this sounds really simplistic but I've noticed if I manage to keep my mind occupied for long enough, I notice I've had a break from noticing my body and thinking about my health.

Thank you really helpful. Trying desperately to find a decent Tv series to watch(seem to have watched them all) as it does help. I do a lot of yoga but I think in a way it makes it worse!

Worth contacting your GP. Lots of things can help OP. Health anxiety is awful.

I have told my GP i get very anxious about my health-in my last 2 appointments with her. She hasn't discussed it any further. Considering asking to speak to another GP whou is perhaps easier to talk to / more empathetic.

You’ll need to be explicit and clear. Getting very anxious isn’t the same as saying the anxiety is stopping you living your life and controlling you.
Good luck OP. Things can change.

Yes being explicit and clear is a problem for me because I feel so silly and I don't find it easy to talk to my GP

Could you write it down? You’re not being silly at all.

Thank you @Wolfiefan, but my doctor does make me feel silly. I just need to get courage up to make a doctor's appointment with another doctor and I think it might help I if i get a few outstanding health appointments sorted out -dentist , optician.

When I went to see the doctor about my depression, I wrote it all down. When I sat in the chair I burst into tears and could hardly speak.

Sorry to hear you’re experiencing this. Are you spending lots of time on you’re own?

Maybe switch up some yoga for a dance sesh or Pilates. Read a book. Go for some walks and listen to music.

You’re brain is possibly distracting you from the real issue by fixating on other things. Have a think about what’s going on right now in you’re life. Maybe write a journal on how you feel and why.

Then get back to your GP and ask for a referral to a therapist. It will help, but finding one can be hard.

So many people are suffering during Covid. You are not alone in this. Mental health is becoming a major issue for many people. I think a lot has to do with us being social and the lack of seeing each other every day is negatively impacting our mental well being.

Sending hugs. Try not to stress too much. Distraction is key!

If you feel it is starting to take over your every day life you can self refer yourself online for CBT via the NHS website.
Although it didn’t work for me I do know many people who swear by CBT.
Good luck op, health anxiety is awful

I've dealt with health anxiety for a very long time and the best way to deal with it is not to feed the beast.
Don't Google symptoms. Try not to rush to the gp at the slightest symptom. Write down worries and give yourself a certain amount of time to focus on them.
It is hard though. Very hard. Your gp should be able to refer you for cbt for it.

My friend had breast cancer. She’s had treatment and is totally fine now.

Now if she stubs her toe in the shower and it’s hurting later that day her first thought is that it’s cancer, it’s come back and spread to my toe.

It’s stupid. She knows it’s stupid. She stubbed her toe and remembers that’s the cause! But she can’t help it.

It’s just your worst fear coming out. Weird things are bothering many of us that never usually bother about things.

Find ways to cope with the stress. You can use cbt techniques. Mindfulness, yoga, tai chi (loads to choose from on you tube) or get some anxiety meds. Write everything down for the gp appointment and read it out.

Not sure how old you are, but anxiety can come on suddenly in women in their forties and health anxiety is just one way it can manifest.

thanks all- it is taking over my daily life- probably not helping that I'm trying to give up vaping and using other nicotine products -side effects increase anxiety. Absolutely horrible- by the way I'm keeping a journal and go for lots of walks.

i'm in my early fifties-just before Covid started my partner and i were lucky enough to take early retirement . it has been a massive shock to the system- feel guilty that my rough time is nothing compared to those on their knees without a job etc.

Could well be the menopause playing silly buggers with your head. Have you had your hormone levels tested?

i'm on HRT

Ugh - welcome to my world! I’m like this. I have been forever but it definitely gets worse as I approach menopause (maybe get your HRT tweaked?) and when I’m depressed or stressed.

Anxiety must be a horrible shock if you’ve never had it before.

Yoga and mindfulness are BAD for my neurotic brain - all that concentrating on my body makes me imagine all kinds of symptoms. I’m much better when I gave you concentrate on stuff like dance steps, sport, or something high impact and complicated. Or have upbeat music playing.

What works is - set a Worry Time (say, 4.30pm-5pm). Every time firing them say when you get a sudden fear or symptom tell yourself you’re allowed to worry about it, but only during Worry Time. That always calms me down snd by the time it gets to 4.30pm I’ve usually forgotten whatever it was. If I haven’t, then I can use that time to get a plan of action.

Don’t google symptoms. Yesterday I had endometriosis according to Google, and the day before that it was a heart attack. The day before that I had HIV. Honest.

There are lots of health anxiety forums. Interestingly, most people on there are smokers. I’m a heavy NRT user. There’s probably a connection do reducing nicotine is a great idea.

And go easy on caffeine (jitters) and booze (depletes your vitamin B and makes you more nervous/tense); take vitamins and maybe try St John’s Wort.

firing them say. should be during the day

Argh - maybe typos are a sign of an approaching stroke... (half joking)

Yes you aren’t alone.
It’s awful at the moment so sorry you are going through it too.
Panic attacks feel so horrible and like all kinds of other things if googled.
I have downloaded a CBT app that is helpful and has 10 min sessions on anxiety and health anxiety and that has helped the last couple of days. It’s called bloom.

thank you so much to the last 2 posters. I don't feel so alone. I will definitely look at bloom and setting a time to worry is a really good idea. But I do feel all these symptoms at the moment-it's sucha massive stress

What makes you think it’s anxiety? There could actually be something wrong. Go get checked out.

I suffered from health anxiety after DD2 was born. I went for CBT, and the counsellor told me it was related to stress. She was right. Try treating stress (exercise, etc) and see if that makes a difference - my stress (and I wasn't feeling stressed) was manifesting itself as health anxiety.

I know a couple of people who have suffered with it. I know it doesn't feel like it, but it will pass eventually