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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am i going mad?

31 replies

Astressie · 07/04/2021 19:36

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!!!

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pinkstinks · 07/04/2021 23:24

Honestly - I have always been a worrier but this last month everything has been in overdrive and health specific things are freaking me out.

Something that helped this weekend was exactly what you have done today - asked someone Am I mad and talked a little bit about what’s going in. You really aren’t alone, I feel this is so common and so many people are struggling through this and with everything in the world it makes sense. My friends had similar issues and have also at various points (other stresses) during this also felt they are mad. Which was wonderful: wonderfully mad Grin

Now I’m off to try not worry about eye issues/2nd jab and all the rest.... haha

There was one in bloom about intrusive thoughts that helped today and felt so relevant I cried. But it felt good to be trying to do something about it.

Hope you are feeling as ok as you can right now Smile

Ethelfromnumber73 · 07/04/2021 23:39

I'm on HRT and still had raging health anxiety that was getting worse as perimenopause progressed. Citalopram has now seen it off, thank goodness.

Astressie · 08/04/2021 11:05

thank you so much to all of you. it is so helpful just to talk, albeit not face to face, to people suffering the same thing. today I've been for a walk, meditation, drunk 6 glasses of water and just about to ring the dentist for an overdue check up- this is doing my head it but am determined to do it. will look for the intrusive thought one on Bloom v. relevant - thank you.

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Astressie · 08/04/2021 11:07

and i should of said sending lots of positive vibes to anyone out there going through the same thing Flowers Flowers

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pixiedust21 · 08/04/2021 11:17

Sending lots of sympathy and solidarity - health anxiety is unbelievably awful.

I suffered with it for a long, long time though I found it came and went in varying “episodes”. At its worst I was on high alert anxiety for almost a year. It drove me to quite extreme, compulsive behaviours - where I knew what I was doing wasn’t normal but I couldn’t stop. Eg. Remember spending a whole lunch break at work in the toilets, stripping down and checking my legs because I was convinced one was swollen and I had DVT.

It doesn’t help that it sort of sounds funny when you relate the story afterwards but the sheer panic and terror and uncontrolled feelings were indescribable.

It finally came to a head when I made a GP appointment (was always scared of going in case they did find something wrong!) to look at a spot on my head that I kept touching and checking... constant checking.... nightmare. Turns out it was literally nothing but the GP was so kind and picked up on the anxiety.

I had CBT which did help a bit and eventually some medication. I wish I could say what it was that really finally helped but it doesn’t affect me now at all, quite bizarrely for something that I had for a long time.

When you are really going through it - distraction is key, get up and move about, go for walks, anything to pull you into “real life” as we get so bogged down by the reality we are convinced is there in our own minds.

I would really encourage you to speak to a GP, I so hope you find one who is understanding, as they can signpost you to appropriate support.

Please take care and if you need anything feel free to pm me. I know how truly awful it is and feel for you x

Astressie · 08/04/2021 11:41

@pixiedust21 you are so kind- i know distraction is key - i do keep trying but find it difficult to concentrate on anything- must ring dentist now!!!

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