Mental health

[Mum233]

I have diagnosed PTSD and then subsequent depression and anxiety. My anxiety is always health or germ related linked to the cause of the PTSD.
Today I have got myself in a state and convinced myself that I have cancer and that I will die. No amount of CBT technique is working. I rang the GP and they can’t help.
Where can I go for some help? Anyone got any advice to calm me down?

Hi OP, sorry you're feeling this way!

What is making you think this? Do you have symptoms? If so I can't see how GP isn't able to speak to you/see you to review this! Did you get to talk to GP or just receptionist?

Is there a friend you can ring to chat things through that may help you put things into perspective?

I have had constipation for a few weeks. Google tells me that it can be ovarian cancer and I’m terrified
GP receptionist wouldn’t allow me to speak to GP

did you write a plan at the end of your CBT therapy about what to do if you had a setback? Maybe you did and you could look back and remember what you planned in this case?

Dr google is not terribly helpful with something as common as constipation especially if you already have anxiety.

Does your local health authority provide talking therapy, which you can self-refer to and will provide you with some small level of support?

Hi OP, are you feeling any calmer this evening? Do you mind me asking what reason the receptionist has given for refusing to give you an appointment? On a practical note, are you doing things to help your constipation? Eg high fibre foods, drinking plenty water and going for walks? Small unnoticed changes to your usual routine can cause constipation and also resolve it.

Pros and cons of reassurance seeking?

The GP receptionist said they don’t have any appointments and even when I rang in state said “as we’ve previously told you we can’t help”
I have self referred for time to talk and they rang straight away. Thank you for your support xx

It is also entirely possible that you need to drink more water, eat more fruit and veg and walk more. Lack of any of those can lead to constipation and constipation hurts. Like indigestion. I'd think I was dying if I wasn't belching loud enough to make my grandmother proud.

OP Google told me I had a tumour behind my eye. I had an infected wisdom tooth.

Then it told me I could have a brain tumour or possibly an aneurysm. I have Trigeminal Neuralgia. Not good news exactly but it can't kill me.

Step AWAY from Dr Google.

I have awful periods like this. I used online crisis services and helplines. I was convinced I had somehow committed crimes without realising, or went through red lights without noticing. If I saw police I would think they were after me for something I didn't know I had done. I convinced myself I had someone caught Deadly diseases, or accidentally signed up to things that cost thousands of pounds.

You're not alone and I know how hard this can be step away from Google, it makes things worse

Glad the telephone people were there for you.

Are you on any medication for your anxiety? If not can you get back in touch with your gp and ask for some?
A close friend of mine is in a similar situation (PTSD and anxiety).
She had medication for when her anxiety got bad.
She had a therapy called EMDR for her PTSD and it has really helped her. She's really improved with that but had to pay for it privately.

I would definitely recommend increasing your fibre and liquid intake and doing some more exercise - it's far more likely that the constipation has a mundane cause. I would also recommend talking to your GP about medication for the anxiety as that can really help.

Turn off the WiFi if you need to and don't Google any more health stuff.

Distracted yourself - just try to get through the next half hour. If half an hour is too long to think about try to get through the next 5 mins. Watch a film, read a book, ring a friend for a chat. Try to fill more mind with something else.

It can help to remember that emotions are like a wave. The anxiety is horrible, but it will get less if you give it time.