To think I might have a mental health problem

[cultkid]

I cannot get over some things to do with people I don't know or don't know well

It's particularly to do with death

I was very sick a few years ago and as a result I am now admittedly always anxious about my health

There are a few people I've heard about read about or seen on the internet who have battled cancer and when they die I am trying really hard not to cry for honestly months and years. It's not a normal reaction

If someone is embarrassed or worried or anxious I feel it too, extremely deeply. I go out of my way to a level of inconvenience to help others as I feel so so so sad about them

I don't even have amazing circumstances myself

Do I have a mental health problem? I think it's a phobia of death? Just cannot stop crying when anyone dies

Every day 150,000 people around the world die. I don't know if that puts individual deaths into context, or makes it worse?

OP, I'm not really knowledgeable enough about the MH aspect, but your comments resonate with me a bit. Have you heard much about something called Sensory Processing Sensitivity (I think it's called that)? Otherwise known as highly sensitive people. It's worth a Google. I suspect it will mean something to you.

Otherwise, hopefully someone else will have something more knowledgeable to add x

Couple of possible indicators of depression there. Or you might just feel things more deeply I guess. My mum soaks up others emotions, she calls it being an emotional sponge.

Look up what it means to be an empath, it might help you understand.

Could it be PTSD from being seriously ill? DC1 was poorly after he was born. Although it wasn't serious, at the time there was a lot of uncertainty and the unpredictability of the situation really wreaked havoc with my mental health. When he was 19 months, a colleague of mine gave birth. We aren't particularly close but I knew when she was being induced. Unsurprisingly, she stopped messaging for about a week around the birth. I found I absolutely could not cope with not knowing what was going on, I was an absolute emotional wreck and convinced her baby was stillborn.

It sounds a bit similar to what you're describing: extreme sympathy and anxiety relating to someone I'm not that close to. I really think I was slightly traumatised by the experience we had with DC1. The uncertainty of not knowing what was going on with my colleague triggered the horrid memories I had of when DC1 was in hospital. Could it be that you are traumatised by your experience of being seriously ill, and every time something related to death crops up this triggers your trauma? Are you subconsciously trying to make the awful memories of being ill "better" by trying to help others?

I have a long history of MH problems. I would say that it doesn't matter whether it meets some objective criteria of being a "real" MH issue. If it's affecting your day to day life (and by the sound of it, it does), then you need help. There is a line of thought that says it's more important to focus on addressing problems rather than coming up with particular diagnoses. When I received help from the perinatal mental health team I found this very refreshing. I hope you get the support you need and start to feel better soon

You sound very sensitive. Or possibly a bit low/depressed.

I expect people will suggest you're an 'empath'. Bear in mind it's just a woo term with no recognised meaning in psychology.

I would suggest finding a trauma-informed counsellor and spending some time exploring why you feel the way you do and what you are hoping, consciously or not, to gain or avoid from your behaviours.

Really interesting

Yes I feel things so so so deeply but I think that's to do with having no boundaries I get so upset

The whole stillborn thing resonates

Going to try again to get some counselling

Wondering how many tens of thousands of pounds it would cost for me to go private. Just need someone to talk to about death and trauma and pain. Can't bare anyone to suffer

Thanks all

Not depressed but highly anxious I will agree with that xx

I think probably (C)PTSD, OP - I have a friend who is very similar, she has had various health issues, some very serious, over the years, and she is now very 'weird' - understandably - about death. It's taken her 4 years since the last traumatic incident on the NHS to get proper trauma counselling and not just 'here, try CBT' - if you can afford to try private, it would definitely be easier, although it depends on your area too, as we're in a big city and waiting times are long!

Prices vary, obviously, but you'd be looking for a counsellor who specialises in trauma and PTSD - near me prices go from £40 a session and you'd probably be looking at 2-4 a month. So it's not cheap, but not tens of thousands.

Make sure any psychotherapists you approach are BACP members (this ensures they're legit) and have the free chat most offer with them first to see if you get a good feel from them.

Your brain does strange-seeming things to cover up pain from your past, but it doesn't always heal by itself - sometimes it needs help. Good luck in making the steps to get help, it's an incredibly brave move

You sound a bit traumatised by your illness. That's not unusual.

However counselling is not a safe or approved treatment for trauma as it makes it worse. You would need a trauma therapy like trauma focused CBT or EMDR, etc.

So make sure you are clear when seeking treatment that you have a history of trauma.

You can access trauma treatment including EMDR on the NHS as long as you are clear about having trauma so you are assessed and referred correctly. If you just say you feel anxious and don't mention trauma you'll end up in the wrong pathway.

Privately, EMDR for instance can be very effective in 12 sessions or fewer (for some people as few as 4), and the rate per session £100-150 with a clinical psychologist depending on where you are. Some may have lower rates, some higher.

I asked for counselling in November

I had sepsis literally 3 times in 14 weeks or something ridiculous when pregnant

I really need to get someone to give me self soothing tricks

CBT would be good

I don't know about EMDR

I haven't even been ocontacged by my GP to see if I am
Ok despite scoring basically the highest except one point score for anxiety

Do you think it's anxiety that makes me feel
Over empathetic?

PTSD? Get some counselling. I'm sorry you are feeling like this OP. It's treatable. Please speak to someone

I saw someone private for stress/anxiety. We usually met in a public place, she was always there before me and read me before I got near her. Cost to me was £40 and I had about a dozen sessions and a few emergency ones since. My family say she has helped me no end and I know I can get in touch if I need help.
You need to have a good rapport with whom you see.
A previous councillor who works at gp is free and awful. But everyone is different.
Hoping your gp will help. Ring them again to ask for it and don't be fobbed off.