Advice please - suffering from health anxiety

[Whiterabbit88]

i am after some advice please

since my 2 sons were born (18months and 5 years) I have suffered severe health anxiety (for them not me) and it is making life unbearable

if they have any kind of ailment I worry about it consistently until it is checked and have reassurance from a dr.
one thing that is really bothering me at the moment is a mild sunburn my youngest got last year. It was July and my boys spent a day with MIL. The youngest came home with pink arms. I had provided suncream but stupidly sent him in a t shirt. He also a hoody on but when they went for a walk he took it off and he did not have cream on.
i assumed it was a mild sunburn although it didn’t seem to bother him and it didn’t peel. I was devastated.
I was able to stop thinking about it over winter but now as we approach summer it’s all I can think of. I am so worried that it’s caused long lasting damage. it’s making me feel very on edge - like something bad is about to happen.

I know this isn’t normal, i can’t change what has been done. I have thought about contacting the drs but I hear waiting lists for mental health are so long post covid.

does anyone else have any advice or felt this way? I wish my brain was wired diferently

Please access some support. You are right to think that ruminating on this minor incident is unhelpful. It sounds like you have insight into what is going on and need some help before it takes over.

There are waiting lists for support, but you don’t know where you will be on that list. Also the sooner you get on the list, the sooner you will reach the top of it.

Is private support an option? Good luck.

i can’t change what has been done.

you really cant, you can only go forwards doing the best for your boys. Please do seek some help from the gp though, please don't allow your fears to seep into your boys life. Be persistent with the gps.

Go to your GP and get on the waiting list for support. My friend got help for anxiety quickly, she didn’t need a 1:1 therapist, she joined a class that was a series of lectures with homework between each one. It worked really well for her.

Also, find out if your employer offers access to a helpline / counselling (my local authority does for all employees, so does civil service) and Mind may offer you sessions for free.

You can also look for self help books using CBT for anxiety, there’s loads out there. Good luck xxx