To feel totally blindsided by this?

[Bettyfoureyes]

Sorry in advance, hope this doesn’t offend anybody.
Possible trigger.

I was on social media and came across a video from a mum who has a child with a brain tumour. It’s called DIPG. I’d never heard of it before, so I stupidly looked it up.
I’m now absolutely terrified! This type of brain tumour occurs in children under 10 usually, the prognosis is 0% survival. Basically it’s a death sentence, once they have a diagnosis, it’s just a countdown to them passing, and in the most awful way too.

I know it’s totally irrational, but I wish I’d never seen or read anything about it. Ignorance is bliss and all that.
My only child is a 4 year old boy and I can’t imagine anything like this. It was actually making me feel physically sick and dizzy thinking about it.
I do suffer with anxiety and have had severe anxiety and panic around my own health in the past.

It sounds totally selfish, as I’m not even dealing with it (thank god) and my child is, as far as I know, totally healthy.

How do I move past this? I just keep watching him now, scared he’ll show signs of it.

It's health anxiety by proxy. Most parents go through it on a sliding scale. Your's seems quite extreme. There'll be strategies online to overcome it.

You poor thing.

This sounds like my thought patterns when I was really struggling with OCD.

Your DS is fine. Try and be kind to yourself, remind yourself of this and stop watching the video.

I would also start liking videos of kittens/ puppies/ otters etc and things that bring you joy, so whatever algorithm powers your social media starts filling with videos of those rather than any that's going to cause you distress.

Hope you're feeling better soon

Thanks, I know it’s totally irrational but it’s etched in my mind since I read about it.

Have you had any CBT or similar for dealing with your health anxiety?

I heard a theory once that if something is less likely than 1 in 10,000 it is not worth worrying about.

You are struggling with your powerlessness. We like to think if we are vigilant and good we can avoid disaster. We can't. You can practice acceptance.

Religious or not, the Serenity Prayer has it right IMO.

Is it less than 1 in 1000?