New health anxiety - anyone else?

[bathsh3ba]

Just wondering if anyone else thinks they may have developed a new health anxiety during this pandemic. I never really worried about health before, I would sometimes worry about food poisoning but that was the extent of it. I did have anxiety as a teen but I'm now 38 and have been fine on that front for a very long time.

The last few weeks, I'm vigilant for symptoms at all times and I'm sure sometimes I imagine them. Night-time is worst. I'm sitting here not wanting to go to bed because I know it will take me hours to get to sleep because I get myself in a state and start worrying do I feel too hot, do I feel sick, is that a tickle in my throat, do I have a sore throat, does my chest feel tight. Sometimes I can feel my heart start to beat faster because I'm so anxious. There isn't really anyone I can talk to in person about this and I try to hide it from my kids (single parent).

I'm not super high risk but I do have a BMI of 40 and in the middle of the night that feels like a death warrant even though I know age is on my side and I have no known health issues other than my weight (and psoriasis). But mainly I worry about being too ill to look after my kids, or passing it to my parents (late 60s, mum is similar BMI to me and has hypertension). We did see them over Christmas but they are in our bubble, my parents were very unconcerned about it all but I insisted on ventilation and keeping our distance, separate bathrooms etc.

I know I should see my GP and I will but in the meantime I'd appreciate a handhold for tonight and to hear from anyone else who might be in the same boat.

Me too, so handhold from me. Not specifically about covid, mine has come in the form of cardiophobia/fear of getting a pulmonary embolism. It’s truly horrible and it feels like it takes over your life.

Unfortunately my GP was really unhelpful and just signposted me via email to the well-being service, didn’t even speak to me on the phone, which was disappointing. Hopefully will hear from the well-being service after the bank holiday.

Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight, I know the insomnia can be awful :( I recommend the Headspace app and the DARE app, hope you might find these helpful.

Thanks @Meerschweinchen1990, I'm so tired tonight I hope I won't be awake too long but no guarantees. This evening the worry is that my throat feels sore on one side...

Didn’t want to read and run, I understand how you feel and hope you manage to overcome it.

Mine started probably at the start of the pandemic and it doesn’t help that I work in a hospital and see all the 1 in a million cases as my GP put it.

First GP gave me some propranolol which I use every now and then to help with the physical symptoms and I completed a short CBT course (funnily enough I started to feel better when my likely COVID infection ran it’s course), which was ok. Second GP was very nice (I’m worried about heart/lung damage) but I have no risk factors apparently and ECG’s are being triaged atm so I can’t truly settle my anxiety.

Hi OP, sorry you’re struggling. I’ve had anxiety for years but it never used to be particularly focused on health (although I do have a phobia of vomiting!). But since the pandemic began it seems to have zoned in on covid and like you I’m constantly ‘checking’ for symptoms and worrying about every twinge, hot flush, throat tickle etc. I’m statistically low risk (late 30s with no known health problems) but, as is typical with anxiety, I keep obsessing about the uncertainty of it and the fact there are outliers and the mere possibility of becoming very ill or dying. It’s constantly on my mind and I’m really struggling to get through the days with this ever present feeling of fear and dread.

From my experience the two key aspects that keep my anxiety going are an inability to tolerate uncertainty and a lack of control. The pandemic is a perfect example of both of those - we can’t control the course of the pandemic or if we get it (although we can take measures) and we can’t be certain about when it will end/ what will happen if we catch it. I think that all feeds into the health anxiety.

In terms of dealing with it, definitely seek out professional help - but in terms of practical steps, I would recommend stepping away from the news (and social media) as it really exacerbates it (at least for me), try to focus on the present as much as possible (mindfulness?) and be kind to yourself. It’s ok to feel scared but distract yourself with things you enjoy. Taking each day at a time is the only way through it.

Another tip I heard which I liked is this - when you find your anxiety building and you’re worrying about symptoms etc, say to yourself ‘right now, in this moment, I am safe and ok.’ And try to just leave it at that - you can’t predict what will happen but you can ground yourself in the present.

I have health anxiety and I'm also extremely germaphobic.

My main issue is sickness (although I'm not massively emetophobic as I'm fine with sickness due to pregnancy/alcohol etc) so massive problems with sickness bugs and food poisoning. When sickness bugs are around my anxiety is massive and I have stopped eating certain things which could lead more to food poisoning. My hands have been cracked and dry for years from hand washing but not in a wash my hands 20 times in a row way but cleaning them after touching things. My DH has to deal with all sickness in my house. He is a complete star.

Covid has heightened it massively. I'm washing all fresh food and store cupboard stuff goes in the garage for 3 days. Post is left too. Everyone takes a shower as soon as they get home and all clothes are washed. I'm really worried that I won't be able to go back to even my 'normal' when all this is over and if I'm not then I will have to see someone about it.

Thank you everyone who replied. Last night wasn't too bad as I think I was asleep by 1am and I slept through till 8am. I think my fear has been ramped up by Christmas but the last time I went anywhere 'risky' (the supermarket) was the 23rd and the last time I went anywhere at all was the 24th, so hopefully in a couple of days I am past the most likely danger period. Woke up this morning feeling completely fine then as soon as I started thinking about it, I could feel a slight sore throat and like I wanted to clear my throat so here we go again... trying to distract myself with coffee and a book now