Need advice about anxiety/stress/worrying please

[messylittlemonkey]

Hi

Can anyone give me any tips?

I've been a lifeling worrier and come from a family of worriers/anxious types.

I've always been the kind of person who panics at the thought of doing certain things (especially social things) and I've always worried about what people think of me. I'd love to be carefree and spontaneous instead of looking for excuses to avoid things.

I accept that, to a degree, this is my personality, but I'm getting fed up of it.

The other aspect of this is thatI tend towards hyperchondria, always fretting that a minor ailment will turn out to be something terminal. It's exhausting.

In recent years, since DD1 was born, I've had various episodes where I've convinced myself of the following:

A tingling nerve in my back - thought it was MS, pestered GP and even had MRI done which showed nothing untoward.

Pain in left ovary area - thougt it was ovarian cncer, again pestered GP and wound up having a US scan which revealed nothing.

Persistent headache following a nasty virus - convinced it was a brain tumor when it was basically a post viral thing.

After that, I developed a very unpleasant skin rash which came and went and eventually turned out to be a rare type of hives which was brought about by stress (basically my body was unable to cope with being in a near permanent state of anxiety and this manifested itself via my skin).

I do have one 'health problem' which isn't imagined and that is a heart condition which requires me to see a cardiologist every so often, but ironically, this was picked up totally by chance and has never caused any symptoms.

Currently, I'm experiencing a lot of light headedness which started during a tummy bug which both DP and I had a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure it's nothing sinister but I can already feel my thoughts turning towards possible dreadful reasons for it.

Sorry this is so long. It's a bit of an unloading session really and has given me a chance to put it all in writing, but I would love to know if anyone else feels like this and has any advice on how to deal with it.

Thank you so much for listening.

Health anxiety is a pretty common worry.

I used to suffer with it quite badly,mainly though my late teens and early twenties.

I did have several bouts of depression brought on by intense panic/anxiety so was treated with Anti depressants and therapy.Don't disregard medication if it will help-it certainly helped me for a good few years.

CBT is great for anxiety,although there are usually long waiting lists for it via the NHS.

Have a read of this link.It has lots of information and 'worksheets'

I also recommend you read Claire Weeke's books on nervousness.I also go back to her books if I'm having a blip of panic and they ALWAYS help me to calm down and kick anxiety up the arse

P.S I'm surprised I'm still on this planet.I've also had every cancer/condition/ailment known to man

Thanks Thingummy, that's really kind of you.

In my case the health anxiety really only been present since DD1 was born five years ago. I think it partly relates to the fact that I was a SAHM for her first two years which gave me lots of time to 'think' about things. The other, more general stuff has always been present.

I will look at the link you gave me. It's good to know that I'm not the only person who feels like this!

mlm - you say that the health anxieties have only arisen since your daughter was born 5 years ago, but you say at the beginning of your post that you have been a "lifelong worrier"

I think in a way that the sort of things you describe are very common (apparently hits on medical matters are second only to hits on pornography on the net!) I think you are describing anxiety which really means fear and all the health stuff is really anxiety and once you have stopped worrying about one thing you will as you say quickly start worrying about another illness.

What sort of childhood did you have - how were you treated when you were ill as a child. People with health anxieties often have parents (especially mothers) who show that they are anxious when the child is ill and this is picked up by the child and tends to lead to health anxiety/hypocondria in adults.

You are certainly not the only one feeling like this. I think you need to get some treatment for anxiety (which is a very common complaint) and CBT is very good but there is usually a long waiting list. Can you afford to pay (about £50 per hour) but may be well worthwhile.

Totally agree with Nana.

My health anxiety stems from having a very protective and very,very anxious father.He would literally scream and shake if I ever got ill,which ultimately made me panic like anything as a child.

Thanks Dad!

Thanks again.

I have to say that my parents didn't have an unusual approach to illness - my mother was always very practical about such things, although both of my parents do now seem to visit thir GP very regularly these days, often about nothing much.

It is definitely true that once I stop worrying about one thing, I find something else to take its place.

Having said that, I don't worry about my DCs health, but luckily they are both prett healthy!