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Original poster

health anxiety

999 replies

hopeliss · 14/10/2013 11:18

has anybody ever found a cure for health anxiety. it has plagued my life for 7 years and don't see an end to it. awful day today.
ps never been on mumsnet before. sorry if this is the wrong place to raise this.

OP posts:
LovelyBath · 19/02/2014 17:51

I was wondering about mindfulness. has anyone tried that? Do you think it's possible to get a referral on the NHS?

Meganlillymai · 19/02/2014 18:58

Do u think head aches like an ache in the forhead eyes and nose can be caused by anxiety

Meganlillymai · 19/02/2014 19:00

Bettyg1981 I am the same. Last week and part of this week ive claimed I have lymphoma hight blood pressure heart disease skin cancer and now somthig wrong with my eyes or brain....

Milkmachinemadness · 19/02/2014 21:48

Oh yes I went through the mole thing , also have a cyst on my arm but of course that was cancer , it's one thing after the other :( I really don't want to have to go back on meds :(

BettyG1981 · 20/02/2014 11:08

LovelyBath, my friend has tried mindfulness. She said it is brilliant and helped her a lot with anxiety and panic attacks. I'm not sure if GPs refer or recommend it. It can be quite pricey for the courses.

Meganlillymai, I get a lot if headaches. Tension headaches cause pain in my forehead, top of head and sides. I get pressure in my nose and eyes when my sinuses are blocked, which is often accompanied by a headache.

I worry all the time about everything. I've had a cold now for two and half weeks. I'm now concerned about the meds I'm on because they can cause a reduction in blood cells. Just after starting them I caught a cold with a terrible sore throat that I can't kick. Plus, a gland on my neck has been up for weeks now.

I tell myself that if I go it the doctor to get something checked then I won't have to worry anymore. The trouble is I find something else to worry about. Sad

BettyG1981 · 20/02/2014 11:17

Having said all of the above, I do feel the meds are helping. I still worry, but the panicking is easing. I feel less scared when I wake up and the physical symptoms that my anxiety causes are easing. I'm a long way from being well and being able to function as I would like, but I do feel like I'm getting there. Small steps. I didn't like the idea of being on meds. I didn't want to be drugged up, but I think they were necessary. I need something to balance out the worry thoughts I have. My meds increase the serotonin in my brain. I now have hope that I might feel "normal" one day.

Meganlillymai · 20/02/2014 14:40

Yeh well ive a runny nose but the head ache is still there although eased a lot today its just in the top of my head now.

Its funny cos I always think il be the only person with these symptoms when really im not millions of people experience the same symptoms.

Im debating about seing a doc about my anxiety. I just have an awful phobia about the docs :/
I have a lump in my neck im asuming its a gland as it was sore n went hard after a while but 8 months down the line it hasn't changed :)

Milkmachinemadness · 21/02/2014 16:40

Think I'm gonna go out and buy a bottle of whiskey maybe that will help

LovelyBath · 21/02/2014 16:59

I went to the library and got a book on Mindfulness. It looks quite helpful. There were also some books on Health Anxiety.

Milkmachinemadness · 22/02/2014 17:15

Having a bad day today :( I keep looking at my daughter and feel sick with worry . Convinced again its breast cancer abd cause my boobs are large they are so lumpy and don't always feel the same each side , I feel like I've missed something. I'm going to GP Monday to ask for CBT. I don't enjoy myself anymore , I never want to go out I just want to hide abd I'm missing out on the kids and my life ! I'm 30 this year my youngest is 19 months abd I feel like I've totally lost the last 2 years of her growing up all I can remeber is me worrying , I worry over every little thing . Will keep you all updated on GP appt.

BettyG1981 · 22/02/2014 17:36

Meganlillymai, going to the doctor is a really scary thing to do. Is there anyone that you trust that can maybe go with you. I was so scared but found once I told my doctor a massive weight had been lifted. The first step is always the hardest. You're definitely not alone with the symptom thing. I've got a pain in the back of my head. My rational side says it's my cold it my eczema on my scalp (caused by stress), but my anxiety is saying it's something wrong with my brain.

LovelyBath, I hope the book is helpful. Let us know how you get on with it.

Milkmachinemadness, I think talking with your GP is a good idea. My friend has had CBT and she says it changed her whole outlook. I know what you mean. I'm 32 and the doctor keeps reminding me that I'm young and healthy when I just feel ill and that time is slipping away. Be really honest with your doctor and don't hold back. I spent around 20 minutes crying and talking with the doctor. I was convinced she was going to lock me up for being mad! She was really understanding and supportive and assured me that there are lots of people that feel like this. Lots of luck with appointment. Be sure to let us know how it goes.

WasWats · 22/02/2014 18:23

Milk and Betty you both sound 100% like me before I went on meds. I am so far from it now that I find it hard to imagine being like that again. I did every type of therapy you can think of and then in Oct took the big step, which actually in reality isn't that big. At this stage I don;t even notice I am on them, they do not interfere with my life at all. Other then make me feel more rational and grown up and in control.

Meganlillymai · 22/02/2014 18:56

Well I spoke with my mum who didnt seem to worried as its a mild head ache but its more annoying then anyyhinh elsr. I feel it behind my ears and my eyes and ever so slightly on my nose. Is that due to my cold do u think???

Milkmachinemadness · 22/02/2014 19:31

Megan I've had that before when I've got a cold , sounds like your sinuses xx

Meganlillymai · 22/02/2014 19:34

Its been nearly a week but its not getting worse just slightly better more annoying

Milkmachinemadness · 22/02/2014 20:53

I'm sure it's your cold , take some lemsips , they help x

BettyG1981 · 22/02/2014 22:23

Definitely sounds like a head cold and your sinuses. I've had a cold for nearly three weeks now with sinus trouble. The doctor told me that it's normal and colds tend to pile on of each other at this time of the year. Sinus infections usually clear by themselves and rarely need antibiotics. It will linger if you don't rest or are run down. I think that's why I'm suffering because I can't get any rest. Hope you feel better soon.

WasWats · 22/02/2014 23:06

Eh hello. I tried to help. Remind me not to bother.

dishandspoon · 23/02/2014 06:40

just found this thread ... I suffer with health anxiety too, not so much day to day, but I struggle with it if I travel more than an hour away from home, I struggle with anxiety and then start thinking what if I have a stroke/heart attack etc away from family and help. It is horrible because then I start feeling really panicky and get the symptoms anyway. Still unravelling my anxiety disorder really appreciate any tips or feedback, have resisted medication so far but is it really the only answer??

Milkmachinemadness · 23/02/2014 07:39

Hi dish and spoon , sorry you are suffering from anxiety too , it's blooming awful. I've had similar to you but worry if I'm out shopping and something bad happens abd I have to call an ambulance abd everyone would be staring etc but I more fixate now just on my health . I have panic attacks about it and the worry I will have an attack whilst away from home , it's not good. I was on citalopram which worked to a certain extent but I still felt like it was just making me slower rather then dealing with my anxiety. I'm back to GP Monday so will see what her suggestions are...

Milkmachinemadness · 23/02/2014 07:46

Waswats sorry I didn't see your post , I'm all over the place this morning :( what have you having? Therapy / medication ? Is it something I could ask my GP for ?

WasWats · 23/02/2014 12:16

Sorry Milk, that was very childish of me, must have pmt at the mo! Yes I am on Lexapro. It is one of the serotonin ones. Basically if you do not have enough serotonin in your brain you will be come anxious, obsessive and depressed. this one is the best of obsessive thoughts. The first 4 weeks or so on them was bad, but nothing that I wasn;t used to. But still it was bad til my levels settled. Saying that, my sister is on them and had no side effects, so it si very personal. I am telling you now this med has given my children back their Mother. I still worry but I rationalise it very fast so no checking and double checking. I can pull myself out of it. I am like the grown up version of the frightened child I had become.

Milkmachinemadness · 23/02/2014 14:12

Thanks waswhats , I think I may have to go back on the meds , need to pluck up the courage to go to GP tomoz.im sitting here shaking like a leaf cause I've found a Hardish lump at top of my boob and been constantly checking all day. Making me feel sick , don't know how I'm going to get thru this again but I have to for my kids , although right now I wish I was dead so I don't have to worry anymore . I'm also worried as GP refered me to breast clinic twice already had ultrasounds all clear so think they gonna think GO AWAY crazy person :(

Milkmachinemadness · 23/02/2014 17:14

I'm at work now I'm trying not to burst into tears well I already have , I'm waiting to go in but now u can see I've been crying :( someone give me a slap please to wake me up

WasWats · 23/02/2014 18:00

Milk, what you are experiencing is not right, you are sick. But not physically. You do not have cancer or anything else, you have health anxiety. I promise you that is all you have x