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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:
treaclesoda · 09/12/2013 13:37

Sam I'm sorry, that is a hideous thing to have to deal with, I think it's quite common when someone closely linked to you is ill that you worry about being ill too, its completely understandable.

I hope you got on ok at the doctor today. If he/she tells you not to worry, will it put your mind at rest do you think?

Ephiny · 10/12/2013 13:14

I agree with violator about the techniques for managing anxiety. That sounds very similar to what I was told by a therapist a few years ago, and while it doesn't make the anxiety go away, it does help me live with it, stops it escalating into full-blown panic attacks etc.

It was a revelation to me to realise just how much anxiety can produce real physical symptoms, things like light-headedness, shortness of breath, weird muscle pains and spasms etc. Just knowing that, and being able to remind myself of it, helped me put things into perspective.

I find mindfulness meditation quite useful as well, though I'm bad at making time to do the regular practice (which is what you really need to do to get the benefit of it).

roomwithhue · 10/12/2013 14:58

Hello all.
Hope you're all having an OK day.

I've been lurking for a little while, and have NC-ed for this. It feels like a big step to post, as I'm admitting to myself that my HA is back.

Anyway, I've had longstanding HA (since my teens), which has at times been completely delibitating (missed quite a lot of uni, referrals to psychiatrists, lots of meds prescribed (though few actually taken), etc). Over a long time, I somehow got back on track, and have basically had a few years during which I've not had very much trouble from the HA (although I partly have just transferred my worries to my CD Blush).

Anyway, I've had a few months of worrying about my some health issues with my DC quite intensively, and then, out of the blue, BAM, my symptoms have returned. I feel light-headed, physically off-balance, trembly, scared, desolate and exhausted. I recognise all these symptoms of old (had them on and off for nearly 20 years when anxious) but nevertheless my main concerns are that this is not "just" HA, that I have something terrible, and that I won't be able to cope with it/will be a terrible mum/wife/will have to give up work.

I am so glad to have found this thread, but I am of course also very sorry that you are all going through similar issues. Thanks

roomwithhue · 10/12/2013 14:59

DC, not CD! I'm bonkers, but not THAT bonkers...

roomwithhue · 10/12/2013 15:07

Just been looking back through the posts, and wanted to say that like many other posters I am also obsessed with health of DC. At the moment, I'm ashamed to say that I dread seeing them, because I know I'm going to "spot" awful signs of current/future illness. I spend unneccessarily long hours at work to avoid it. Then of course I feel like a very bad mum.

treaclesoda · 10/12/2013 15:59

I've always felt so alone with this, its amazing to know that so many other people understand what its like.

treaclesoda · 10/12/2013 21:54

oh no Sad I've convinced myself that I see a lump on dh's neck, and he lost his patience and snapped at me that he's fed up with me telling him he has got lumps everywhere and I need to give it a rest. Can't say I blame him, but I still feel sick with worry.

choclab · 11/12/2013 20:16

how you doing treacle ? ...hows DH now ..

I'm feeling anx tonight and last night ...sitting in bed i felt here fluttering and kind of palpitations ....shaky ...feel it now ....do feel quite uptight so much going on ....
anyone els get this ?
had X-ray results back all normal heart lungs etc so that was something

Sallystyle · 12/12/2013 08:27

I have now had a dentist and a GP tell me my mouth 'sore' thing isn't cancer. It looks like a flat ulcer that is healing, but not ulcerated or bleeding or growing. They don't want to refer me unless I ask them to and I don't know if I want to go down that road.... yet. They don't think I need it. Which is good I guess.

Even though its been there for a LONG time and not going.

I was reassured for like 1 day.

I am under a crazy amount of stress with my ex husband dying, trying to support my children through the death of their father, trying to deal with my feelings of losing what is a great friend and ex husband while trying to give my other children a good christmas.

It's all a bit too much.

Funnily enough, I NEVER worry about others health unless I really need to. I don't inspect my children or husband. It's just me because I am scared to leave my kids behind, now I am even more scared as three of them are losing their father.

Sallystyle · 12/12/2013 08:30

Choclab.. it is 'just' anxiety. I get this all the time. It is so very scary, but it will not harm you physically. I promise. It's just mental torture :(

Treacle.. I know how hard this is but unless your husband has a track record of leaving serious health problems, try to trust that he knows his body best and know when to worry. I know it is all so much easier said than done.

Ephiny · 12/12/2013 11:45

I get that too, choclab. It's a very common symptom of anxiety. It feels horrible but like SamU2 said, it isn't dangerous and doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your heart. It's difficult to believe that sometimes though, I know!

WasWats · 13/12/2013 15:51

Are any of you on meds? I am on week 7 of lexapro and honestly I can not tell you how much it is helping. The first 6 weeks were very very bad, I was freaking out all over the place but the obsessional thoughts have now gone and I am coping so much better.

I used to be afraid to go on meds in case I missed a symptom and I would die because of it. I can now pick up the countless breast cancer etc leaflets that come through the door without thinking they are a sign to prepare myself for the worst.

WasWats · 16/12/2013 22:10

VIOLATOR

I have read your post so many time as, it has helped me so much. please share some more of your knowledge if you can. Am in a bit of a tizzy because I saw a blood spot on dd's leg, it came up out of no where, she is 11, wasn't there 30 mins before hand. It had a little green head which popped and blood came out then.

I am worried now that it is something terrible, it isn't is it?
Can someone just reassure me a bit so that I don't obsess.

treaclesoda · 16/12/2013 22:21

was I would tell you to try not to worry, but I'd be a big old hypocrite because the reason I haven't posted for ages is because I was too busy worrying about stuff myself Blush

Try to remember that it's the anxiety that's making you feel like this. Thanks

WasWats · 16/12/2013 22:26

It is only the anxiety isn;t it, I mean being realistic, it had a green go head on it and seems to have left like a cut on her leg. I keep wanting to rip off the plaster to check it but I don;t want to alarm her.

God I have been doing so well, although I suppose the fact that I am questioning my anxious thought is good.

DontWannaBeObamasElf · 17/12/2013 09:14

I'm not doing so well today. Have the doctor today as I felt a hard lump near/on my liver. I've been awake since 3-4 worrying about it. I was sick this morning and it was undigested food from 12 hours before so I am freaking out about everything.

I'm so tired of this. My therapy doesn't start until late next month.

treaclesoda · 17/12/2013 09:25

Don't that's horrific for you, anything like a lump would have me sick with worry too, but I can offer a handhold and a sympathetic ear, if that could be of any comfort.

DontWannaBeObamasElf · 17/12/2013 09:29

Thank you treacle. I just keep having thoughts that my body is riddled with it Sad

phlebas · 18/12/2013 22:15

DontWanna, how are you? Did you go to the doctor?

DH had cholesterol & PSA testing done today & he has a weird mole being checked out in mole clinic on Monday so I'm really stressing about that. On Monday he went down to a meeting with FIL's haematologist - FIL has prostate cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, kidney failure & a very very rare leukaemia. MIL is (understandably) finding it very difficult, she misunderstood the haematologist & unfortunately thought FIL's prognosis is better than it is. DH & I are both feeling fragile & exhausted.

DontWannaBeObamasElf · 19/12/2013 09:22

I'm so sorry to hear about youu FIL Phlebas.

Yes I did go, she had a good feel around and felt nothing out of the ordinary, I do have hard bits all around my abdomen but she said it's probably just impaction(?), no advice on how to improve it and as soon as she saw I'd been referred for health anxiety she took on a very patronising tone.

I'm full of the cold and my armpit is sore and swollen, I mentioned that and she just looked at me like Hmm

I got upset and she just stared at me. Definitely won't be going to her again.

phlebas · 21/12/2013 13:12

That's crap don't :( idiot drs who fail to realise that patronising & dismissing us makes it so much worse.

I having the worst day ever. I feel like I'm trapped in hell & no one will help me.

WasWats · 21/12/2013 13:21

This si the worst time of year for all mental health sufferers I think. The pressure to be perfect and happy. I think what is happening with me is that I am feeling the 'normal' anxiety that al parents do at this time of year, presents, food all has to be done etc etc. But my brain feels the anxiety and switches it 100 % onto health issues. And I worry and worry and worry.

Phelbas, get it out of your head, chat here x

phlebas · 21/12/2013 13:39

Just been sobbing down the phone to my mum I am absolutely desperate.

Dh (who hates me right now) in at OOH with ds2 (2 years old) - he isn't right & we took him to GO yesterday who was mmmm a bit constipated but okay - but still kit Niall. He woke up this morning with a purple blotch on his eyelid - it isn't an injury - that is a presentation if neuroblastoma & I am fucking terrified. I know that GP at OOH won't be helpful neither will A&E & then it is Christmas & no one will help. And I want to die right now. I cannot face this.

phlebas · 21/12/2013 13:41

I have no one that can help me

phlebas · 21/12/2013 13:43

I have three other children they will be destroyed if anything happens to their baby brother. My poor baby.