Health Anxiety is out of control

[lovechocolate123]

Hi, this my first ever post on here. For the past 10 months I have been struggling with health anxiety to the extent that it if particularly taking over my life. I feel that no one seems to understand. It started in October last year when I had stomach problems. I was feeling nauseous all the time and as a result lots weight. Had heaps of tests done but they couldn't find the cause. Now whenever I get a symptom i go on the Internet and scare myself to death. I am convinced the doctors have got it wrong and that I have a serious illness..,cancer in particular. All these horrible thoughts play on my mind. When I was really bad I couldn't sleep. I have had a course of CBT which has definitely helped but it is still there.Sorry for the rabbling post but I really feel like I have no one to turn to.

I've had it all my life, but have had long periods inbetween where I've been worrying about something else instead like work etc. I'm just an over thinker and worrier about most things.

14 days of citalopram but not seeing you for a month is really odd - you don't want to start taking them and then stop. I'd be inclined to phone up and clarify that!

Lovechocolate - my anxiety always peaks just before my period arrives - however bad it is, I can guarantee that it's at its worse that week. It's horrible (especially because I have 23 day cycles on the whole :( ).

I found with GPs that I had to shop around a bit before I found one I clicked with - my GP surgery is big, and there are some there I wouldn't go to with anxiety related things. There's one who is utterly brilliant (if she ever leaves I will be so upset!), and a few who I will go to as they know how to handle me. Some are unsympathetic, and some make my anxiety worse through no fault of their own - they just say things in a way that makes me worse. My current gp always talks about my anxiety before she will look at my symptoms, has endless patience with me, and has fought my corner with the mental health serves (not that they do much, but I know she's on my side). I think that when you have HA, finding a gp thay understands it is incredibly valuable.

Thanks I do yoga which I find really helps too

I did a stupid thing... I had s slight pain in my back ( mid left side ) and googled it. Now I am convinced I have C! Why do I do this?

I keep telling myself I have seen 7 doctors, had an ultrasound and countless tests and blood tests. Something important would have been flagged up wouldn't it?

Yes it would. I have kept a diary of my symptoms and worries (and tests!) over the years so now I can look st it and see I had exactly the same symptoms and worries ten years ago, and was fine. It helps to reassure me that I am actually fine.

Thanks for the advice I will try that. This all started about 10 months ago and I keep thinking the symptoms would have gotten worse by now. I just don't want to live the rest of my life like this 🙁

How is everyone?

OK thanks, back from our holiday (the flight was an utter nightmare - I cried most of the 8 hour flight!) - am so glad to be home. I've emailed my counsellor to put our sessions on hold so I can start CBT (they wouldn't let me do both at the same time).

How are you?

I know it is lovely to be home. I found that the CBT did help somewhat. I am better today. I am convinced my problems are hormonal and get really bad a week before my period starts. Now it has started I feel calmer and think more rationally. I have always been a worrier but in the past 11 months my anxiety is far worse. I wonder if this is the start of perimenopause. I am 43?

Tanfastic- how are you getting on with your medication?