Health anxiety

[mummyofone16]

Hi everyone I really need some advice. For about 4weeks now I've been suffering terribly from health anxiety. It started with redness on my breast which turned out to be nothing (was at breast clinic) since then I cannot stop worrying about everything mainly cancer. I've diagnosed myself with all different types. Been back to gp who done full bloods and tried to reassure me that the things I was experiencing where just done to anxiety (chest pain, breathlessness and more) these didn't start until I started worrying so it makes sense but I can't stop panicking. I'm being referred for cbt but haven't heard anything yet. I have a 6month old son and loving fiancé but he just doesn't get it and thinks I just to "catch a grip" but I can't! I'm constantly checking myself, googling symptoms, weighing myself and worrying. I have a sore little finger today when I move it and I keep thinking it's something bad or part of a bigger problem although I could've lay on it or hurt it I can't remember. It's really affecting my life and starting to bring my mood down. I'm very irritable and hate being alone at home with my son as my mind goes into overdrive and I literally convince myself I'm going to die and leave him and he will grow up without me. I cry a lot because of these thoughts. Can anyone help me? I feel like I can't escape these thoughts xx

mummyofone try the breathing / distraction exercises I mentioned in my earlier post. They sound a bit silly but they really do help to focus your mind away from your anxieties.

Also as someone else mentioned, if you google "symptoms of anxiety", you may be surprised that a lot of what you're feeling is how the anxiety is showing itself. For example, at my worst I had pins & needles and tingly feelings in my legs (which I convinced myself was the non existent cancer spreading around my body) and also feeling dizzy and lightheaded, which I was certain was also sign of some other impending doom. However both of those things are common physical symptoms of anxiety. IIRC, there were over a hundred physical symptoms of anxiety. Just reading that made me feel a bit calmer - it was the anxiety giving me the symptoms, rather than the symptoms causing my anxiety, if that makes sense? It's worth looking up.

On the other hand, definitely don't look up any other aches or pains you may have! If you're anything like me, An internet search of the most innocent little twinge will have you convinced it's something horrendous. Stay away from Dr Google.

(my GP actually has a mug that says "don't confuse your google search with my medical degree" - a quote that has stuck with me ever since I saw it)

Definitely stay away from google! At my worse I just couldn't stop myself googling. The more I googled my symptoms the worse the symptoms got. Controlled breathing helped and the book Overcoming Health Anxiety really helped me too. I keep it by my bed and when I start to feel the anxiety building up because of a physical symptom I start to read it. X

I think I have health anxiety but I haven't been brave enough to go to the gp about it yet, mine is my dd health though not mine. I think I've had anxiety for a while but just didn't realise, it's really ramped up lately though, I found a swollen lymph node in dd's neck at Christmas and it's been awful ever since, I'm constantly googling, had her to the docs twice and asking other professionals for reassurance. I feel panicky, tight chested, dizzy and have awful thoughts coming in to my mind. I also find myself checking her for marks, or other symptoms- a couple of weeks ago I was hysterical as I thought she had a lump in her stomach I called my Dh to check and it was her bottom rib! I just can't help it though. I can't believe I've actually just written it all down

Wenchelda and lovechocolate123 I will definitely doing the breathing exercises. I now have like a muscle type pain down my arm and thinking the worst! I swear it's never ending. Before this health anxiety started I wouldn't of thought anything of this. I hate even typing what I think it is I hate the word. I had a lot of pressure at the base of my skull last night which I'm sure is just anxiety and worry but of course my crazy side took over! I just went to bed early as I couldn't deal with my thoughts. My letter for cbt better be here this week! Thanks for replying it's so good to get these feeling out

Butterfly86 don't be embarrassed to see ur gp. It might put ur mind at rest and if it doesn't he/she can get u some help and support. My son is 6months almost 7months and I do worry about his health from time to time but it's never like the anxiety about my own. If it's affecting ur mood and life ur gp will be able to help xx

mummyofone I was exactly like you before I started my cbt. Every single ache, pain or twinge set my mind racing with the worst possible thoughts. My biggest fear was (and to an extent I guess still is) cancer. Just saying or hearing that word, or seeing it written down would set my heart racing and I'd feel panicky. I really do sympathise with how you are feeling. It's horrible. I knew I was being irrational but I simply couldn't believe that it was anything less sinister. I hope your cbt appointment comes soon .... I found the sessions quite hard, especially at first. My first few appointments I spent most of the time crying. I never thought I'd be able to get on top of these fears. But it really does help.

Butterfly be brave and go and see your gp. I felt stupid and embarrassed about going because I knew I was being irrational. I thought there would be nothing she could do to help as no one could ever guarantee that I wouldn't get ill. But I'm so glad I went. My mum came with me as she'd seen the states I'd got myself into with worrying - she basically talked to the gp whilst I sat there sobbing. It was a long road to get to where I am now - a years worth of cbt sessions. But I'm so glad I took that first step.

I've got it quite bad at the moment and I'm not sure what the trigger is. I have it with my DC health as well. Really freaked my DD out a few weeks ago because I had a panicked thought about her little toe. She was upset and cross with me and it was like two sides of me had to separate and one side calm the other down. Very upsetting. It was the stress of Christmas that brought that on, I find my HA goes absolutely through the roof at Christmas time.
I will try breathing exercises, definitely.
I feel like I know every cm of my body now and there's not a single ache or pain or twinge or freckle that goes unnoticed. It's bloody hard sometimes.

Thank you everyone I have made an appointment to see the the gp next week. I have been ok the last couple of days but I find that's how it goes I can be fine then all of a sudden out of nowhere it is back. I feel like I'm trapped inside my own head. I really don't want medication though. I have always been a worrier but I think it got a lot worse when I was going through recurrent miscarriage, I then went on to have an extremely anxious pregnancy with dd but thought it would be fine once she was born which obviously it wasn't as I worried about other things such as sids and meningitis. I also lost my nana 4 weeks before her birth so was dealing with that too. Since then we have lost my uncle to cancer at a young age and very suddenly so it's probably an accumulation of things I've never dealt with. Dd is 2.8 now though so it's gone on a while I hope I can get this sorted it's awful

I've had such a bad day I have a lot of tension at the base of my skull at the back. I've had this on and off for a few days. Can this be anxiety related? It's making me feel worse but if it's anxiety related then I need to try and calm down. Vicious circle! I actually feel like I can't cope anymore and my fiancé is away to a bird meeting tonight (his hobby) I told him I was feeling anxious but he just says "your fine babe stop worrying" he just doesn't seem to understand. I really needed him here tonight. Feeling very panicky and at my peak of anxiety xx

I've taken 2 paracetamol to see if they help although it's not pain more just a full pressure. It's like tension headache without the pain! Xx

mummyofone the tension/ache you are feeling will be a physical symptom of your anxious feelings. Don't let yourself get carried away thinking it's anything its else. Try the breathing and distraction exercise to focus your mind elsewhere.

I sorry your DH isn't being more supportive or helpful but I think it's really hard for someone on "the outside" to understand or comprehend just how intense your anxieties are. Can you have a relaxing bath? Or watch a comedy to distract you?

Mummyofone- your symptoms sound like anxiety. Try to download an app with calming sound effects on your phone if you can or distract yourself by watching TV. I know how you feel though at the peak of my anxiety I always want people near me. Try to get the book Overcoming Health Anxiety by R. Wilson and D. Veale. It really did help me. Here if you want to chat x

Mummyofone- how are things?

Hi haven't been on in a while but things are much the same just worrying constantly. I haven't been back to my gp as my usual doctor has left and I don't feel like I can talk to anyone else I really liked her! I go between brain tumour and lymphoma and occasionally a tumour in my shoulder even writing it I know it sounds daft but I can't help it. How's everyone else doing xx

Sorry you're still feeling anxious and worried mummyofone. It does pass but sometimes it needs help to boot it out. I know what you mean about having to talk to a new doctor but do give it a go because it really can help.

I'm fighting mine, it's exhausting! I have various phantom symptoms - for example, I know I am wearing the wrong size bra and it's squeezing my boobs so they're a bit achey at the end of the day. I still think breast cancer though. It does seem silly writing it down but it's very real in my head. I also know I'm massively stressed out because work is so bad at the moment and it always gets worse when I'm stressed.

I hope you start to feel better soon though. It can be fought, and you will get there

I been bad too the past few days with nausea and stomach cramps. Have been waking up at night. I know that stress and anxiety makes me worse. Then I worry about the physical symptoms which then cause stress and anxiety. Vicious cyle... huh? I find getting out of the house helps. I so glad I have people on here who understand xx

It's so horrible isn't it? I have it too and I know mine is down to deaths I have experienced but it's not that easy to get past
Every twinge is a symptom and I too ha e self diagnosed many time. I have a list to remind me how many times I have fretted. I find it helpful to google non scary stuff it is more likely to be if I really can't leave google alone but it's true that Google always leads to a cancer diagnosis if you self search
I tried the thought diary too about worst case/ best case and it usually helps as does thinking about how you'd reassure a friend if tables were turned and you had a friend experiencing what you're going through

Polka- that seems like really good advice. Thank you 💐

Me too, I am lying awake convinced that I'm about to die.

This is going to sound odd but - go swimming. Preferably outdoors with an outdoor swimming group but if not just an ordinary indoor pool and do a few lengths. It is very good for anxiety and mild depression- well documented evidence base. Keep on with CBT but just try the swimming for a few weeks and see. If all else fails you'll feel healthier and exercise is definitely best way to protect against many cancers.

Hi, I know this is quite an old post but I suffer from this myself and find it really hard sometimes when I am in the middle of it. I have also had every type of cancer in my mind. I have always worried since I was very young but since becoming a mum I have a terrible fear that I am going to leave my daughter whilst she is young due to cancer. The past couple of weeks I have been particularly worried about skin cancer as I used to used sun beds when I was younger. I think all in all I am just terrified of dying. I should be enjoying the time with my daughter but this is really affecting my happiness. I too dread coming home. I feel like once I get reassurance from my friends or family I am ok for a little while until I get home and I will google symptoms and put myself in a black hole
Of anxiety again. When I see mums out and happy I feel so envious that they do not have this thought process. Any help at all would be much appreciated xx

Hi bollocks1 I’ve just read through this thread and saw your post at the end. Do any of the original posters have any advice?

I am currently spiralling and have been on here for over an hour. I have terrible health anxiety and struggling at the minute. How are you feeling now?
The checking of my skin and body lumps and pains etc has increased again :(