Health anxiety

[Mrspig86]

Hi all,

I have had several periods of health anxiety over the last few years which usually last a few weeks at a time. I'm really struggling atm because I have had really achy arms, neck and back now for 3 weeks. I just wondered if anyone else had experience of aching as an anxiety symptom? I've been to the doctors and they thought it was likely to be related to something benign like poor posture, sleeping on my folded arms, ETC. but it's persisting. This health anxiety is really making my life miserable.

I suffer with health anxiety too so I really do sympathise. It helps to think logically, if the doctors didn't think it's anything serious it probably isn't. Have you changed anything recently, washing powder, shower gel, diet? Are you just focusing on it overly? If I stop and think about it I suddenly feel itchy all over too.

Sorry I misread your post as itchy not achey

It will be anxiety - i get this. I also lay on my arms (maybe thats an anxiety thing!).

I have severe health anxiety and I get this. I have been told it is tension and possibly muscle strain from hyperventilating.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. It's massively debilitating to live in fear isn't it. But unfortunately there isn't a quick or easy fix to anxiety. I am most scared of neurological diseases which from what I've read seem to be quite commonly feared with HA sufferers. I do think I will have to pursue some kind of cbt to try and address the root cause. I feel like such a fraud going to the doctors though and try and keep it to the bare minimum. It seems like having the worrying personality runs in families as most members of my immediate family have also had periods of their lives affected by anxiety or panic disorders.

CBT seems like a really good option for you. I've just finished a three month program and it was really ,really successful for my friends I met there who had HA. Good luck xx