Health Anxiety

[Hotpinkangel19]

Is it possible to be cured? What helps? I’ve had it for 20 years and I need it under control!!!!! Please help xx

I'm sorry I can't help but just want to give a virtual hug and bump this up for you

Hi OP. Do you have a particular aspect of health you are concerned about? I've had health anxiety for over 20 years too - it absolutely sucks and since having my DS I've ended up projecting it toward him I'm going to try hypnotherapy soon. My anxiety always centres around bugs (mainly sick bugs) and temperatures my son has. Would it help to talk about it?

I have terrible health anxiety since a scare in June. I had something show up on a lung x-ray and got referred for a ct scan. My anxiety went through the roof and even though I got the all clear, I'm still obsessing over my health. Since then I've been convinced I had cancer of the oesophagus, stomach cancer and a dodgy heart. Tests have shown this not to be the case.

I have a kidney infection at the minute and I've convinced myself it's sepsis or kidney failure. I'm terrible!!

My doctor has now increased my dose of fluoxetine and referred me for CBT so I'm hoping that helps! If you find a way that helps you please let me know x

It’s mainly around cancer, it’s the constant checking and worrying that’s horrible. I’m 32 weeks pregnant and off medication so that’s not helping, plus my mum passed away in June then 6 weeks later my Dad was diagnosed with Terminal cancer - had been there for years and no one had ever known ☹️ He passed away 4 weeks later.

It is vile. I think it often happens if you lose parents/friend/relative suddenly or young.
Therapy helps. But it’s a work in progress.
Checking and googling feeds it, so try to cut down gradually for starters. See the GP- mine was very sympathetic.

Hi OP - firstly I'm so sorry to hear about your parents

I completely understand your fears - it's so recent and raw and cancer is such a fucking horrible disease.

Can I ask if you have a perinatal mental health nurse? I ask because you said you were no longer on medication in your pregnancy - I too had to come off mine when I was pregnant and it made a lot of emotions and fears I had a whole lot worse. In the end I went to my midwife and explained how I felt and she put me in touch with my local mental health team - it's a specialist section that helps pregnant women and they also look after your mental health post natally - and it sounds like something you may benefit from as they will be around to help if needs be. There is no social services involvement or anything like that - they just want to make sure you are coping with the adjustment in life that having a baby brings.

Do you have a supportive partner and friends?

Thinking of you OP

Oh my goodness, no wonder your health anxiety is present, with what happened to your parents, I’m so sorry

I was suffering from health anxiety two years ago, along with a general anxiety disorder. I had CBT and really can’t praise it enough. I have the occasional moment now, but I have improved so much, it genuinely was life changing.