Health Anxiety bad today :(

[melissa35]

I don't want to go to work. It really is debilitating. Could cry.

Anxiety is horrible

I feel your pain!! God its shit!!!

Can you bear to tell us what is worrying you?

Ground yourself- five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can feel. It distracts you from that moment of panic.
I know how you feel, as do many of us. Would it help to talk about it?

Three things you can feel? What does that mean? I can feel the covers over me. I can feel my phone in my hand and my constantly running allergic nose! Genuine question because i try to do this and it never works for me.

Op you will be OK

Thanks all.
Thanks for the tips @SureIusedtobetaller. Appreciate you taking the time.

So this time....

I was taking my toe nail varnish off last night and have noticed a small brown/dark red dot under my toe nail. I dropped something on my toe a few weeks ago (last week) I cant remover the exact time. I just remember thinking 'Jesus my toe!!' Pain. I didn't even stop to look at it. Thought no more of it. There is slight bruising there as well.

So my logical mind is, small blood blister. Type it into Dr Google and it's Melanoma. I've taken a picture and will monitor (obsessively check).

There just seems to be something different every week.... and the fear is so real ☹️

So sorry OP.

I’m also in a bad way at the moment. I can’t focus on anything and am all jittery. I fainted at the weekend during a run. I have just phoned in sick and am so anxious because there is always this massive inquisition afterwards that sends my anxiety into space.

There is this beeping alarm at work and it affects me really badly and makes me hyper-aware. I have been hearing it in my head all weekend.

@Undercoverbanana I'm sorry to hear you suffer too. It's such a horrible thing to deal with. I wish I knew the answer.

Please don't worry about work. It will be fine.
Try and maybe go for a walk, but a film on. Distraction is the best thing.

I've managed to get in. Although I missed my bus because I was googling this morning.

Urgh. Just hate this! I know I shouldn't google, but I do and then I feel worse.

Hand hold for you OP. Anxiety sucks

Thanks so much @KitandPup . It really does, robs you of the here and now. Worrying about something that might not happen.

I came on to post about feeling really low with my HA so I completely sympathise. It's horrible isn't it. I know it will subside once the most recent worry goes away (until the next worry comes)

". It really does, robs you of the here and now. Worrying about something that might not happen"

Omg!! That sentence literally sums up anxiety more than anything i have ever read in my whole time battling with this fucker!!

I hope you are feeling better Op. I have an ultrasound next week to investigate something from my smear test. Gin is about the only thing thats helping just now #climbingthewalls

Thanks @LEMtheoriginal - I really empathise.
I really understand how you must feel with anxiety. It's horrendous.

I've really tried tonight and haven't Googled anything. I'm trying to be rational. I remember backing my toe hard, there is slight bruising, so it's most likely a tiny bit of blood under the nail. I've taken a pic and I'll check it again next week. If anything has changed or it looks worse,I'll go to the docs. Obsessively checking will do no good. It's hard though.

And I know deep down it's anxiety. It was something last week...

@MummaPI - I hope you're ok. It's so hard when to feel low. It's all consuming. Takes over your whole thought process.

I remember reading somewhere thoughts are not facts. It's true, just because you think it doesn't mean it IS true.

@Undercoverbanana - how are you feeling?

OP, you managed to get to work today and that's fantastic. Sometimes we underestimate our strength to get through this, even when we think we have no strength left.

I have a GP appointment coming up soon and I have this list of things for her to look at . Anxious about that.

Wishing for a better tomorrow for all of us.

Thanks @vikingwoman - anxiety is awful. I try and take it hour by hour.

Here's to a positive day xx

Yes agree that it has to be taken bit by bit. Hope you all have a nice day with not too many worries x

Thanks @MummaPI - how are you feeling today?

Anxiety is horrible.

There is a website called No More Panic and it has every kind of anxiety on it, I've found it really helpful over the years. The forum is full of people with depression, anxiety or panic, it can be a real handhold when you need it. It has a health anxiety bit as well.

Ps. In the nicest possible way, steer clear of Dr Google, it doesn't make you better, it makes you worse. 💐

Thanks @fieryginger I will take a look at that.

I've managed to avoid google since yesterday. It's hard because with health anxiety you looks to google for reassurance and the 'worst case scenario'.

Two conflicting things.

And with health anxiety there is little reassurance, or if there is, it's only temporary.

Today is a better day. Funnily enough I went on a mental health course with work. It covered lots including anxiety and also mindfulness. Food for thought...

How are you this evening @melissa35?

I had s first session with a psychologist this week but unfortunately it seems to have sent me on a spiral today! It’s tough isn’t it? massive understatement

That's great @MummaPI . A course like that sounds so useful. It's great that more people are talking about mental health. I've heard great things about mindfulness and I do try and practice it myself, it does help. It's just sometimes I get myself into such a frenzy, it's hard to stop, take stock and reset.

@Mynameisnotthis - it's great that you're getting help. Is it health anxiety you suffer with? I can imagine sessions like that are draining. Is it a lot of talking? I feel ok thank you. Keep having flashes where I 'remember' I'm worried about something but I just take a deep breath and think, I'm monitoring it. I'm not going to obsessively 'check'. It is a nightmare though! It's like living in constant flight or fight mode. Xxx

When HA really grips you it's horrible. I have a breast screening coming up - sigh!!

All I can say is - when it strikes if you can get into work or do whatever else you were planning to do that day - do it, it will help. Although it feels impossible, eventually your mind will focus on the day-to-day and you will get some respite.

I used to be very bad for this - mainly because I hated that dread, sinking feeling when I'd forgotten what I was worried about and then suddenly remembered it. It seemed easier to have it in mind all the time, somehow.In the end I told myself that it was doing so much damage to my health to be constantly anxious that I had to allow myself to have breaks even if it did mean having that unpleasant moment.

@HPFA - yes I agree, HA is the worst, it's a feeling of sheer panic and mind racing. I'm sure your breast screening will be absolutely fine. Try not to worry, that's the thing, I can be completely rational for someone else, but can't do it for myself.

I don't even feel relief when I finally realise something I've 'found' isn't serious. I just know that my anxiety has subsided for a bit, but I know it will be back in the form of another health 'symptom'.

You here about people suffering anxiety for years, it makes me wonder can it actually be 'cured' or is it just part of our make up.