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Mental health

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Original poster

Health Anxiety

10 replies

LittleAndOften · 02/10/2019 23:25

DH has just been diagnosed with this after several months of being investigated for mystery illnesses. He has genuine physical symptoms but also severe anxiety and can't separate one from the other. He is an HCP himself which probably exacerbates things.

I'm keen to know if anyone here has experience of this please? Any links, resources or advice on supporting him would be helpful. Our 2nd baby is due shortly so we're all pretty stressed.

OP posts:

Mumma1984 · 03/10/2019 19:31

Hey lovely I have this too, I'd say stay away from forums and google, it's the worst thing - other people can reassure you but they can also fuel your worries - exercise is great it helps take your mind off the symptoms you have that make you think you are ill and then eventually you start to think ... maybe if they disappeared when I exercised I must be ok and it's anxiety.

I'm trying CBT and Hypnosis as well and hope it works, I had a 6 year spell of being ok but due to genuine health issues I have relapsed a bit

Original poster

LittleAndOften · 03/10/2019 21:47

Thank you for replying. I'm trying to encourage him to do things he enjoys to take him out of himself and not just obsessively research. He's normally a very fit man but he's been unable to exercise due to his symptoms. He's been advised to stop all medical investigations but he's worried there will be something missed if he does that. It's a catch 22.

OP posts:

Haggisfish · 03/10/2019 21:49

I take medication (duloxetine). I also have critical life insurance. I do things to keep me mentally healthy and prioritise me.

Limensoda · 06/10/2019 15:13

You can go on a CBT course specifically for health anxiety. Check with your local MH services to see if they offer it.
I did a CBT course on worrying, which was useful, but not specific enough for my health anxiety. I'm hoping to get on a course but there's a long waiting list.

Original poster

LittleAndOften · 06/10/2019 18:04

Thank you guys. His main challenge at the moment is that he's got so many issues that have come out through a recent breakdown, the mh professionals haven't decided which to focus on first. In the meantime I'm bearing the brunt of everything and I don't know what to do! This baby and the birth need my attention but it's all being swallowed up by DH's crisis.

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Limensoda · 06/10/2019 19:24

I think you need to prioritise yourself, your child and your new baby. Are there any family members who could support you in this?

Original poster

LittleAndOften · 06/10/2019 20:59

No, his family are a drain, they just take from him and that's one of the reasons he's got to this point. My parents are 3 hours away, they're helping where they can but it's infrequent.

I'd like to prioritise our wellbeing but DH is home all the time and he has no other outlet than me. It's the erratic moods I can't handle right now. Neither of us have any resilience and for various reasons we've become socially isolated so don't have close friends to call on.

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mrsed1987 · 06/10/2019 21:10

Hi,

I have health anixety and o ly sought help because my husband told me if i was fine after investigations i had to seek help because he found it so difficult to see me get upset and thinking im dying! (We also have a young child).

I self refered to my local mental health team and they offered me CBT. I am actually doing this online as i dont have anyone to watch the baby.

Maybe you can speak to your husband about looking in to that?

Mumma1984 · 06/10/2019 21:16

I agree with@mrsed1987 I have HA too, it's really hard and when I'm obsessed with illnesses and symptoms I think no one believes me and I know my body and they are wrong and I'm so irritable and horrible to be around, we have a little on and my hubby doesn't get HA at all, so I am seeking CBT/Hypnosis to get it sorted... can't live like this

Original poster

LittleAndOften · 06/10/2019 22:07

I had CBT in my twenties and it was really effective, but he's been told that he's not ready for CBT yet. He's got an appointment with a psychiatrist tomorrow, hopefully that will start to move things forward. He's had to wait so long. It's all such a mess. He's facing ptsd, childhood abuse, out of control perfectionism, deep seated anger and this health anxiety plus he feels physically unwell, he's just overwhelmed. The health anxiety is at the forefront but there's so much else going on. He's also the breadwinner so we are now struggling financially too.

I think this is the hardest part of my life. I'm just terrified. He went off on one at me this morning, told my I was the root of many of his problems, said we should separate. I went into emotional free fall. A couple of hours later he was all repentant and he spent the rest of the day apologising. It's just exhausting and I don't know how to help him, or myself.

OP posts:

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