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How do I help DD manage her health anxiety?

2 replies

Dontbescaredlittlebear · 03/11/2019 08:16

DD is 24, living at home after finishing an MA. No luck trying to get a job so has a lot of time on her hands.
She’s had MH issues for at least decade, a sketchy diagnosis of BPD, general anxiety and is on ADs
Just recently she seems fixated on her health and last night decided after a few weeks of stomach issues that she has ovarian cancer. Earlier in the week it was appendicitis.
As she refuses to go to the doctor how can I best break this downward spiral?

OP posts:
Mumma1984 · 11/11/2019 06:36

Do not let her google! Easier said than done but honestly that is the worst thing, if she has a medical worry the doc is the only option, I googled Illnesses constantly and now I know far too much and I'm worried all the time - it's a horrible anxiety to have, she needs to stop the spiral! Maybe educate her on some anxiety symptoms too? In case she has a bout of anxiety symptoms that she links to an illness by googling or something?

Esmerelda1988 · 11/11/2019 06:55

Medication (sertraline in my case) helped me. I think medical anxiety can become OCD like when you start googling and that feeds the anxiety, so the meds gave my brain a break from the worrying and I came off them in a much better place. Try to stay calm with her- my DM had a tendency to shout at me in frustration which really didn't help. If she recognises she has a problem with anxiety then encourage her to go to the doctor- I wouldn't for ages because I was worried they'd confirm all the illnesses I thought I had. And she needs a job/volunteering because no doubt too much time is available to fill with worries!

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