How do I stop health anxiety

[PurpleThistles84]

I am on antidepressants for depression, anxiety and PMDD which for the most I am stable on and will be on for life at a maintenance dose because I have had repeated severe depressive episodes.

The only time I don’t cope is when I become unwell. At the moment I have been unwell for around 5 days with fever, congestion, headaches and today, every muscle hurts and I can barely lift my own baby. Just to add to the fun I also started AF this morning and generally feel like I’ve been at the gym for a week straight. All day I have been fighting waves of anxiety, trying not to google symptoms and so on but since I had my baby, the minute I become unwell, I get so anxious that it’s something serious and I will not get to see him grow up.

I don’t know what to do and I feel so utterly pathetic getting into such a state over what is probably just a heavy cold. I hate being this way and feel like my life is held hostage to health anxiety.

What can I do? It’s hard enough being unwell without adding anxiety on top of it.

I’m sorry I have no pearls of wisdom about how to curb the anxiety but I’ll be watching with interest as I’m starting to realise I’m very over anxious re. Coronavirus. I had a bad experience when one of my DC was born, I honestly thought I was going to die and think mine might stem from that.

AF will not be helping at all. Try and just chill as much as possible. Hope you feel better soon

Hi DS is now 16 and I remember very clearly being in your shoes. I think it’s important to remember that it’s ok to have these feelings and to not berate yourself because you end up feeling worse. I do think that a lot of people even though they may not talk about it, would have had the same thoughts from time to time. Especially as a new mum and especially when hormones are perhaps raised. At the end of the day, anxiety is just fear spread thinly and in times of ill health and stress our protective motherly instincts kick into overdrive. It’s absolutely not pathetic, I think it just means you care about your baby and you’re frightened in case something should happen to you. This is something I’ve felt on and off for 16 years as a single parent and its not an irrational fear. Having said that, the chances are nothing bad will happen to you and you will absolutely see him grow up so try to remind yourself of that when you feel your mind running away with itself. I still have to tell myself out loud to stop sometimes. Please avoid googling symptoms because this will only exacerbate your anxiety, if you’re really concerned about your health then call 111 or your GP if you feel it’s warranted. Do you have any support or friends snd family that you can chat to? Health visitor? You sound as though you’ve been quite poorly so try to look after yourself as much as possible, which I know can be hard when you’re looking after a baby but its vital. One piece of advice i always remember from my Hv was that on aeroplanes they tell the adults to put the oxygen masks on before attempting to put their kids’ on for a reason..

In the long term, maybe its worth seeking out some CBT counselling to help “retrain your brain” when it comes to the health anxiety, especially as you feel that it’s having such a profound effect on your life and holding you back. I hope you get well soon and please ask for help and support if you need it, don’t suffer in silence (flowers)

I've health anxiety too. Stems from a medical event where I believed I was about to die.
CBT really helped me.
Two years ago I spent at least 2 days a week sitting in a&e waiting to be told I was not about to die. I couldn't work and I was consumed by utter terror.
Today I'm a different person. I still have health anxiety but CBT has allowed me to see things more rationally and not jump to catastrophic thinking.

OP I also feel really down and depressed when I’m ill. I do try to talk myself down though and remind myself that I’m feeling rubbish mentally because I’m not well. I try to wait it out knowing that it will pass.

Thanks all, it’s good to know I’m not alone in feeling the way I do. Thankfully AF and illness are both passing and I am feeling much more like myself mentally wise again.

I moved to the country a few months ago and whilst I love the peace, the country winter is very different from the city winter and I haven’t really been going out very much. I think getting out for some walks and eating a bit better will help too.