Catastrophising - health anxiety

[AtopAHighHill]

Hello there.

Has anyone with HA found an effective way to stop catastrophising?
I found a new mole on my arm a few months ago - I noticed it and then forgot about it. Last week in the warm weather I noticed it again and immediately thought it was skin cancer. I spent hours online looking at pictures of melanomas to see which one my mole looked at. I stopped eating, was vomiting, and had constant diarrhoea with worry. DH made me call the gp on Friday and I got a phone appointment, she said as it wasn't bleeding etc it didn't sound serious but she asked me to send photos of it which I did, she called me on Monday asking me to go in so she could check it. I went in terrified convinced she was going to send me off to hospital etc but she examined me and said it was completely benign and it was actinic keratosis (age related.) Completely normal.

So of course I'm very relieved but I hate being like this. I've thought I've had MS, lots of various cancers, brain tumours etc (apologies if anyone is affected by these) over the last few years but thankfully always come away with a clean bill of health.

I'm on citalopram and propranolol for anxiety already but would appreciate if anyone has any tips to help, I hate being like this as its ruining my life.

Thanks x

Just wanted to reply and say I totally understand. I'm completely paranoid about every little symptom that the kids and I get and immediately imagine the worst. I think mine comes from when one of my kids was very ill, as well as relatives with cancer. I try and rationalise but it's not easy and a constant battle that makes me miserable and not sleep with the worry. I don't really have any tips to help but you're not the only one. Strangely I'm not at all bothered about Covid! I tried CBT but it didn't work - couldn't get my head around the thought processes as I think it's too ingrained now.

Me too. I’m not as bad as I was but it was a real problem for me a few years back.
My problem is that I am an anxious person and I think that to justify having anxiety I have to have a reason and that reason for me was symptoms and health worries. I would latch onto something and would obsess about it.
It did fade over time but I just replaced it with other worries.
The only thing that helped was talking about it and trying to rationalise my thoughts. Tried cbt but it didn’t help me but it may be good for you.
Sorry I’m not much help but you are not alone with this.

I had hypnotherapy for my catastrophising and I have to say I'm completely cured. It was very debilitating and constant and I had done it all my life. I'm 42 and I saw a hypnotherapist last year (a very good one) and have had no problems since. My anxiety is also greatly improved as is my confidence. I can't recommend enough x Good luck xx