Health anxiety

[Mvshrln]

Hi all,

I've seen a couple of health anxiety threads on here but they're all quite old/inactive and wondered if there were any more recent ones, or if anyone fancied discussing it via this new thread? It's helpful when someone else knows how you feel.

I really struggle with HA, the thoughts bounce around my head until I fixate on one and worry about it relentlessly. I can see why the anxiety has appeared (friends parent passed away, the covid-19 situation has terrified me, I'm getting older/have life events happening like buying a house, and I also work within the hospice sector). It's helpful to know why but it doesn't help with how to deal with it! I'm currently taking venlafaxine and CBT counselling via videocall but the worry takes up huge chunks of my day.

Nightmare! How is everyone else?

Sorry to hear about your grandad @chorusline79, that must have been tough glad you’re ok after doing that though x

@chorusline79 sorry about your grandad

@MrsWhites my mum use to use baking soda and water for mouth ulcers (although never tried myself to know if it works )

Did anyone else watch the full monty on ice last night and feel their anxiety ramp up? I watched the first 15 min but someone started talking about how they left it too late to see a doctor and that was it, my mind started going - ‘what if I do really have something in my breast and I’m leaving it too late’, ‘what if the bleeding (that was almost certainly my period) was actually cervical cancer and I’ve left that too late?’

So I’m not going to watch anything like that anymore, it’s brilliant that it raises awareness but I just can’t trust myself to not start obsessing over it 😢

@MrsWhites I didn’t watch it for that reason, I got those exact feelings when I watched children in need last month, I like you agree it’s good to spread awareness but I am the exact same in that I obsess over what gets said, I can’t watch GPS behind closed doors either for this reason, my anxiety is ramped up so much with programmes like this and my mind does turn drastically to the worse! I hope you are ok if you want to talk at all today to take your mind off things I’m free today and will keep an eye on this post (worrying myself I’m going to send myself silly with worries as I don’t have much to do ) I get silly worried like at the minute I want to lose some weight but at the same time I think I best not as I might not know if it’s me losing the weight or lymphoma wish I had a magic wand for us all!

I am aware how silly that is as I’ve had an ultrasound and everything that said it’s not lymphoma it’s just the horrible what if feeling again @MrsWhites

@tmh88 thank you! I can’t watch any of those GP programmes either!

It’s not ridiculous at all, it’s just the what ifs getting you! It happens to me too, I can feel perfectly fine about something, yesterday I was feeling good about my boobs, not stressing and actually had quite a good day but as soon as I watched that programme, the what ifs started again and now I’ve woken up with pain in the breast that worries me the most! I’m sure the pain actually responds to my anxiety!

Funny you should mention losing weight. I actually want to lose a few pounds myself but I’m scared to because I’ve convinced myself that it will cause changes to my breasts which will really stress me out! I mean how crazy is that!!!

Morning @MrsWhites and @tmh88 I’m the same, it’s not just tv programmes, I was ok last night and browsing Facebook then an ad came up with a story about a woman and her breasts! That’s it I got this sinking feeling in my stomach and just wanted to sleep. Woke up with breast pain today so had a little prod again.
I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy honestly!

It’s so exhausting and draining. I don’t know what the solution is.

Thanks for your nice messages yesterday @Goolies @tmh88 @MrsWhites

@MrsWhites I definitely think you're right about grief. You have to learn to live with it - bloody hard though!

Please rest assured that I and so many have the same thought processes , it's the fear of missing something yourself isn't it, v scary. Definitely good to avoid watching as it's too triggering. Although I may be wrong as I'm about to start CBT module on graded exposure - which is dreading as I think it may make me temporarily worse. I read a thread on here yesterday eve about blood cancer and ended up panicking, sleepless night, and upset stomach this morning! Must learn not to do this.
I have bad upper back pain on and off and I think this makes me worry more too.

Also, you're so right about the mental and physical pain link. When you're distracted I guess you feel it much less if at all? Brains are so powerful, CBT exercise I did recently was to try and imagine an itch on part of body and of course it's surprisingly easy if you just focus on that knee/boob etc being itchy! I've been seeing a chiropractor and she tells me much back pain in upper back is linked to emotions as we hold so much tension in our bodies.
Hope you feel better and breast pain eases off.

And hope everyone else is ok today, thinking of you all.

Hi everyone, thanks for your well wishes. Scan at 11.30 so I'm keeping everything crossed. Such a weird thing with our minds, I've actually not worried that much about my own health the past few days as I'm massively on edge about what the consultant is going to say about the baby this morning. My husband is also having a bad prostatitis flare up and he's worrying it could be prostate cancer that has been missed so I feel really upset for him as I feel like I've made him anxious about his health through how I am as he never used to be that way. He's had tests etc so I know he hasn't got anything bad wrong with him but I also know how hard it is to be reassured.

@MrsWhites glad you've figured out what is causing the ulcers, hopefully they will clear up soon. I know it hurts like hell but have you put salt on them? that usually bursts them and they go pretty quick.

@chorusline79 Sorry about your Grandad, its never easy, especially when you were really close xx

I agree with what you've all said about watching that Full Monty on Ice, I can't watch anything like that, I was reading in the TV guide, one of the people on it was talking about a Casualty actress who died from breast cancer and it set me off straight away and I got so anxious. I then feel guilty that people are going through all this and I can't even watch a programme about it.

@Lib3rtine - all the best for today, sure all will be well x

Sorry to hear your DH is struggling but please don't blame yourself and at least you can understand how he is feeling and support him - good that the tests haven't shown anything sinister. Thinking of you both.

Totally get the guilt! This is why only my DH knows about my HA as I feel so ashamed of it.

@Goolies yes it’s exactly that feeling! I have managed not to poke and prod this morning but I’m dreading getting in the shower because that seems to be a trigger for me, just too much temptation! I hope you manage to get through today without too many checks and worries x

@chorusline79 you are right brains are so powerful, it’s scary of how much we can convince ourselves that we can feel something! Graded exposure sounds scary, good luck with it. I definitely don’t think I could handle that so well done for being prepared to give it a try!

@Lib3rtine I hope the scan goes well! Not long until you’ll have a gorgeous snuggly newborn to distract you! I totally understand how you feel guilty, I worry all the time that I am transferring my anxiety onto my children x

@MrsWhites I’ve not showered yet either! For the same reason! Thank you, you too, hope you manage to keep busy and distracted with good thoughts :) x

@MrsWhites yes it’s the what ifs! I really can terrify myself with it to the point of not wanting to eat/sleep!

@Goolies I got rid of all social media which did really help me! I’m sure I see more cancer adverts on the tv at the moment thought but I think my brain is just picking them out and it’s probably the same amount!

@chorusline79 I read that sudden blood cancer post too, scared the living daylights out of me! So you have my sympathies there!

@Lib3rtine best of luck with the scan! Got everything crossed for you! Soon have a lovely newborn

Hi everyone. Baby has grown more and jumped up slightly in percentiles which is brill, but obviously there is something else this week, increased pressure in blood flow from placenta to baby so I'm back again next week to have that checked again. It's good that they are monitoring me but with how anxious I am, I just can't relax like I need to. I think it makes it worse as I have to go on my own as well.

@chorusline79 @MrsWhites I know, it just makes me feel so bad that I've managed to make someone who has never had any anxiety in their life think like I do and worry about their health as I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!

I haven't seen this sudden blood cancer post so I will try and avoid it as things like that really do set me off, I'm still getting over the lung cancer story I saw which scared the living daylights out of me! I break up Friday for Christmas so I'm hoping that not being on my own all the time will improve my mental health a bit.

Hope everyone is having a decent day. I really fancy having a bath to relax but don't know if I dare as I'll end prodding and poking and finding something else to worry about!

@Lib3rtine great to hear baby is growing well and good they're keeping an eye on you. Bless you it must be so hard having to go on your own, such weird times.

Have you got any bubble bath? I always put loads of bubbles all over my chest so I can't look at them when I'm in the bath! And I always watch some trash on my iPad or read a book to stop me from prodding.

@Lib3rtine so happy to hear your baby is growing! Glad they’re keeping an eye on you also!

I’m the same when in the bath! Could you wear a costume as daft as that sounds! If anything it might give you a chuckle!

Please don’t feel you have passed on your anxiety’s, I understand why your thinking you have but these things happen more commonly to people after a large health scare than we realise, it won’t of been your doing and it’s nice you can support each other and understand completely how the other is feeling

@Lib3rtine fab news about the baby! I think the problem with extra scans is they find more things that would probably normally go unnoticed, so try not to worry, I’m sure if they were concerned they wouldn’t leave it a week to check you again!

When I really fancy a bath I use loads of bubbles like others have said, cover my boobs with flannels and take my iPad in with something to watch on. Weirdly I find a bath easier than a shower. Isn’t it ridiculous the things we have to do to avoid our own bodies 😂

@MrsWhites really laughed at that, I even get changed with my back to the mirror to avoid looking at things that could possibly be wrong 😂

@tmh88 I can better that - I’ve been known to cover my wardrobe door mirror with a towel whilst I get dried! 🙈

@chorusline79 thankyou! Yes, think if I wasn’t alone I wouldn’t be as bad. I’m right strange with baths, can’t have them too full so bubbles wouldn’t work I don’t think. As crazy as it sounds it’s one of my CBT goals to be able to have a bath without being anxious and checking and prodding!

@tmh88 aw thank you! I might try a costume, it would definitely give me a laugh!
Thank you, I know what you mean, I reckon a lot of how he’s feeling is to do with becoming a Dad as well, think it makes you realise someone is going to completely rely on you so you’re so aware of your own health etc.

@MrsWhites I might try the flannels! It is strange how we think! With a shower I know I can be really quick and try and get in as soon as DH has got out so that he’s there getting dry whilst I’m in so I can’t be prodding and poking!

@MrsWhites hopefully one day we can look at ourselves again!

@Lib3rtine yes I completely understand that is my biggest anxiety to be honest!

Morning everyone how are you all? I’ve woken up with bad headache and I’m congested! Feeling sorry for myself not wanting to move

Sorry to hear that @tmh88 can you have a lie in for a bit? Hope you feel better soon.

I'm ok this am. Upper back bit painful and stiff but I actually slept quite well last night for first time in over a week. Did a progressive muscle relaxation before bed which is one of my CBT exercises and felt so much better going to sleep and wasn't worrying. I'd recommend trying to those who struggle with sleep.

@Lib3rtine great news re your scan! Not long till you will have your little bundle of joy 💕💕💕

Haha I can so relate to the bath/ shower comments, they sida make bee chuckle to!! I’d never considered a Bubble bath to distract from prodding I will have to try that too as shipper and bath times often lead to a slippery slope.

@tmh88 hope you feel better soon, are you working from home? If so try take it easy today. Xx

@chorusline79 what is the muscle relaxation you refer to? Xx