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?

Merry Christmas everyone! Very thankful for you all, it’s been so nice to have people to talk to who understands. Have a lovely day with your families xx

Just checking in to say I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas Day.

Hi all

I hope you don't mind me joining. I didn't think I'd ever find an active health anxiety thread. I've had health anxiety for over 10 years. I always fear of getting cancer. All my doctors know me personally because I've been there so many times. I've had counselling, CBT in the past which helped me however, recently i feel like I'm relapsing. My health anxiety is coming back, I'm starting to feel lumps on my body, the other day my neck turned red because of all the poking.

I feel so embarrassed writing this, I'm just in such a bad state. I hate feeling worried all the time. I just wish I could stop panicking.

I gave birth 4 months ago and I get worried that I'll die and my baby won't have a mother. I think that's what's kick-started this anxiety again. Also I've been home for so long due to lockdown and pregnant women being in the vulnerable category. Before I overcome the anxiety by keeping myself at work however now I'm always home.

Welcome to the forum @Bk21, please don’t feel embarrassed hun I promise you you’re not alone with this. My health anxiety kicked of after I had my little boy for years ago along with losing people close to me. I steadily got worse and I’m finally starting private therapy in January.

Being at home was difficult for me too and these days I find that I’m having to keep myself very busy to get some temporary relief.

When I don’t have a specific concern I can feel my self scanning my body looking for things to latch onto. 2 weeks ago it was a lump under the armpit, now it’s breast pain, this type last year it was bowel symptoms and about 6 months ago it was vulva worries. It’s exhausting.

You’re not alone hun and everyone on this forum is so supportive, I’m sorry to hear you’re suffering, we are here to lean on anytime you need x

@Bk21 don’t be embarrassed - I have the last few weeks literally convinced myself I had bowel cancer - closely inspected every poo for blood 🤢, and became convinced I could feel a mass in my stomach to the point I’ve got a bruise on my abdomen. It was my colon - not a tumour. I went in this time for two dr appointments and still believed that they had missed the tumour.

My health anxiety is always there but I find that sometimes worse than others, so a lot of the time I can ignore my symptoms or at least I can mostly cope, but this time I have been distraught at times, convinced I was stage 4 with liver mets, possible lung also as I coughed a couple times.

Thankfully this has no started to ease and I have started to believe the Dr. I have self referred for more CBT in the new year because I can’t spend another year having these episodes - they honestly leave me unable to do anything but poke myself and Google cancer symptoms and diagnosis stories

Hi @Bk21! I think a lot of us will say that health anxiety got worse when we had children, mine definitely got worse when I had my youngest. My anxiety centres around cancers too because of experiences we have had in our family I assume. This group is great for getting some support from people who do really understand how you are feeling!

Oh @Bk21 please don’t feel embarrassed, my anxiety centred around cancer, I wish I could control it but I can’t! I love this thread it really reassures me and I would be so much worse off without it so do always come on here when you have a wobble! I also poke myself till I ache and I not a lot of other users do too!

Didn’t really want to post this but my mum has unfortunately passed away, it hasn’t really hit me yet I think I’m in shock because it was quite sudden and just not what we as a family expected, my anxiety is just through the roof today!

@tmh88, oh love, so very sorry. I'm still new here but you and everyone else have been such a comfort to me.
Be kind to yourself. We lost my Mum this year but she had been ill for a long time.

Oh @tmh88 just popped on to see how everyone is and saw your post - I'm so sorry to hear this, my heart goes out to you, lots of love to you x

@tmh88 oh I’m so very sorry. Sending lots of love and we’re all here if you need to talk. My heart goes out to you love xx

@tmh88 I’m so sorry to hear about your mum passing, that’s absolutely awful news. Take care of yourself, don’t beat yourself up about letting the anxiety get to you. We are here if you want to talk and not just about your anxiety xx

@tmh88 I’m so so sorry for your loss. How very sad, sending you lots of love, we are all here to lean on should you need xx

@tmh88 so so sorry for your loss

Thank you all, I’ve kept myself busy all day but just feel quite lost and anxious!

How are you all keeping? Luckily I’ve not poked at myself in 2 days now which is like a miracle for me!

@tmh88 I’m glad you are doing well with not poking at yourself, that’s a great positive. I’m sure it will take a while for you to get over the shock of what has happened, especially at this time of year!

I’m doing ok, had a little poke this morning but managed to stop myself and not done it again today x

@MrsWhites it’s easily done isn’t it, I have been that on and off with tears today, I have only thought about poking when I came on here to update!

I feel awful saying this but my anxiety is taking over my thoughts at the minute, wish I could grieve properly and my brain didn’t work this way! I go from crying to anxious then crying to anxious! I’m worrying their is something wrong with me to just not be sad constantly my sadness just comes in waves between feeling anxious! Can’t tell anyone in real life this.

@tmh88 aww really don’t beat yourself up, there is no manual for grief, just because you aren’t crying all the time doesn’t mean you loved or missed your mum any less than anyone else. There is no right way to grieve, you do what feels right for you and don’t try to force your feelings. Your anxiety is bound to be up at the moment, it doesn’t mean that something is wrong with you, it’s just how your brain processes things!

All I can suggest is that you try to stay busy if you feel that helps, rest and be kind to yourself xx

@tmh88 I know when I list my brother I felt quite numb for some time. People kept telling me how strong I am but I was just numb, I think it was too much for me to absorb. Don’t beat yourself up, do what feels natural to you, and what feels right for you, and yes be kind to yourself hun. X

Thank you both @MrsWhites and @Goolies xx

How is everyone doing? X

@tmh88 I'm so sorry for your loss. Absolutely agree that there are no rules on how to grieve. Swinging between many different emotions is completely normal and understandable, just go with it for the next few days and cope any way you can. Sending you love.

Hi everyone, how are you all? I’ve been having a few quiet days with the family, not doing too bad anxiety wise, having my husband around helps, he can usually calm me down so that’s good for me at the moment.

@tmh88 hope you are doing ok x

I think I’m doing ok. I think this particular ‘spike’ is reducing - and I am now coming round to believing the Dr - that I don’t have colon cancer.

Logically, I know I’m fine, but there’s that little ‘what if’ voice.

@MrsWhites I find it easier having family at home to not worry! I did break and poke today! Think there needs to be a group where people can meet up a bit like slimming world but get rewards for not poking!

@Tunnocks34 I’m just the same as you! My anxiety revolves around getting cancer, I honestly am slowly, slowly coming round to believing my dr! The irrational me always wins the logical unfortunately I’m starting therapy next week which couldn’t of come at a better time really!