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?

Hi all, hope you are having nice weekends. My doctor called me yesterday morning to say my smear test was clear. I am very relieved and enjoyed my afternoon and evening although I'm aware my anxiety will return soon enough to focus on something else!

@Mvshrln so glad your results came back fine, the worry consumes your whole life doesn’t it and good news is such a welcomed relief until like you said you start to worry about something else. It’s such a horrid vicious cycle that we just can’t crack😩.

@Mvshrln Excellent news!!!! So pleased for you!

That's brilliant, OP - enjoy the peace of mind while it lasts!

thanks all :) very pleased.
Does anyone else get the following: when one worry is "resolved" (e.g. my smear was clear so I feel okay about that right now), how does your mind choose what else to focus on? I feel like my mind bounces around my body trying to find the next thing to focus on. I'd like to try to 'intercept' this mind bouncing/body checking behaviour before it lands on one aspect of my body to focus on.

@Mvshrln

thanks all :) very pleased. Does anyone else get the following: when one worry is "resolved" (e.g. my smear was clear so I feel okay about that right now), how does your mind choose what else to focus on? I feel like my mind bounces around my body trying to find the next thing to focus on. I'd like to try to 'intercept' this mind bouncing/body checking behaviour before it lands on one aspect of my body to focus on.

This is what mine does, too. My first worry was last year around October when I watched Coronation Street and the storyline was about a lymph node. I've got a one on my neck that I've been able to feel for years but the storyline made me think otherwise. It spiralled to me worrying about lymphoma and it was awful, I ended up at Mind having CBT. I had the lymph node looked at and an ultrasound and it is completely normal. Fast forward a few weeks and then during my self examination started worrying about breast lumps.

I'm trying to stay away from negative press - any stories that say things like 'tragedy', 'tragic' etc as I read them and then worth

Worry, even!

@Mvshrln I have this exact same thing. I really struggled over the weekend woth anxiety and now feeling really depressed at what feels like the hopelessness of it all. I am usually really optimistic (other than health!) and bouncy so this is a new feeling for me.

But I feel that as soon as I get my pelvic scan I will get 5 mins relief and then, exactly that, my mind will bounce about to find something else to fixate on. In fact, now that I've got the scan booked I'm now moving onto a mole that my DD has that's grown really big and is irregular. I don't know if DC can get skin cancer but I'm in the middle of making a GP appointment to have it looked at.

It just feels never-ending at the moment and it takes the joy out of everything. I have a week off with my DC this week and want to enjoy it and feel relaxed but my mind is in a really bad place.

I've managed to get an appointment for telephone counselling later this week, so I'm hoping that will be helpful.

@dillydallydollydaydream7 I can't watch any medical shows, and even cancer research adverts set me off. I have to be careful reading the paper/magazines as they also like to run tragic health stories.

@dillydallydollydaydream7it's strange how we all feel so similar! I never even thought about lymph nodes until I went into my spiral about breast cancer and began to prod around at myself. I don't even know what a lymph node feels like. However, I do know that raised lymph nodes can happen for loadsssss of reasons that are NOT cancer.

@KingaRoo really sorry to hear how you are feeling today - I've got a touch of Monday blues for sure, and also I feel there's a change in the weather which is lovely as I love autumn, but that always set me on edge a bit too.
I've got a full mole mapping session soon but my mind has already raced forward into worrying about another part of my body.
I really hope your telephone appointment goes well :)

I used to read the news online but I would immediately zone in on the health stories. I literally don't look at those sites at all anymore because they fed into the compulsion aspect of health anxiety. We feel compelled to read them cos we think they may provide reassurance when really they make us worry even more. But then it's hard as we don't want to fall into "avoidance" behaviours.

It's difficult with tv shows like Coronation St, and the news, magazines etc because they do highlight very important issues like physical health, mental health etc. But they are often quite sensationalised or very bespoke stories. It must be an incredibly hard balance for them to create a story that is factual and raises awareness, but that also grabs the reader/viewers attention (which is where the emotive language etc comes from).

I really really wish I could enjoy myself and not feel this constant state of dread. How on earth do other people do it??

I think the media has a lot to answer for in fuelling health anxiety - all the cancer awareness stuff is all well and good but makes you feel like it's everywhere! My google news feed had two tragic cancer stories on it from tabloid sites just today but I know it's based on what I've googled, so the answer is to stay away from Google!!!

Joining this thread as I am really suffering at the moment, it's helpful to hear it's not just me!

This thread is great. I'm really suffering at the moment, my biggest fear is I will die and leave my dc and how will they grow up without me. I was at the doctor last week with a dodgy mole, shes referred me to the hospital to have it checked.
For some reasons my boobs are feeling really sore and heavy almost like I'm pregnant but it's very very unlikely but now I'm worrying I'm pregnant.
Then I was looking in the mirror and I thought just between arm pit and breast was more swollen on 1 side and I might have breast cancer, in reality I've probably just put on weight.
But I'm exhausted with it all and it's starting to really depress me. My dh is getting a bit sick of me telling him all this too

@LazyDaisy10 this is exactly my fear too, getting ill and leaving my children. It's overwhelming me!

That's the main fear for me too. I keep picturing my DC having to grow up without me and can't bear it.

The issue is there's always a symptom isn't there? So it's just an endless circle of panic.

Sorry - I'm back! I was feeling mostly ok following my breast clinic apppointment last week. However, now It's nearly Friday I'm in a state of rising panic again. Clinic will be calling tomorrow after looking at my last mammogram & comparing it to the one they took last week to say if I'll need a biopsy or not. Feeling terrified again......

@GateauxFabulous Welcome :) I agree with you that there is always a symptom which is difficult!

@LazyDaisy10 I hope your mole check goes well! I had my entire body mapped for my moles recently and they zoomed in on a few ones they wanted to check, so I am waiting for the results for that. The bit between armpit and breast is a bit of a focus for me too as mine is quite fatty and I do bother it a lot to see if it feels lumpy and I have to stop myself from doing that.

@Worriedoncemore I fully agree with you about the media, and unfortunately the algorithm on google etc does shows posts it thinks we are "interested" in because of our previous searches (or conversations as I swear these phones listen to us!). It's not surprising you feel worried about tomorrow, that's normal. I've got my fingers crossed for you. Remember, even if the mammogram does show a change, it does NOT necessarily mean it is cancer. This is what the doctor said to me at the breast clinic. He said if I needed a biopsy, to remember that it is not necessarily because they think it is cancer. Please do know that we are thinking of you and are here for you though x

I feel a bit rattled today - the weather is a bit glum, I saw a friend yesterday who was quite low and I am worried about her, and I'm also on my period (which was late which ofc worried me!). Still, it's good to know why I feel a bit off, and I have had a healthy lunch and will have a good rest this eve.

@LazyDaisy10 Let us know how your mole check goes! Hope everything goes well for you

@Worriedoncemore Keep us updated - remember, they are comparing because they are being thorough and that is a great thing to be!

@GateauxFabulous Welcome and I'm glad you can take some comfort in this thread that we are all in the anxious boat and, between us all, we will not sink!

Just updating as promised. Clinic have just called (thank god, don't think I could've waited much longer).

They said they've compared my mammogram with previous ones (last one 3 years ago) said all fine, looks "pretty much" the same. No biopsy needed but do want to take some some additional views, just to be sure. They will send an appointment through shortly.

Still not quite the news I wanted as it means more waiting but does sound like they're being extremely thorough. Nurse assured me nothing to worry about but of course I still will!

@Worriedoncemore ooh well I'm glad they called and that is good that they don't want to do a biopsy. It is frustrating having more waiting but it's good that they are being thorough! It's good they've said nothing to worry about - they're professionals so will know what they are doing so please do try to take heart in that x

@Worriedoncemore Well, the waiting is annoying but they wouldn't tell you it looked pretty much the same if it didn't, and it just means that they will have more images to compare future ones too x

Morning all!

How is everyone getting on? I've been up and down the past week or so. I've got to call the doctor about something this morning and it's making me feel quite wobbly - who else isn't a big fan of calling the doctor?

I feel like I've always got about 3 things on the go that I worry about! I've got to call the doctor for gynae issues because I bled after sex :( I'm hoping it was just from friction or something because it was errr quite intense/lasted longer than usual but it was the day after my period finished. But it's never happened before.

I stupidly have been reading really sad stories on certain health websites which has been triggered by the people in the news who have been unwell and I've become like a moth to a flame with reading really sad stories about people. I'm feeling a whole new level of grief again weirdly, perhaps it's the change in seasons. Also I know I take on other people's grief/imagine myself in their situation so I feel really deep and sad emotions.

Definitely feeling like I want my pjs, bed and some wallowing time!

Gah, got a doctor's appointment this afternoon so they can do a check down there.. they said they think the bleed is probably from my period finishing the day before, but because I've had abnormal smears before then they want to check. I mentioned I have health anxiety and they kindly found me an appointment this afternoon rather than making me wait until tomorrow/Friday.

Just feel wobbly now :(

Hi OP! So sorry you've got a new health concern but it's great that they can see you this afternoon. I agree re phoning the doctor - I very rarely phone them, only when I feel that I have to! I usually find once I've done it though I start feeling better.

I also understand about reading sad things that have happened to people and focusing on it - our minds are extremely good at focusing on the negatives rather than the positives, and for some reason assuming that the bad things are more likely to happen to us! Try not to worry yourself too much - it sounds like the bleeding isn't anything to worry about and hopefully within a couple of days (or maybe today?) you'll have confirmation of that. Also remember the previous times you've had worries about your body and how they turned out to be nothing - that's what I try and do. Do some nice things to distract yourself this afternoon, maybe. Everything will be fine

I've been doing okay recently. There's pretty much always something on my mind but as it changes so frequently I don't always have much time to obsess over one specific symptom. Yesterday just felt quite anxious for no reason and felt a bit panicky that there was something wrong with my body just because I felt a bit tired. I also had a vague sense of impending doom - this can happen with anxiety apparently, I've had it before and it does go...does anyone else get it?