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?

@Proseccoagain I understand how you're feeling - when the pandemic was at its worst I would get terrified just passing dog walkers in the woods and think "oh now I have to worry for two weeks". I think we've been made to fear this thing a lot more than we need to - the chances of catching it at the moment are very slim, the chances of catching it badly are even slimmer. My sister is a nurse and has been in a small office with other nurses who've had it (but not realised at the time) and no one else caught it. I think most people are asymptomatic or have it very mildly. He was outside and presumably you spoke for less than a couple of minutes? Also sounds like you were v quick at closing the door when he opened the outer one. Whilst I totally understand how you feel as I have felt that way so often, being objective I really think you needn't worry but I can understand you'd like to have more control in that situation. Maybe try and talk to him through the door next time and ask him to keep back?

I think the media is so responsible for making so many anxious people much more nervous than they need be - I'm so angry at them for it!

Hope this helps at all.

Happy Monday everyone! My scan went fine (phew), and she could check bladder and lower intestine too (for endometriosis) as well as ovaries, womb, cervix etc. She even pointed out my fallopian tubes and eggs...!

@dillydallydollydaydream7 I'm with you there about questioning if the pain is "real" or not, especially as I know that anxiety can produce all sorts of odd physical symptoms. It also helps me to know that "bodies are noisy" and they do make noises, sounds, do weird things just because.

@Sojo88 that's really exciting! Also seems like a good way to get to know the community/area more if you are moving somewhere new?
I don't mind working from home but I would like to go in a few days as well, so I have other people to talk to in person, and also a bit of a break from home!

@Proseccoagain how frustrating that the delivery man didn't adhere to social distancing! that's a good idea to keep the front door locked. How are you feeling today?

[quote Sojo88]**@Proseccoagain I understand how you're feeling - when the pandemic was at its worst I would get terrified just passing dog walkers in the woods and think "oh now I have to worry for two weeks". I think we've been made to fear this thing a lot more than we need to - the chances of catching it at the moment are very slim, the chances of catching it badly are even slimmer. My sister is a nurse and has been in a small office with other nurses who've had it (but not realised at the time) and no one else caught it. I think most people are asymptomatic or have it very mildly. He was outside and presumably you spoke for less than a couple of minutes? Also sounds like you were v quick at closing the door when he opened the outer one. Whilst I totally understand how you feel as I have felt that way so often, being objective I really think you needn't worry but I can understand you'd like to have more control in that situation. Maybe try and talk to him through the door next time and ask him to keep back?

I think the media is so responsible for making so many anxious people much more nervous than they need be - I'm so angry at them for it!

Hope this helps at all. [/quote]
@Proseccoagain @Sojo88 this all makes perfect sense, and I fully agree with the media (and some people on social media) for the pure scare mongering. Of course we all need to be careful and take reasonable precautions, but the constant daily barrage of anxiety ridden news has been so difficult and definitely increased anxiety for a lot of people.

that's good you've got an appointment next week! xx

Hello. Thank you for those kind words Mvshrin.
I had a reasonably good day yesterday and got out into the garden to do some tidying up, had a good meal last night and felt much better.
However, woke up this morning with fear and high anxiety that the virus has got into the house and that I have touched it somewhere and then rubbed my eyes.
Have felt terrible, feeling sick, no motivation, all morning with that thought going round and round in my head. I rang the number my GP gave me for the mental health team and spoke to a lovely nurse who listened for ages. She recommended anti-depressants, and made a note on my NHS record to that effect, which is what my doctor recommends as well. My GP wants me to call her on Thursday so we shall see.

@Proseccoagain I'm glad you had a good day yesterday, must've been lovely getting out into the garden with this nice weather! So what you've said about the virus being in the house has reminded me of something called "contamination OCD". I used to be like this with sickness bugs, absolutely panicking when someone I work with may have casually mentioned they felt sick and then I'd obsess over whether I'd touched the same door handles etc as them. I was also the same with HIV and would obsess over whether I had randomly come into contact with any blood.

I've been on the following website a lot which has helped me understand health anxiety/health ocd:

www.madeofmillions.com/ocd/contamination-ocd

CBT (to help learn how to disengage from the thoughts) and talking therapy (to understand why you have the thoughts) can be so, so helpful with over coming this. And also medication can be so helpful, but of course you need to find what works for you and what you are comfortable with at the moment. And in the mean time, we are here :) xx

@Proseccoagain also my therapist has said it's common and normal to experience low anxiety periods (like being able to enjoy yourself in the garden etc) and then have the anxiety return in full force. It does happen unfortunately, but over time the low/non anxiety periods should be more frequent and the high anxiety periods be less and less. Sometimes I think when we have a nice time and don't worry, our minds are like "wtf, I don't know how to cope with this" and so they ramp up the anxiety

Well, I slept pretty badly last night (it was so hot!) so I'm feeling a bit on edge. Had occasional sharp pains in one breast which have been more frequent recently (occurs occasionally when I lift my arm up to reach something). Can't stop poking and checking the breast and now it feels sore and I'm really focusing on it. Had an ultrasound a few months ago and it was fine apparently but of course I've booked another one in..

How's the pain now, OP?

@Sojo88 fine thank you, I had an ultrasound today and it was all absolutely fine which is good. I've got therapy tomorrow luckily as I think I've been having a bit of a brain slip! Hope you are okay.

@Proseccoagain how are you getting on? did you have your follow up appointment this week?

@Worriedoncemore how are you? did you have your follow up appointment with the hospital?

@Mvshrin. I saw the doctor again this morning, and he confirmed that there is nothing sinister about the red mark on my arm and says it is not skin cancer But I am still worrying as the skin appears shiny on it. Perhaps it is scar tissue from the scab ( I had scratched it, and broke the skin).
Any way, he has put me on anti-depressants, and will phone me in about ten days to see how I am doing, so I will ask him then. This worrying never seems to stop.lo ok

@Proseccoagain what do you think will help reassure you/stop worrying about the mark on your arm? Got my fingers crossed for you that the antidepressants do some good. I have found them hugely beneficial. I know what you mean about the worrying never stopping! It has to go away at some point though xx

@Mvshrin thank you for asking.

A few days after the phone call, I received an appointment in the post for the additional scans (more mammograms at different angles) for early October! This confirmed to me that they can't be concerned as, if they had any doubts at all, they would surely have done the biopsy, not wasted 6 weeks waiting to do more scans?! I expect the appointment with the doctor will be some time after that too so really no point worrying, although I do find myself questioning why they're doing the scans if "all looks fine - nothing to worry about at all" (nurses exact words). Bit annoyed I didn't ask but I was just relieved they weren't doing a biopsy. Can only think they're being thorough and it's for their records, given that I do have some scar tissue due to the surgery I had years ago. Ho hum....

Panicking now that the joint between my thumb and wrist is definitely swollen. Completely forgot to mention it to the doctor yesterday, could kick myself. I now have to wait till Monday to try and speak to him again as he is not in today. Hoping that he will see me again as I definitely think it needs looking at. Am frightening myself with thoughts of bone cancer. Did not sleep at all last night. It's probably arthritis, but it's not painful at all. Should not consult Dr Google.....

Hi everyone i am so glad to find this thread as i really feel alone at the minute. Like many of you have mentioned my anxiety has definitely beem heightened by covid. I worry constantly over any aches and pains. I them use dr Google and get myself right worked up. I really hope this thread can act as a support for everyone

@Worriedoncemore It's a bit of a pain when you don't understand why something is being done/isn't being done isn't it! Like that not knowing makes us ponder all sorts of possibilities and reasons. But I am glad you aren't worried, it does all sound promising and it's good they are being thorough :) I've never had a mammogram but have had ultrasounds which have been interesting. In my last one they were like "there's your lung, that blob is fat, that bit is glands".. so odd.

@Proseccoagain ouch that sounds annoyingl! Is it on the hand you use most? (e.g. when scrolling through your phone?) I had a bone cancer obsession a while ago, was constantly poking my shin it's Monday today, did you get an appointment?

@claret3189 welcome! Sorry to hear you are struggling. I hope by joining us you will feel less alone xx I am exactly the same as you with anxiety being heightened by covid, worrying about aches and pains and then getting worked up with google. It's good to talk things through here though, it seems like health anxiety is quite common!

Hi thank you. It's awful isn't it makes you feel so alone as i find people don't understand

@Mvshrin, luckily, the swelling has gone down and looks normal now.

@claret3189 I know! We understand though xx

@Proseccoagain pleased the swelling has gone down! :)

Hi all! How is everyone getting on?xx

Hello everyone, hope you are all well. Doctor has now put me on anti-depressants to help me cope with my health and general anxiety. Not feeling the benefits yet, but he said it will be about three to four weeks before I notice a difference - at least I have had no nasty side effects (as I did with Sertraline). Have a face to face appointment next week as still worried about my hand.

@Proseccoagain lovely to hear from you :) how are you feeling about taking anti depressants? I'm glad you haven't got any nasty side effects. That will be good to have a face to face appointment as well, phone appointments really aren't beneficial at all for some people. I really need to see people when I'm talking to them about some things. I don't like phone calls with work either, I'd much prefer to have it via video call instead.

I'm feeling quite on edge at the moment, like my body is permanently tense. I've booked a reflexology session which I would really recommend to people as it's so relaxing.

Hello everyone, I’ve found my people! Read the whole thread. Found myself nodding along furiously in places and it helps to feel less alone.

I’m currently an inpatient in a psych hospital because of this. My primary diagnosis is ocd and emetophobia.

Hi everyone - hope you're all doing okay. @JuiceyBetty hope this thread helps you - sounds like things are tough at the moment so sorry to hear that. Especially have sympathy with the emetophobia, I think that's been the hardest thing I've ever had to cope with.

Rang the doctor today as I keep getting strange feeling in my leg - every now and then the lower part of my right leg feels quite warm - not to the touch and it's not red or anything - it just feels warm within the leg...kind of like my leg is blushing! (Again, no redness though and doctor says it's not DVT). Pretty sure it's because I sit in really awkward positions on my bed all the time - I'm forever sitting on my legs until I get pins and needles so should probably stop doing that...

Doctor has eased my mind a bit but will probably still worry for a bit - will also try and sit in better positions though! New job starts soon so that should take my mind off things.