Health Anxiety - Part 5

[AJ297]

Sorry if someone else was going to do this, I just didn't want to lose you all 😂

@MrsWhites
@argueifnecessary
@tmh88
@Skyliner001
@TheSilentStars
@hildagardecrowe
@BigGreen
@goolies
@iamsodonewith2020
@KAP232
@polkadotpixie

Sorry if I missed anyone!

Yes! My anxiety definitely makes me absolutely exhausted!

Also I do think the sertraline has helped, however it has taken a while to stabilise, so it's hard to tell if it's definitely the sertraline, the sertraline definitely gave me my appetite back, and felt like it did give me back my life, but the OCD thoughts were still hard to contain, I've been on it for now for months, and I think on the whole I feel better.

I've had my second session of cognitive behavioural therapy, but I would be very reluctant to say that that is working, it feels very much like everything you read on line, and doesn't feel particularly outstanding in anyway. I'm contemplating giving it up.

@Skyliner001
So nice to hear that Sertraline has worked somewhat. My personal (maybe wrong) opinion is that CBT doesn't work with health anxiety because we know there is always a chance of something or other because we hear about it from media or Google it etc. We can't simply think it away because the risk of having such and such is low. Low risk is still a risk in our heads. So CBT formula doesn't actually work on us at all and also probably that we are not worried about the symptoms of having an anxiety attack because we know what it is.

@Skyliner001 I would still carry on with the CBT, there is no harm in trying it out! I got the exact same as you though about therapy x

Morning, how is everyone today?

@Skyliner001
I would also carry on because even if it helps a tiny little bit, it still helps.

@tmh88
I feel like I have so much stuff to do and tidy and clean and I can't do any of it but feel guilty at the same time

@argueifnecessary I feel the same! In a real slump today really and my brain goes so negative all the time for example this morning DS was on about getting matching costumes for Halloween and my brain went straight to if I’m still alive! I don’t know why I wish I could stop it, does anyone else do this?

Hey ladies so I’m still stressing about my vulva burning, I’ve tried cutting out all products, it’s the entrance to the vagina that’s burning, it’s not a UTI but I am going more frequently. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Hope all you ladies are doing ok. Welcome to the newbies here! Xx

@Goolies I had this the other week, turns out I was weeing more because of the sertraline and also because for some reason it's a side effect of my anxiety that I need to pee all the time! I think the burning was caused by the constant wiping and just making the skin a little sore. Try popping a bit of sudocreme on beforehand I found that worked and it was gone in a few days x

I also find that if I hang my underwear out to dry they are quite abrasive and seem to cause the burning sensation due to little microscopic cuts as I have very sensitive skin. And with it being a moist area it takes a little longer to heal

Thank you @AJ297 I will try good old sudocrem. Trying to keep a logical head on and not diagnose myself with all sorts!

It’s always something, this literally started a few days after I got the all clear on my breasts!

@Goolies same here, I get the all clear from one type of cancer and I'm onto the next within 24 hours! I'm at the breast clinic again with the armpit lumps tomorrow. My anxiety hasn't been too bad lately, but I think it's just because I'm so exhausted with it I don't even have the energy to stress.

It's a horrible illness and I don't think recognised enough for just how debilitating HA really is.

@AJ297 it’s so exhausting. I would take social anxiety over this any day! Although I imagine that’s just as exhausting in a different way.

Good luck with your appt I hope you get the reassurance to give you peace of mind. X

@Goolies I always wish for my old anxiety back 😂 was much better than health anxiety!

Hi everyone, can I join? I've had health anxiety for years but has become severe just lately. It's so bad I don't even plan anything any more because I don't think I'm going to be here then. It's awful. My new anxiety is the vaccine, I've had both doses and now I'm really regretting it thinking I'm going to die from having it, someone on social media keeps sharing all sorts of stuff and I've been in tears this afternoon over it. I have young children and I worry about leaving them.

Hi @Justfornothing welcome! You'll find this thread really useful. I was very grateful to be welcomed in a few months ago and quite honestly these ladies have been an absolute lifeline.

I've had anxiety around the vaccine, but do try to remember that it's not too dissimilar to other vaccines widely used. There's a lot of scaremongering going on but try to only read from reputable sources x

@Justfornothing it’s easier said than done but I got rid of all social media! It’s a massive help with health anxiety x

Thank you @AJ297 for the reassurance and @tmh88 I have just said to DH that I am going to delete social media as it really doesn't help my anxiety.

@Justfornothing
You'll be absolutely fine and safe from covid! Once this scare passes you could think about all the stuff you get to do in the summer with your lovely children without having to worry too much about getting covid

I went to my gynae appt yesterday and guess what! I have another bloody cyst as big as the old one! The doctor did think it's probably from the ovary and will pop once my period starts but I literally have two tennis balls in my lower tummy right now!
Weirdly I didn't start obsessing over it. I guess I might also be too exhausted from all the anxiety.

Hi everybody

Hope everyone is well! Thanks for starting a new thread xx

Morning everyone, I really need to change my thinking! Fell out with dp last night said I’m starting to make him feel down with the way I am everyday! He’s usually really supportive so this has come as a massive shock I really am now going to have to stop with the obsessive health worries, if anything it has given me a wake up call of how much of a drain I can be about it! Everyone ok today?

@AJ297 Good luck today!

Hi all :) I was on the original thread last year which I created after having a full on breakdown following covid, new job and just general inability to cope! I hope everyone is as okay as they can be and hope it's okay that I park myself on this thread! I've managed to keep more of a lid on my health anxiety but it's here in full miserable force again however with a focus on my partner who has a cough, blocked ear and just generally seems unwell.

@tmh88
I'm in the same boat. My DH can be supportive but also really dismissive and there's lots of eye rolling when I need to lie down or say that I don't want to go cycling for example (because the possibility of dangerous traffic causes me stress or because I'm feeling dizzy). I think I need to change some things in my life but can't seem to quite talk to him about it

@tmh88 I’m with you here too! My DH is so fed up of my ongoing issues, it’s killed the romance and fun out of our marriage. Sometimes I wonder whether he wishes he knew this before he married me!

I’ve booked a gynae appt for my burning and he just says here we go, few hundred quid to be told there’s nothing wrong.

Hi all I hope you don’t mind me (a newbie) joining the group. I suffer with extreme health anxiety.

A bit of my history. I used to be very carefree until My mum got diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour a few years ago. Whilst waiting for her biopsy results I’d already googled and decided she’d have the worst one....results came back and she did. She passed away In her 50s. Fine one minute, gone the next. It left an enormous whole in my life as she was my rock and who I used as my coping mechanism whenever I needed help, she sorted every worry I had and was who I talked to about everything and anything.

I have 3 kids and they’re my world. My mum only met 1 of them but she used to help so much with them. Now we don’t really get any help. Since her death I feel very alone like there’s this gaping hole in my heart despite all the love I have for the kids and my partner. I have this awful feeling all the time that the same is going to happen to them and something awful is going to happen to me and they’ll be without a mum and feel like I do and they’ll have no one (even though they will) and I don’t ever want them to be sad.

Whenever I have anything wrong that the doctor can’t diagnose and treat there and then I have an absolute panic, I can’t eat, sleep or function I just worry and google what it could be and keep ringing the doctor and asking if it could be this or this. She’s referred me to lots of services, I’m currently having cbt but i don’t feel ready for it like it’s too hard for me or something.

My heath anxiety has been exacerbated recently due to some ongoing Gynae issues I’ve been having since my previous pregnancy. To the point where I’d made the Gp refer me for a hysterectomy and told her I was infertile anyway. To make matters worse I then came off the contraceptive pill they put me on to help with the Gynae issues as I wanted to see if they were masking my issues or resolved and I accidentally got pregnant (I’m only 4 weeks but obviously I think I’m going to die if I continue and already imagined myself with every possible complication there is).

I’m starting to see the Gp is right more than I am with my google searches, I’m starting to trust her to recognise if there’s something seriously up with me but she is the only person I feel I can trust.

Sorry for the long post. I just cry all the time. Any help or advice and tips on how to manage from people who’ve been there would be most appreciated, currently off work because of this 😢