Does anyone suffer with health anxiety?

[victoriaaaa]

So I think I suffer with health anxiety . I'm always thinking that I'm ill despite having mild symptoms or doctors reassurance . I think this got triggered by getting referred to the breast clinic . All good thankfully. After that I was fine for 2 weeks happy as ever then boom Every little symptom I have with my body I automatically think I'm really ill . It's effecting my relationship and I'm just struggling with daily life . I'm sick of waking up with fear . Iv been prescribed tablets but don't want to take them due to side effects .

Will this ever go ? Will I always feel like this ? My friend died suddenly this week on Christmas Day and cause of death is unknown , she was only 25 . And that's just caused my anxiety to go sky high . I dunno i don't know why I feel like this , I'm in a unhappy relationship too so don't know if all this is linked ! I'm 22 with two kids . Please any advice would be grateful x

Hi, I'm sorry to hear you are going through this - you're definitely not alone.

I was diagnosded with OCD at the start of 2020 and my therapist (alongside some medication) changed my life. I'm not saying you have OCD, but Health Anxiety is quite intertwined with it and they share both symptoms and treatment options.

You will need to work on accepting uncertainty and stopping any sort of reassurance seeking - it's very tough, but I promise you it will get better. Medication does help a lot of people struggling with this and anxiety in general, as it allows you to tolerate it a bit better and therefore work through it, but I also under it's not for everyone.

Please try to get psychological help either yhrouthe NHS or privately if you can afford it, but make sure you get treatment for your specific issues (fear of becoming very ill).

Best of luck, hang in there. I once believed I was going crazy and that it would never ever stop. I spent three years in the dark, but life is so much better now.

@irene88

Hi, I'm sorry to hear you are going through this - you're definitely not alone.

I was diagnosded with OCD at the start of 2020 and my therapist (alongside some medication) changed my life. I'm not saying you have OCD, but Health Anxiety is quite intertwined with it and they share both symptoms and treatment options.

You will need to work on accepting uncertainty and stopping any sort of reassurance seeking - it's very tough, but I promise you it will get better. Medication does help a lot of people struggling with this and anxiety in general, as it allows you to tolerate it a bit better and therefore work through it, but I also under it's not for everyone.

Please try to get psychological help either yhrouthe NHS or privately if you can afford it, but make sure you get treatment for your specific issues (fear of becoming very ill).

Best of luck, hang in there. I once believed I was going crazy and that it would never ever stop. I spent three years in the dark, but life is so much better now.

Sorry to hijack your thread op, but just wanted to ask @irene88 what type of therapy they had. I have terrible health anxiety and I’ve just started hypnotherapy. I’ve only had one session but I’m already doubting that it’s going to make a difference.

What @irene88 said about OCD and health anxiety being closely connected really resonated with me. The constant intrusive thoughts that I have about being ill do feel something like I’d imagine OCD intrusive thoughts are.

Op, I’d really advise trying the medication. Sertraline helped me for years. I don’t know whether I need to up my dose as I’ve been very anxious lately, but I’m trying therapy alongside my current dose. Do speak to a sympathetic gp, they’ll advise you on what options are available to you.

You aren’t alone though. I totally understand how you’re feeling

Hi
I have suffered from health anxiety since 2007 but had a good period where it was under control until 2014 when it triggered again . I went on medication in 2014 with mixed results . Have seen 3 different counsellors since 2015 and ironically during 2020/21 it’s best I have been . I slowly reduced medication over a year and fully off in august 21 . I am however back struggling again following quite a few trigger events in past 6 weeks . I happy to chat to anyone as it it’s a horrible thing to have . Mine is not just on me but but children also .
I won’t lie and say it’s easy to resolve as it is not but I have had periods were I can live with it much better wand other time where it consumes me .

Ellie xxx

No I'm too busy with work and the kids.
I dont have time.

You can't be happy and relaxed if you are in an unhappy relationship. What's caused the relationship to be unhappy?

It does not really work like that you can get anxiety even if you are busy . 😡

@Sarahlou63

You can't be happy and relaxed if you are in an unhappy relationship. What's caused the relationship to be unhappy?

Arguments daily ! And just the general not been able to do what I want most of time 😴

@Sarahlou63

You can't be happy and relaxed if you are in an unhappy relationship. What's caused the relationship to be unhappy?

Arguments daily ! And just the general not been able to do what I want most of time 😴

@Sarahlou63

You can't be happy and relaxed if you are in an unhappy relationship. What's caused the relationship to be unhappy?

Arguments daily ! And just the general not been able to do what I want most of time 😴

@Sarahlou63

You can't be happy and relaxed if you are in an unhappy relationship. What's caused the relationship to be unhappy?

Arguments daily ! And just the general not been able to do what I want most of time 😴

What do you want to do that you are not able to do? And is there a common thread to your arguments?

@Sarahlou63

What do you want to do that you are not able to do? And is there a common thread to your arguments?

If I ever want to go out with friends it's always a issue . So I don't end up going because can't not be bothered to argue Same with posting online. Tbh he's had issues like this for ages and I'm starting not to care and will just do what I want x

Sounds like your relationship needs some outside help if it's going to survive. Have you thought about joint counselling?

Yes , but it's to expensive for us at the moment x

I had health anxiety ages ago, but it eventually went after I started getting more control over my life.
I was in a controlling relationship and my anxiety was at an all time high. In denial about being controlled, I think my anxiety found something else to focus on instead resulting in health anxiety.

So sorry for the loss of your friend

Hi I also have health anxiety. Mine is severely triggered when people I know pass away especially when young/healthy/suddenly (like from a heart attack). I also go into quite a state when I convince myself I have some form of symptom. December 2020 was quite a dark month for me as I had convinced myself I was severely ill because I had headaches (it was actually because my prescription was out!!). I put off calling the GP for ages out of fear and eventually ended up sobbing down the phone to the doctor. She told me that the minute I start to worry about something I should contact the doctors to put my mind at ease. I've done this twice since and it really has helped me so much and I've not had any bouts of anxiety since May this year.

Yes I have severe HA OP and it interferes with my ability to function much of the time. The only thingy get helps is reassurance from the GP so pleased to hear that you have such an understanding doctor @Sea62648.

Hi,

I'm so glad I gave seen this post. I've always been a worrier but normally can keep it u fee control. Last week I start getting pins and needles in my feet and obviously went on google and have totally freaked myself out and go it in my head I have ms. I can't stop crying. I can't think about anything else. I'm not sleeping well. I genuinely feel petrified that I'm dying. I hate feeling like this. I have two young children and keep thinking I'm going to die and not be with them and can't stop crying.

@courtney251 never look on Google!! I also used to do this and it makes your anixety so much worse.

Oops posted too soon. What I do now is tell myself I'm not being rational. It's all ok. Nothing is wrong with me. And repeat. If that doesnt work ring the doctors and hopefully having an appointment will put your mind at ease x

I have health anxiety and have done since I can remember.. i am 32 now. I’ve posted on here about it a few times. It flares up and some times are worse than others. Last year it flared up the worst it ever has and I was signed off work for nearly two months. I would say I basically had a mental break down near enough. I don’t have children but have been in an on and off very unhappy ‘Rship’ if you can even call it that for 4 years. This definitely added to my most recent flare up and made it worse as often family/ partners/ friends won’t understand health anxiety and you may find it frustrates them, add that to an already toxic Rship and it’s a recipe for disaster I’ve even seen doctors who minimise it and don’t understand.

I’ve had cbt therapy over the years both nhs and private, did not find private any different or better from the nhs. I am in a much better place now but tbh I think that’s down to my own doing rather than anything I Learned in therapy

Also just to add you may think google is your best friend at the time but it is honestly your worst nightmare. I would spend hours upon hours in forums on health sites Etc and it makes things 1000x worse. Reassurance seeking for example always booking doctors apps Etc is also bad and just reinforces the cycle of anxiety same with reassurance seeking from friends and family. At my worst I have paid £100s on private appointments scams Etc as I wouldn’t want to wait for nhs.

I am happy to say I don’t do this anymore but I am also aware it can come back at any point as it is something I struggle with and probably always will

@Porfre

No I'm too busy with work and the kids. I dont have time.

I was busy with my kids and work but still suffered with health anxiety. It's got nothing to do with not having time, it's a mental illness....