Has anyone found anything that really helped with health anxiety?

[Ridingladybugs]

I’ve had health anxiety the majority of my life ( triggered by a near death experience in teens).

It comes and goes in intensity but increased dramatically after my children and then again after I became a single parent.

I am currently in an acute phase ( with a real health concern but even so my response to it is not proportionate).

I have seen a number of psychologists over the years and tried CBT but nothing has helped long term ultimately.

I so so want to be free of it. Or at least find better techniques to manage it. I don’t want to continue to waste precious time on it and feel that constant background fear.

If anyone has found anything that has worked I’d be very grateful to hear about it ( I do know so much is down to individual and individual therapist - but even just to give me hope o might crack this!)

20mg of escitalopram, it was life changing and I haven't regretted it for a minute.

Ahh thats interesting @SillyDoriswithaDangler .

I was on sertraline for a while but it didn’t seem to make a difference.

Perhaps I need to revisit medication again.

Have you considered hypnosis? When you had your near death experience, a part of your mind set up a fear response to keep you safe in the future - it's this that's been on high alert ever since and overreacts to health issues in the (mistaken) belief that it's doing the right thing. A good hypnotist (or mind coach if you prefer!) will connect with that part of your subconscious and get it to dial down the response.

Thanks @Eyesopenwideawake - I actually have been thinking about it. I definitely feel the reaction does come from you subconscious as most talking therapies I’ve had I’ve felt almost like i just play a game - I know the right answers but nothing changes.

I think I will look for someone - perhaps once I have more definite news on my health issue.

I struggled with health anxiety for years too . I seen 5 counsellors and 2 really helped but both no longer practice .
I have been on citalopram since 2014 but came off a few years ago as did not feel it was helping . However back on ssri this time escitalopram and currently been on 8 to 9 weeks . 4 weeks on 5mg and 4 on 7.5mg . Def felt benefits but in last week health anxiety is creeping back so away to go to 10mg

my health anxiety focuses more on my children now which is harder than when it was on me

Just try another ssri give it a good few months though and see what happens

Psychotherapy. Not CBT, not counselling, etc, but very specifically psychotherapy with a psychotherapist.