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Original poster

Health anxiety

85 replies

GentlyGentlyOhDear · 21/11/2022 23:32

Anyone else suffering at the minute?
Mine flares up regularly and I go through a cycle of what I'm worried about.
Having a bad week :(
Seems to get worse from mid cycle onwards.

OP posts:
Gemz847 · 29/10/2023 19:52

Haha I know! Thanks @janicegarvey x

Gemz847 · 29/10/2023 19:56

Aww I know it really does make life hard doesn’t it, completely takes over 😔 I really hope the counselling works for you! Sending lots of love ❤️ x

Worriedoncemore · 29/10/2023 21:31

When I'm at my worst I find it so hard to stop the worrying and checking behaviours, it's if my worst fears will come true if I stop. I had CBT last year which helped a bit and I try to remember the following analogy I was told which does make a lot of sense....

Every day a man would stand by the railway tracks waving his arms wildly. One day he was asked why he did this. He replied, "to stop the elephants from coming onto the tracks"
"But there aren't any elephants?!?"
He replied "it's because I wave."

janicegarvey · 30/10/2023 08:09

Gemz847 · 29/10/2023 19:52

Haha I know! Thanks @janicegarvey x

I know it's so hard not to!

I read somewhere that googling makes us think we're more in control but actually it makes us less in control as there's so much different info online x

Hope you're okay today x

Gemz847 · 30/10/2023 08:33

❤️

Worriedoncemore · 19/11/2023 10:09

Sorry, dragging this up again.

Was wondering if other HA suffers went through the thought processes of worrying as me? If I'm worried about an issue, I can go through the following cycle numerous times a day:

  1. What the issue is & why I fear it could be something bad (usually cancer).
  2. All the reasons why it's unlikely to be something bad. For example, it's been checked by a doctor, I've had it for x years/months so would be dead/very ill by now. This list is usually way longer than number 1 which reassures me temporarily before I start the same cycle again.

It's as though worrying stops the worst from happening and I won't be safe if I stop. This is of course ridiculous as all the worrying in the world won't change the outcome so why not stop and save it until I actually have something to worry about. Easier said than done!

janicegarvey · 19/11/2023 12:07

Worriedoncemore · 19/11/2023 10:09

Sorry, dragging this up again.

Was wondering if other HA suffers went through the thought processes of worrying as me? If I'm worried about an issue, I can go through the following cycle numerous times a day:

  1. What the issue is & why I fear it could be something bad (usually cancer).
  2. All the reasons why it's unlikely to be something bad. For example, it's been checked by a doctor, I've had it for x years/months so would be dead/very ill by now. This list is usually way longer than number 1 which reassures me temporarily before I start the same cycle again.

It's as though worrying stops the worst from happening and I won't be safe if I stop. This is of course ridiculous as all the worrying in the world won't change the outcome so why not stop and save it until I actually have something to worry about. Easier said than done!

Yes I've been here often 😞

Hope you're okay .. is it a bad day today ? X

doubleshotcappuccino · 19/11/2023 12:09

@GentlyGentlyOhDear I'm
I'm a 2WW too ! Agony !

anx12345 · 30/11/2023 21:15

Suffering myself at the moment, it's a awful thing to deal with I've suffered with it for years

janicegarvey · 30/11/2023 21:38

anx12345 · 30/11/2023 21:15

Suffering myself at the moment, it's a awful thing to deal with I've suffered with it for years

Sending a hug. X

I'm in week 5 (or 6, can't remember !) of counselling and it is definitely helping . Unfortunately I'm having to pay private for this.

anx12345 · 30/11/2023 21:54

@janicegarvey is it helping you?

janicegarvey · 01/12/2023 16:47

anx12345 · 30/11/2023 21:54

@janicegarvey is it helping you?

Yes it really is

I have found it's been really helpful just to voice to another person my fears no matter how irrational x

Gemz847 · 12/12/2023 16:14

I hope you're all doing ok ladies? My Dr has upped my Sertraline so I feel a lot calmer, going to look into CBT in the new year though Smile xxx

AmethystSparkles · 12/12/2023 19:16

@Worridoncemore yes I do this over and over….it’s like my brain forgets that it’s been reassured. It’s torture. I worry about my DS’s health too and that’s even worse because I can’t keep checking!

I avoid going to the doctors because I wouldn’t be able to cope with tests and I’m constantly terrified that I’ll have to go. I also need to have my eyes tested and I’m too scared. It’s destroying my life.

MissJam · 12/12/2023 19:30

Hi everyone, joining the thread. I’m on day 9 of thinking I’ve got pleurisy/pneumonia/pericarditis 🙄 despite having a check over by a GP yesterday. I’ve been told it’s a muscle tear so been given codeine but it’s done nothing for the pain so it’s sneaking back up on me again.
Usually the HA is around my toddler but it appears to be full blown on myself at the moment. I also find it’s worse at certain times of my cycle.

So sorry to read of everyone’s struggles it really is a bitch 😔

nopenotplaying · 12/12/2023 20:02

Last week I thought I had cervical cancer. My smear test came back clear on Saturday. This week I think I have ovarian cancer 😭

janicegarvey · 12/12/2023 21:38

Gemz847 · 12/12/2023 16:14

I hope you're all doing ok ladies? My Dr has upped my Sertraline so I feel a lot calmer, going to look into CBT in the new year though Smile xxx

Aww I'm glad you're feeling calmer

I'm not too bad. Up and down but fairly stable, the counselling does help. And the beta blockers

I find the better I sleep the better my anxiety is. Unfortunately a good nights sleep is rare 😩😩

janicegarvey · 12/12/2023 21:40

AmethystSparkles · 12/12/2023 19:16

@Worridoncemore yes I do this over and over….it’s like my brain forgets that it’s been reassured. It’s torture. I worry about my DS’s health too and that’s even worse because I can’t keep checking!

I avoid going to the doctors because I wouldn’t be able to cope with tests and I’m constantly terrified that I’ll have to go. I also need to have my eyes tested and I’m too scared. It’s destroying my life.

I'm the same with eye tests 😩😩😩
I know they can spot signs of brain tumours etc

Also I am very short sighted -7 and -8 so I worry every time I go that it's got worse and that one day I could lose my sight completely. I wish I dared have lens replacement surgery

AmethystSparkles · 14/12/2023 13:11

@janicegarvey if it helps, I read something on Reddit about someone saying that their optician had sixteen years experience and had only spotted two serious issues.

I’m currently in a panic about my son’s eyesight because he’s quite shortsighted and also needs a prism. I’m sure you will be ok. It’s so easy to be sure that others will be ok.

I’ve just been really stupid and wolfed down a Lindt chocolate reindeer because I was so anxious!! Which won’t help at all😩

AmethystSparkles · 14/12/2023 13:14

Does anyone find that they cope better when others (gently) mock their health anxieties? It really helps me put things into perspective. It doesn’t happen very often because obviously it’s something that could cause offence to some people.

Gemz847 · 14/12/2023 13:18

AmethystSparkles · 14/12/2023 13:14

Does anyone find that they cope better when others (gently) mock their health anxieties? It really helps me put things into perspective. It doesn’t happen very often because obviously it’s something that could cause offence to some people.

Aw I'm sending lots of hugs! Feeling like this is the worst! @janicegarvey says all the right things though, made me feel much better knowing I'm not alone xxx

janicegarvey · 14/12/2023 15:36

nopenotplaying · 12/12/2023 20:02

Last week I thought I had cervical cancer. My smear test came back clear on Saturday. This week I think I have ovarian cancer 😭

Oh god I hate smear tests cos of the waiting for results. It is brilliant yours was clear. I had one in September and freaked out when I got the letter only a week later but when I opened it mine was clear too. They just must have been particularly efficient this time 😝

The trouble is I find that once one worry is alleiviated (ie clear smear) another one helpfully pops up in its place 😩😩🥺

HUG x

RougeFraise · 19/12/2023 16:44

Anyone still hanging on this thread? My HA has been in overdrive for months now and I’m really struggling, just need a break from the physical shit so I can have a mental break. I don’t feel strong enough to get mental help right now, need a break from the physical stuff.

Gemz847 · 19/12/2023 16:45

RougeFraise · 19/12/2023 16:44

Anyone still hanging on this thread? My HA has been in overdrive for months now and I’m really struggling, just need a break from the physical shit so I can have a mental break. I don’t feel strong enough to get mental help right now, need a break from the physical stuff.

Hi hun, still here! I'm so sorry you're feeling like this it's absolutely rubbish especially at this time of year, are you on any medication for your HA? X

RougeFraise · 19/12/2023 16:51

No, my HA means I hate medication! I worry about the side effects.

it’s ruining this time of year that’s for sure. Feel so guilty for my kids.