Healthy Anxiety - please help

[Boda2021]

Hi all, I’m just looking for some tips and inspiring stories of how you have battled health anxiety if you suffer from this.

Since I had a strong bout of covid-19 last year which included gastric symptoms, heart palpitations, costochondritis and weight loss, I developed huge anxiety and in particular a fear of heart attacks. Every slight sensation in my chest or arms, I believe is the start of a heart attack and I just can’t continue like this anymore. The more I worry about it, the harder it becomes to breathe which then fuels the anxiety and ultimately leads to a panic attack.

I had 10 CBT sessions last year and have just started some more CBT sessions 2 weeks ago. I’ve been told there are anti-depressants I could try but I wanted to know if there are any other things apart from CBT that I could try first.

I’ve always had some anxiety throughout my life but never this bad and this is the first time I’m going through panic attacks which scares me.

The root cause of my fear is leaving my two young children behind so my anxiety and in particular health anxiety has been worse since having had children.

The anxiety seems worse if I’ve had less sleep, not eaten enough and the week before my menstrual cycle.

Please help me get out of this cycle and start thinking more positively again. Thank you.

Why don't you want to take ADs? You can them with CBT

This may or may not help. What made it easier was actually in real life being seriously ill. You move through a path of fear and horror before learning to accept that you cannot control things you have no control of and you must let them go. Life is calmer now and less anxious. Also, really realising that everyone dies. This is something you know intellectually, but can be hard to get your head around. Accepting and really realising it helps you realise we are all on the same path with the same destination. Appreciate the life you have, the days you have. Don’t waste them. Change things if you’re not happy.

@Boda2021 I agree that ad may be the best option x

Do not dismiss AD . They have been a lifeline to so many people I know.
My son has severe health anxiety and we paid for him to have full MOT involving ecg,chest X-ray,bloods Bp checks . He is now reassured but he is taking sertraline and that has really helped.

EDMR worked for my health anxiety. I’m not sure cbt would be the best therapy.

It depends what you think would be right for your particular set of circumstances. ADs take the edge off unpleasant feelings, but don't tackle their root cause. If you want to take the edge off and get on with your life, give them a try. If you want to tackle the root cause (not everyone does, and that's fine) then you may benefit from a different type of therapy.

CBT is a specific type of therapy that focuses mostly on the 'here and now'. It's good for helping people manage things like reactions to health symptoms.

What you described in your OP sounds like you are fearful of other things - relating to loss and separation, perhaps attachment generally. CBT is unlikely to go this deep, it's not a 'relational' therapy.

CBT is the standard offer so you need to be more specific with your GP. Ask if you can be referred to an NHS health psychology service that offers other therapy modalities besides CBT (most do!). Some health psychology services have a dedicated post-covid-syndrome arm. The other option is to pay for private if you can afford this. Search via the BACP https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists it's fine to email therapists and explain what you're worried about and/or have an initial chat without committing to anything further.

Hope you find a way that works for you x

I suffered with HA for ages before I went on to medication. It was the best thing I did. CBT etc didn’t work for me.

Mine was also worse the week before my period and I’d feel unhinged.

Hi OP

Just some background I also suffer from health anxiety focused around the heart. It started in 2013 after my nan died whilst I was abroad,I came home in the summer and got ill, was walking around a shopping centre and so went to the hospital that was close by.

They said it was anxiety and after that I spiralled and had several psycho sematic symptoms ( including checking pulse 100+ times a day) and went to the doctor who offered AD and counselling. I resisted AD and had counselling. Over the years GPs, nurses, ambulance workers, friends, family have all congratulated me on not taking ADs and trying to fight the anxiety without.

Over the last decade I've had multiple symptoms affecting all parts of my body and after several A+E trips ive had a lot if different tests 5 5 day heart monitors, a multi day blood pressure check, ECGs etc.

Last summer it got really bad and couldn't leave house or only with company and was getting a lot of my worst symptoms back.

I would say don't dismiss ADs as I started taking them at the start of August. I did some CBT at the start of the year ( I had a few years off) and it was awful and didn't work at all. Since taking them my symptoms have lessened and I've also experienced less symptoms.

A big trigger for me us pulse and since taking the pills I've been able to do a rough job which spiked my heart rate, calm down and continue where as before I would have avoided it.

I've restarted CBT again and feel like i'm likely to feel more benefit ( I do feel like this counsellor is better I'll admit also)

I've left the house more in the last two months ( for non necessities) than I have in 3 years and I feel more balanced.

It's not all been plain sailing I still struggle to go to many places and do some things just today I spoke to my mental health nurse and I went from 50 to 100mg as I've been sick for two weeks and it's took me off kilter somewhat and decided I will take the sertraline in the evening as I still get tired from it, I did loss focus easily but that's also improved with time.

I didn't do anti depressants as there was stigma by people I spoke to both personally and medically but I'm honestly very upset at myself and them as I feel like if I took them 10 years ago I'd have had a more normal life and not lost my 20s.

Thank you all for the responses. I’m going to give my GP a call to discuss further options including ADs. My symptoms are ok some days and some not and hence been putting off further help but have noticed a pattern of it getting worse at times including panic attacks which I didn’t have last year.

I find it very hard to accept that my symptoms are due to anxiety as I still think there is something wrong with me so hence I’m in denial.