Hi,
I have always been a pretty anxious person. I've got OCD so have struggled with obsessive thoughts and have used compulsive behaviours to "ease" these thoughts in the past for various issues. However, last year I became unwell with covid and sort of never got much better - it kick started lots of health issues for me and this was very unusual as I was generally very well for most of my life. Coincidentally, around that time, many people close to me also developed other illnesses (cancer, heart issues, pneumonia, strokes etc) and it triggered major health anxiety in me. I then fell pregnant and had a baby girl at the start of this year - she is absolutely wonderful and I feel so blessed with her.
I have however noticed that the birth of my girl has triggered HUGE health anxiety in me. To the extent that I absolutely cannot rationalise whatsoever when it comes to her health, leading to unnecessary hospital trips etc. She recently started nursery, and is now in the cycle of picking up every virus under the sun - this is again triggering huge anxiety in me. For example she has had a fever that only goes down slightly with Calpol (but stays in fever territory - above 38) , the doctors haven't been concerned at all but I cannot get my anxiety under control.
I've tried CBT therapy for it but it hasn't done much, I understand where my anxiety comes from but just cannot control the complete spirals of panic when something comes up. Especially when it relates to my daughter, but I'm pretty bad when it comes to myself too.
If anyone has had health anxiety - how did you manage to get it under wraps? Also did you notice having children sent you into a spiral too?