Health anxiety

[SpottyCrumpet]

I have health anxiety when there is something physically wrong, rather than the type where I hear about something on the news and become convinced I have it.

it’s been an issue for a while but I’ve never had symptoms last so long so it’s become a chronic worry now that is really affecting me.

im not sure I have the capacity mentally to actually tackle it, because I feel like I’m firefighting with my health symptoms. I guess I’m looking for support. My family have had enough of me, and I don’t blame them.

I’ve had musculoskeletal pain for 5 months and went to get help from an osteopath who has given me new symptoms and I’m terrified they’ll never go away either and this is me forever. I’m worried he’s damaged my spine permanently.

I’ve found a gland next to my collarbone which although is small and movable, because of its location I’m terrified it’s because there’s a tumour there as that’s near where I am having pain.

I don’t know how to keep myself calm any more and I don’t feel like anyone in my life is able to help reassure me.

Have you spoken to your GP, discussed antidepressants?

I don’t want antidepressants. I want to be better. I tried them once for anxiety and they were awful for side effects

First of all HA is horrible, all consuming, never really goes away as the body is ‘noisy’ & there seem to be aches & pains all day, every day.
Secondly, I appreciate what you say about A/D side effects. We’re all unique. CBT is supposed to be the all singing/dancing cure. For me, it was not.
Having suffered with HA & GAD for thirty years plus, I have only just accepted that A/D are the only way I can function each day. Yes, they do give me s/effects but at least I know what’s causing them.
Reassurance with HA helps initially but very soon the next terror creeps in. The right A/D that acts well for Anxiety should help you reasonably quickly.
Sorry to offer an opinion which you are unhappy with. I do sincerely give you a hand hold as only HA sufferers will understand.

Thank you - it’s interesting to see it from that perspective.

Hi OP. I can relate to what you are going through.
I used to be really bad with health anxiety and like you it wasn’t imagined illnesses but it was physical symptoms that I just latched on to and blew up out of all proportion.
I would jump from one thing to another. Any spot, headache, pain and I was on it and worrying myself to bits. And I know what you mean about family. My Dh was great and supportive but I know I was driving him nuts with it all so I stopped bothering him and kept it all bottled up inside. Same with friends. Just maybe mentioned it once but kept it to myself.

I didn’t go running to the doctor about everything. Worried myself into a frenzy and then finally went and was reassured when things were found to be ok. Then I’d feel massive relief but then I would doubt what I’d been told. All fine till the next thing.
I also didn’t want antidepressants. Tried them but didn’t find they stopped the worry and didn’t feel too different.
Have you been to the doc about your current pain etc? I think it’s acceptable in this situation, just to put your mind at rest about this.
Then you can think about maybe cbt or some therapy for yourself.
In my case, the health anxiety got pushed to one side when sadly we had a family crisis and I transferred all my worries onto that which was just as bad. I’m not cured of it but I deal with things a bit better. Still have anxiety but that’s another story!

Sorry I’m not much help but I do understand what you are going through.

@GreyHairChic thank you for your really helpful message. I have been to the doctor and they’ve prescribed naproxen. Couldn’t really tell me what’s wrong though. I really just need it to go away, and then as you say focus on how to deal with my health anxiety. I am struggling so much at the moment, not really eating, struggling to sleep, weight is falling off, crying all of the time. It’s a really hard time for me and I feel like I am really lacking in resilience.

I know how difficult it is Spottycrumpet. It’s hard when there is a symptom there, like the pain you are having and especially when it has been there for a long time it, can be hard to focus on anything else as there is a constant reminder that something isn’t right. Chances are it’s absolutely nothing and it sounds as if your doc isn’t worried if they just prescribed pain relief.
You sound really down and I can understand that as I’ve been there myself.
It really does help to talk, even if just posting on here or writing it all down on a bit of paper, just to get it out of your head.
I used to post on the No More Panic forum as there is a good health anxiety section. Lots of people in the same situation and lots of support.
I hope the meds help and once the pain improves you can begin to relax a bit and feel better.