I keep thinking I’m going to die

[Helpme66]

I don’t know how I’ve even gotten to this point.

I’m in my thirties and I’ve never experienced depression or anxiety however the last few months due to feeling abit poorly due to my low iron levels my anxiety has been out of control.

If I feel a niggle in my chest, arms, head, neck, anywhere.. I think I’m having a heart attack or a stroke or I have a tumour, etc

I think about it at least once every 10-15 minutes, it’s completely taking over my life.

When I explained to my doctor how anxious I was feeling they wanted to check my thyroid. My thyroid was fine and I’ve requested an appointment to discuss my anxiety but have been told I’ll have to wait until the middle of November. I have no idea how I’m going to manage this.

Any advice? I’m desperate

I am sorry you are going through this.

Seek therapy. May be easier to manage if your gp gives you fluoxetine

psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-and-death-obsessions#how-to-cope

You can self refer for talking therapies

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-nhs-talking-therapies-service

Doing some CBT type therapy will help you to deal with the thought which sound like they are very intrusive.

You could also consider medication. I have found my health anxiety is under control under medication.

Hugs though, it is so hard x

Call the doctor back for a same day appointment. Your health is important, tell them you can't wait.

Try and remember the reality of your thoughts too. Low iron has multiple physical symptoms. Where is the evidence coming from that it's going to be something terrible? It's hard to rationalise when you're so anxious.

Hopefully, some medication will help it settle, it did for me. Good luck x

We're all going to die. You can spend your life worrying about it or you can get on with living.

I don’t think that’s very helpful. When you suffer with anxiety you cannot rationalise in that way. You need to learn techniques to manage.

Thanks everyone

@Bubblebuttress, thank you, have you taken fluoxetine and does it work for you? Any side effects?

@Scutterbug thank you, I do feel like it’s medication I need. Glad to hear yours is under control now.

@TrishyLou1111 I’m going to call them this week. Glad to hear the medication has helped for you too.

@RedHelenB im well aware I’m going to die some day but I can’t help the way I feel and I’m embarrassed to talk to people in real life. I have visions of the school phoning my house because nobody has picked up my children from school and it’s because I’m dead at home. I have visions of my children finding me dead in my bed. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone and my dream right now is to “get on with living” like you say.

I have health anxiety. It started during a period of extreme stress. I frequently believe that death is round the corner. I allow myself to have the thoughts and let them pass through for say, ten minutes, then I use various distractions so that I don’t spiral. I believe it will pass, I’m letting it run its course.

Hi op, so sorry you're feeling this way. I was diagnosed with health anxiety after
DD1 was born in 2019. Ive also had low iron since my pregnancy with her so I know the signs and symptoms you're on about. I've had medication and CBT. Like others have suggested, self-refer for therapy, because it's a slippery slope. I can be fine for a weeks then something starts and the anxiety kicks in and it completely takes over. Please speak to your GP, there are also some really good threads on here about it too. Hope you get sorted x

Get something for your anxiety - tablets, counselling, etc.

I have had a stroke, and I've got a benign brain tumour. If anything, whenever I get a pain or anything, I ignore it.

I had this when I had anemia! The breathlessness, lightheadedness and feeling of weakness was so disconcerting and unpleasant, and it really does make you feel like something is seriously not ok. I had a panic attack brought on by breathlessness and dizziness which lead to months of anxiety and panic over any small sensation.

I remember reading at the time that anxiety and panic attacks are really common while suffering from anemia.

Doesn’t low iron CAUSE anxiety?

Pretty sure you need to get that sorted before looking into therapy.

If you're having treatment for your iron or B12, keep in mind tablets don't always cut it if your levels are so low. I've had 3 courses of tablets (3 a day for 3 months) and my levels were still low. The only thing that worked was the loading injections - everyone is different though, so just sharing my experience

i had anxiety very bad one. And i’m going to gym. Weightlifting really does help my mental illness alot. Now everytime i feel a bit anxious i go to gym. Also its really healthy.

Yes. Fluoxetine is specifically for ocd. 20mg helped me do the CBT /erp

my friend cannot do therapy, but 60mg sorted him out

I read online somewhere that low iron can cause anxiety and when I asked my doctor about it she said it doesn’t! And that’s when she arranged for bloods to get my thyroid checked. I’ll be asking for an opinion from another doctor, thanks everyone

Due to a stomach issue I had a long time ago they’ve told me I can only take 1 iron tablet a day for 3 months instead of the recommended dose of 2 tablets a day for 6 weeks so I don’t think the tablets are working at all, I’ve been taking them for around 5 weeks. I’ll bring this up with the doctor also.

I think there’s a lot of research to show that exercise is more effective than medication in combating depression and anxiety.

Thats very true. Its really hard to start with eapeciaply with anxiety and i was very self concious because i’m fat and definitely not a gym body. But turns out i know people in the gym dont care about other people. They just dont care about you and how you look. Going to gym definitely the best in combating my anxiety far better than medicines. Hopefully OP will try. Its hard as first but definitely worth it.

Absolutely.

Yes, because telling someone to snap out of it has always worked when it comes to mental health problems 🙄🙄

Low iron levels definitely causes anxiety for me. Currently awaiting blood test results, and I'll be amazed if my iron levels aren't through the floor again. Exhaustion and high anxiety are what usually ends up making me notice and go back to the drs. You can buy upon tablets over the counter in a pharmacy that are the same strength drs will prescribe. Worth buying some of you don't already have them. I don't think many drs understand the way low iron can make you feel to be honest. I have never technically been anaemic but have had ALL the symptoms associated with anaemia showing up only as very low ferritin levels in my blood tests.

And get back on the phone to pester your surgery to see someone sooner, you really need to see someone when you're feeling like this. Xx

I’m so glad I made this post, I don’t feel so helpless anymore

Due to childcare/work I can’t get to a gym but I always go out walking when I get the chance but that unfortunately for me still doesn’t help

I’m going to call my doctors on Wednesday to ask to speak to someone and hopefully get medication that will help me