Health anxiety overdrive… can’t snap out of it

[Bug84]

Arrrgh Hoping typing this out will help a bit. I feel like I’m stuck in an anxiety loop. I know I have health anxiety. The physical symptoms are really bad and I’m spending literally all day constantly thinking about a heart attack, for about a week now, and I can’t snap out of it.

my symptoms are… various pains / twinges in my chest, neck, shoulders, feeling like rushes of adrenaline, and like a feeling of cold sweats but there’s no real sweat. Mainly a constant feeling of the main thought in the front of my brain being ‘you’re having a heart attack’ even when I’m doing other stuff.

i had CBT about 18 months ago and it did help but I’m struggling to use it right now. That was after I ended up taking myself to a&e during a similar episode to this, and they did all the tests, were very kind and said it was anxiety related.

i do also have reflux symptoms, which I’ve been prescribed omeprazole for before by the gp (again after bloods, ultrasound etc) and sometimes I think when that flares up it triggers my anxiety because I obsess about every twinge or feeling.

the reason I’m not going to the gp now re the ‘symptoms’ I’m having is because I’m trying to be logical and think I’ve had this exact same thing before, been thoroughly investigated, and it was anxiety.

I’m functioning, I’ve got 3 kids! I’m just not enjoying every minute as I’m thinking ‘I’m dying’ at the same time as I’m doing anything. Constantly imagining dropping dead / having to call an ambulance / going to hospital scenarios etc

so as not to drop feed, I’m still breastfeeding my 11 month old around the clock, my sleep is generally rubbish, and life is a bit stressful at the mo generally (we are moving area). My baby is really heavy and I do think some of the pains/twinges I’m feeling are from carrying him. My reflux is back as well, I think maybe I need another prescription (I did buy some esomeprazole from the chemist last week, but I know you need to take it longer than a week to make a real difference).

arrrrgh. I know you can’t tell ne if I’m having a heart attack or not 😂 I just wanted to write it down as I think my poor husband and mum are sick of me constantly asking them for reassurance / to check my pulse etc. in the last 2 years I’ve been to a&e about chest pain, had referral and investigations for right sided pain, (that was when the reflux started so I don’t think it was entirely in my head), been investigated in hosp because I thought I had a dvt, been to breast clinic.

🤦🏻‍♀️

Hi Bug
I could have written the exact same post as you! I’m at the stage you are at the moment with reflux, pains etc. Have been to hospital multiple times in the past but it’s just so awful isn’t it when the anxiety takes over. I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. No real help but I do see that EyesWideShut (I think that’s the poster) often posts really helpful advice so hopefully she’ll see this and comment and post. Wish she was local to me - I always find her reassuring. I’m sure being tired and having a young family adds to your stress. Look after yourself. Big hugs.xx

Sorry, just seen that the poster I referred to is EyesOpenWideAwake. Maybe you can see some of her previous posts and that might help you.xx

Until EyesWideShut comes along maybe I can help?!

A foolproof way of checking if you are having a heart attack (assuming all prior medical tests confirm you have no underlying issues) is to run up and down the stairs a couple of times. It gives your heart and body a meaningful way of using up the adrenaline you are pumping out in panic.

Have you ever seen a bug or a particle of dirt under a microscope? Huge and terrifying, isn't it? But when you step away, even to the other side of the same room it vanishes when it's put into real life perspective. The reality is that EVERYONE'S body makes weird and wonderful noises, odd twinges and pains and they mean precisely...nothing. It's just doing what it does.

This video is really helpful in explaining what happens in your body;

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Haha - thanks EyesOpenWideAwake - sorry for getting your name wrong!😊

Have you considered medicating your anxiety ? Sounds like you’re in a bit of a circle of anxiety causing the symptoms you are anxious about and being on a constant loop

Thank you so much everyone. It helps so much even to say it out loud! I’m open to medication if it continues like this. But, part of me wants to get through breastfeeding (planning on continuing until spring/summer) and then hopefully more sleep will happen, get my cycle back and hormones back to ‘normal’ might help? Then if it’s still bad give it a try.

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this awful anxiety. Anxiety itself causes so many physical symptoms which then become symptoms of something else in the mind of the person with health anxiety. It becomes a vicious cycle.

It sounds like you are probably tired and run down generally which is always going to make anxiety worse. We're more able to 'be in the moment' when we're well rested and feeling well in general.

I can't relate to your specific health anxiety- I do have health anxiety but mine is centred around cancer which is a bit of a nightmare because almost anything can be a symptom of cancer. I have been referred for lots of tests over the years. No cancer found as yet.

For me, Sertraline was a massive help. I have taken it a few times, usually for at least a year and sometimes for several years at a time but always work towards weaning myself off it eventually as I don't want to be taking it permanently. I'm not on it currently and am managing ok for now.

If you're not up for trying medication, could you have another round of CBT? I think it's the kind of thing that has to be revisited every so often.

Best of luck to you OP, I hope the anxiety calms soon. 💐

Sorry, didn't see your previous post when I wrote mine. I see you're open to trying some medication when the time is right. Hope it helps you as much as it helped me if you do decide to go down that route.

Thank you for your message. Argh, this bloody anxiety is a pain for so many of us. I always feel guilty because I think one day I really will get ill and I’ll think about all the time I wasted worrying about it when I was well 🫠
the physical symptoms never cease to amaze me though! How you can focus your mind on an area snd then your rewlly feel things.
can I ask how does the sertraline make you feel?

I too suffer from this awful health anxiety, specifically cardiac related. It’s a fucking nightmare for me as I do actually have a few minor cardiac issues (but nothing I’ve been told will kill me 🤣). Often lay awake in bed and reckon I’m going to die in the night from a cardiac event. I get the adrenaline surges, sweats and pains.
So I’m sorry I have no advice, just solidarity!

Argh that is horrible for you. It’s so shit!

I always feel guilty because I think one day I really will get ill and I’ll think about all the time I wasted worrying about it when I was well

Yes! I think about this too 😩 Then it all seems so ridiculous to waste so much time worrying about it when I am well. But switching those thoughts off is easier said than done!

Sertraline did switch those thoughts off for me! It made me feel a bit dozy/brain foggy for the first couple of weeks or so but that improved. Longer term I'd say it made me a feel a bit flat- so no fear, but also no real highs of excitement/joy. Just kind of 'fine' all the time. But that was preferable to the raging anxiety so it was a small price to pay for me. It did affect my libido too and that is quite common I think. But again- for me, it was worth it for the benefits.

you're dealing with a really overwhelming cycle of anxiety, and it’s understandable given everything on your plate. The fact that you’ve been checked thoroughly in the past and reassured it’s anxiety is a good sign, but it doesn’t make the feelings any less real.
It might help to reconnect with the CBT strategies you’ve learned or speak to a professional again to refresh those skills. Managing sleep, reflux, and stress as best as you can is also important especially since you’re juggling so much. Be kind to yourself, and reaching out to a GP or therapist for extra support can make a huge difference. You’re not alone in this. ❤️

Hi OP

I also suffer health anxiety. Mine can be any little change or feeling is a change that's going to kill me:

Headache - brain tumour
Constipation/diahorrea - bowel cancer
Pains in arms and chest - heart attack

It's awful and like you I had CBT about 3 months which worked really well but now I'm finding it hard to use it.

I have an appointment at the breast centre on Wednesday due to possible lump but I've already told myself it's cancer and it's spread and I'm going to die. It's sooo hard not to catastrophe everything.

Anxiety in any form is awful but I find health anxiety the worst. Keep smiling and talking. You will get through this xx

Ask your GP about propranolol.

You're symptoms sound like anxiety symptoms, which are in turn causing you to think you're having a heart attack which is causing more anxiety!

Propranolol helps with my physical anxiety alot.

I keep thinking lately I have breast cancer as I get a few aches.

And the other day it was lukemia as I had bruises.

It's exhausting