Health Anxiety

[oliveB73]

Has anyone ever recovered from this? I have had it for over two years since I had a sudden panic attack and I’m getting really low with it.

I am so much better than I was after reading several books but I have had a wobble today and am loosing hope, I just want to be normal again.

I’m getting to the point that I monitor everything I eat and drink. I know my books say to ride though it and just feel the anxiety as it’s just nervous energy but I want to retrain my brain not to worry about my health excessively.

Sorry to hear that. Have you just been using the self help route? Maybe you could speak to your GP about a CBT referral.

Must have been another thread about this recently as someone posted a link to some Australian resources which I sent to someone I know.

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety

Yes, lots of people recover from health (and other types) anxiety. What were the circumstances around the panic attack? Finding the cause is often the best way of resolving it, especially given that it's quite recent.

Genuinely don’t know. Just worrying about my health, my weight and drinking too much. Then the panic attack happened.

I have had CBT and it helped a little but not much

Have you tried cutting out all caffeine and alcohol for a bit if possible? It's worth giving it a whirl to see how much of the adrenaline in your system is coming from them. Once you've done that you'll know what baseline anxiety you're left with. For some people it doesn't change much, but for others it can be substantial. Don't go cold turkey on the caffeine, you'll get headaches. Step it down gently. Also, in some areas you can self-refer to talking therapies, might as well do that now, in case the waiting lists are long. Good luck.

I am glad you are monitoring your food and drink. You must read a book which promotes a more optimistic mindset. Faith is something which changes us from outside within. Time heals wounds with focus.

I’m several years in now. I’ve always been anxious since my early teens; but the health anxiety started about 10 years ago, and have really ramped up since having my kids; so about 5 years. I’ve been in and out of high intensity therapy.

Some days I don’t worry at all; other days I worry to the point of feeling like I’m going to have a breakdown.

I’ve linked the worst of it to my cycle. 7-10 days before my period is due I become extremely extremely panicky; I get any ache or pain and immediately catastrophise and I won’t stop until after my period finishes; then I’m exhausted for a few days afterwards from the constant panic.

id say 60% of the time I mange it ok. I definitely have a long way to go.