What helps when you are spiralling with health anxiety?

[JacknDiane]

Currently in its grip. Feel sick, anxious, cant eat. I hate this. Am desperate to snap out of it but its overwhelming, all consuming.

Please can anyone speak sense to me.

And i know worrying doesn't help, trust me I wish i could stop this.

I'm so sorry to hear this.
I can only comment on what helped me and I'm still drowning most days.
Music... lots of music
I put all my attention into making myself a hamper for when things get better. Things like a new oodie, pens, notebook and lots of snacks.
If you are too ill to eat please at least have cup a soups or yoghurt. Its all I ate for 4 days when I was spiralling.
I also spoke to gemini, chat gpt as if they were a friend.

Thank you, I had soup earlier. I cant see my gp until the end of next week. I need them to look at me, I feel I have a slight lump behind my ear. Dh has looked twice and felt about and said theres nothing there. But im convinced ive felt something. I dont know what it is. And im totally spiralling. I just feel in a total panic. Its the uncertainty that makes me spiral. That and catastrophising.

I really hate being like this. And im getting worse as I get older. Im 60, I should be past being like this. But its not going away, its just getting worse.

I've tried medications, therapy, cbt, got the books and hypnotherapy.
Nothing worked.
I feel utterly hopeless.

I get it.. you are hyperfixated on it and the days feel like weeks when you are waiting for reassurance.
You sound like you are struggling in other ways so this lump feels like it's everything right now.
When you see your doctor mention your health anxiety as well as the bump,see how they can help.
You definitely need to treat yourself and find something else to focus on.
Make a music playlist
Make a list of books you need to read
Start a hobby, even if it's just doodling or colouring or watching birds outside. Your soul will thank you for it.

Have you had medication for your aniexty? If your dh can't feel anything it is likely nothing there and your spiralling. Need to tell yourself it's not reality theres nothing there. Nothing to fear.

Its the uncertainty that makes me spiral.

The human brain loves certainty, that's why (something like) 95% of our daily actions are routine. By doing the same thing over again we have a belief in our control over the future.

That control is illusionary. We can't control the weather, we can't control politicians, we can't control what other people say and do. We can't control what the cells in our bodies do. The only thing we have absolute control over is the way we think and the way we react to the way we think.

Instead of worrying about uncertainty think about how you've dealt with uncertainty in the past;

How will I cope with this new school/job?
I want to kiss him but I'm scared.
I'll never learn how to drive.
Where the hell has Tesco moved the stock cubes to?!

We deal with the challenges just like we have dealt with every other challenge that has been presented to us in our lives. Throughout our lives, we have already overcome so many unexpected challenges. Some knocked us back, some knocked us down and others barely impacted, but in some way, we’ve
made our way to the other side of every single one. It turns out that dealing with the unexpected is what we are best at because we do it every day.

Instead of spending time and energy pondering ‘What if the worst happens’ perhaps you should try 'I am good at dealing with life, I am the living proof of that’.

Thats made me think, thank you @Eyesopenwideawake

I am struggling in other ways @Toomanysofttoysnteresting you picked that up from my post. Thanks for your suggestions.

Stressed, I tried medications, they didn't work.

Improving my iron levels with supplements stopped my health anxiety. I've heard from lots of others who had a similar experience. If you have ferritin under 100 and/or transferrin saturation under 20% then that might help. The Iron Protocol Facebook group is a good place to find out more.

When I was in the grip of anxiety my friend suggested two things to try to redirect my mind and body. She said to either hold an ice cube or jump up and down 100 times. Not sure of the science but the jumping thing helped me move my mind on in those very intense moments of anxious cyclic thinking.
Sorry you are suffering. X