DS cough, my anxiety, Unicough? Please help

[PoptartPoptart]

I have severe health anxiety (am having CBT but early days).
DS is 12 and has a mild cold but as usual he has a cough to accompany it. It's a dry, irritating type of cough. No asthma and no breathing problems.
Even though I know it's not serious it sends my anxiety through the roof so I've been googling cough medicines (the usual ones never help so I'm trying to find alternatives).
I've been reading about Unicough. Apparently it has cocoa in it which has been proven to help coughs. Has anyone tried it? Does it work? Boots sell it so I can get some tomorrow.
I've tried all the usual advice, propped up pillows, honey, lemon, Vicks on feet and chest, sucking pastilles etc. Not helping. I really need to find something to ease his coughing as it's making me really panicky.
I know it's not serious and it's this damn anxiety that's making me feel like this but every time he coughs I just want to burst into tears.
Please any advice about unicough?

Cough medicines are pretty ineffective really

All you can do is wait it out. Coughs can take weeks to go as that's how long the inflammation takes to calm down

Focus on your health anxiety and dampening that down. Frantically searching for cures for a common cough isn't where the answer lies. Concentrate on your HA and CBT as that's going to benefit you most

My Dr told me that there is nothing you can give to cure a cough and actually it's the body's way of getting yuk (mucous etc) cleared and out of your system.

I've sometimes had persistent dry coughs - humidifying the room helps, and sucking pastilles fairly continuously. I've never heard of unicough, but I had heard that dark chocolate helps, not sure whether it really did but its a good excuse to have some (small square at a time of high cocoa plain).
Its normal for coughs to take a while to clear up though.

You know rationally its not serious, thats good.

The best thing for a dry cough is to keep the throat lubricated-small sips of water frequently, humidifier etc. Unicough may not work but it won’t hurt !

Thank you all.
I know the real problem here is my health anxiety. I am having CBT (on my 8th session) but it doesn't seem to be helping at all tbh.
I really didnt want to take tablets, antidepressants, etc, but I am getting to the point where I think I might have to. Shaking and crying and hyperventilating because DS has a cough is not normal.

I am sure it is just a routine cough. I wouldn't like to feel I couldn't cough in my own house without someone else getting stressed..

If it is particularly upsetting for DS, and lasts for more than 2 weeks or so, could be worth going to drs, otherwise I wouldn't do anything.

I have friends on ADs, and tbh, they do seem better on them.

I don't let him see my stress topcat, I'm very good at hiding it from him (had years of practice). But thanks for your understanding

HA is the absolute pits but it's a good sign that you're actively trying to sort it. Of course the rational side of your brain knows that a child with a cough is the most normal thing in the world, so try and keep focussed on that.

Thanks Franky. I have suffered for years with HA and yes it is the pits. 6 months ago I decided I couldn't go on like this anymore so I went to the doctors and started CBT. I am desperate not to let this take over my life anymore.

I struggle too with it but try and distract myself from it as best I can. It's very hard though. I sometimes really want to shake myself because I KNOW how bloody ridiculous it is

A humidifier at night will help
Cough Medicines DO NOT work - this is why Drs will no longer prescribe them for the under 12s
Well done on getting help for your HA - please don't be scared of ADs...they change lives x