Am I the only hypocondriac??????????

[paulaplumpbottom]

I don't go to the doctor often but I always worry that I have the awful thing I have just read about. For example I read an article on Ovarian cancer the other day and proceeded to convince myself that I had it. I try not to read these sorts of articles and try not to catch it on the TV but its hard to avoid altogether. Am I the only crazy who does this?

No I do it as well - drives DH mad

There was a doc on TV once about people with problems adjusting socially or similar and as they liked to be liked be other people, attention etc, I turned to DH and asked if he thought I was socially maladjusted.....

I was like this for years. For years. It's usually a symptom of depression/anxiety. The hypochondriacal feelings are sort of a scapegoat for stuff that's happening inside your mind but which is sort of being sidetracked into a fixation with your body. It's one of those things you can't really recognize when you're experiencing it. You kind of have to work your way out of it to realize that hypochondria is sort of a slight illness in itself. But that's maybe just my experience, I don't know. But I really was pretty much the worst hypochondriac on the planet, and I really sympathasize.

I do have problems with anxiety sometimes so maybe thats it

I've always got some incurable disease that
i'm going to die from, tomorrow at the very
latest.

Have been 'on my way out' now since I was 20, i'm nearly 31.

Also suffer from anxiety, but also every year that passes fills me with dread as I know i'm one step closer....

Never go to the Dr's though, unless i'm in serious pain or feel really ill, as in have the flu ill.

I'll defo be one of those on their death bed saying 'I told you I was ill'

I am 31 as well I am always shocked when I reach another birthday.

Have No idea how I ever became this age, I
still only feel 18 and get quite cross when I look in the mirror and see this '30 year old' looking back at me!

Medea! If you're still around I'd love to say hello - we're old friends from your expat days ...

As for hypochondria. I'm totally dreadful. I feel like my body is a mirror sometimes, it just reflects back whatever horrible illness it sees / hears about.

I've had everything in my time! Only had to read a medical article to immediately develop similar symptoms. I had it for years and years and it wasn't funny at all. It was definitey linked to anxiety (which can give you many frightening physical symptoms).

Bless you, I feel for you, but it will pass. I found giving up reading women's mags helped - all those doomy stories. And to remember my mother's very wise advice that 'good health is natural; your body is strong and puts most things right by itself.' Which is true!

Honestly, I am nearly 50 now but my 20s and 30s were the worst. I am quite sure you will get beyond it in time. Hugs

Thanks, Maybe its our age, I read somewhere that women are prone to anxiety in their late twenties and early 30s. I am always afraid of going to the doctor in case they think I'm a wacko. Which I am I guess. I always feel that if I looked online for symptoms I could be relieved to find out that I don't but then I worry that I'll have all the symptoms.

Not sure about the age thing though ppb, I'm quite well beyond my 20s and 30s alas and I remember being like this in my teens!

So whats the worse you have imagined for yourself?

I convinced myself I had a Brain tumor because I kept getting awful pains in the side of my head. Turns out its because I clench my jaw. I was so certain though and spent months worring about nothing at all. I was very down in the dumps last week when I had ovarian cancer. I think thats the worst part the waste of worrying

I'm having CBT for this

apparently I am mainly only tired

No I spend a lot of time imagining I have cancer too. And I am in my 40s so it is nothing to do with being in your 20s/30s. My brother is the same as me.

I think the best thing to do is what you are already doing: try to avoid reading or watching programmes about illnesses. I saw one last week about women who had lost their husbands - not old women either. For days afterwards I fretted about losing dh. It is irrational.

DG dh told me years ago that his eyes were getting less able to see the ball long-distance in cricket (he was early 30s)

I gave him a brain tumour

when he bought me some chocolate to cheer me up I cried because I would be losing such a good and kind man

fgs

Exactly Cappuccino. You have to say fgs and realise that you are being irrational.

I am lucky in that it does not control my life really - just sits there at the back of my mind - but you are right to be having CBT for it if it is dominating your life.

I am doing very well

however it seems the most potent treatment is to go to bed ridiculously early

how I have got to the age of 37 without realising without the aid of a professional that I am far more barking when I am tired, I don't know

Whats CBT?

cognitive behaviour therapy

I've had a brain tumour too. And lung cancer. Numerous heart attacks after reading a harrowing story on here about a young mum who died. I've been gearing up for a stroke for as long as I can remember.

Dp's had several heart attacks and stomach cancer.

... Sigh ...

How does it work?

I think I have heart attcaks the most. Every little twinge in my back is the onset, I get bad heartburn so that can also make things worse.

PMSL imaginaryfriend. You are a walking medical miracle!

I know DDG. I've had some more unusual things too. Lupus, anaemia, peripheral vascular disease. The list is endless.

i do this to a certain degree but my problem is that i worry my kids have all these things rather than myself.

I never worry about my dd being seriously ill. She is like her dad, she hardly ever gets sick.