health anxiety ~ really getting to me and I feel such a pathetic mess

[healthanxiety]

For the past 6 months I have been suffering really bad from health anxiety, i have always had it since I had my son to some degree, but now its really kicked in and gone into overdrive.

I had a slight blocked up nose today, and my dp has had a cold now for about a week, but today I have a slightly swollen gland on my neck, it doesn't look swollen just feels it (if that makes any sense) deep down I know its probably a cold, but why do I keep getting this negative thoughts that its something else more sinister, it is really taking over my life and driving me mad.

Hi - couldn't ignore your post although there will be much better advice than mine along soon, I am sure. I suffered from this off and on for several years after the birth of my first child - it is a form of anxiety related very specifically to the realisation that we want to stay well and healthy for our children, but that we can only control a part of that. I used to read obituaries and Google god knows what! It can be a sign of depression but it can just be an anxiety state that will ease over time. Talking to someone will help and maybe your Gp or HV will be a good first step. Trust me, you are not mad, or ill, and it does go away eventually. I got better when (honestly) I realised that while I might have one of the illnesses I had self-diagnosed I couldn't possible have all six or seven . Hope someone else comes along to help soon.

Can't help, but wanted to try and reassure that you are in no way alone! I think most people have some sort of health anxiety... I was diacussing this the other day at work and out of the 5 of us talking about it, only one thought we were a bit odd.

thanks for your messages they do help a little