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HEALTH ANXIETY

6 replies

Hobbes2019 · 24/07/2020 11:51

Back in January I got diagnosed with depression and GAD and have been treated with antidepressants, on the whole they really helped. When I came back home from uni due to lockdown, it has all seemed to escalate and I’m constantly using the internet to self diagnose myself with things such as bowel cancer/tonsil cancer etc, which I haven’t done since before Christmas because the tablets really helped reduce this anxiety. Obviously I’m aware that even at 19, it doesn’t mean I’m exempt from cancers so I know a lot of people might tell me to see a doctor if I’m experiencing symptoms, but I’m more looking for coping techniques because I used to see the doctor so much that it made me ill, and I always turned out to be fine! Another thing is, I know bowel problems can be caused by anxiety too and I wanted to do a bit of ruling out before I seek medical advice, because the issues started up around April when I came home. After a month or so I got completely better and was going to the toilet like normal, but I’d say the past couple of weeks I’ve been constipated again, which is also when I think my anxiety has been getting worse. It’s so frustrating because anxiety could be causing issues, but then the issues make the anxiety worse, and my health anxiety has gotten so bad I constantly think I’ve got something awful! My family are certain I’m fine and my mum is so supportive with my health anxiety but I read all these horror stories online that people’s family’s and friends tell them they’re fine and they end up being seriously ill! Anyway I guess I just need advice/coping techniques as this is really screwing up my quality of life as I’m always worried. Regardless if I’m ill or not I can’t go about living my life constantly self diagnosing, it’s killing me!

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Time2change2 · 24/07/2020 12:03

I went through a patch of this when I was younger. I wonder if it’s part of coming out of teen years when you think nothing can touch you, to realising that you are beginning adult hood and hearing stories and realising that things do happen to people.
In the end, I decided to completely stop googling anything medical and using willpower stuck to it. Googling just took me down some horrible rabbit holes of illnesses and treatments that I started to really worry about having. I would cry and get upset about procedures and think I could never do that! But then I thought - my Nan and other older people I knew (some passed away) went through their whole lives without any of these problems so why shouldn’t I?
Absolutely no point in worrying about things that might never happen. You are very young and the chances of cancer or similar are very very slim.
Don’t waste one more day googling or worrying about what will most likely never happen to you!
You only have a short time here so make every day count and don’t let your brain trick you into worry. A sore throat is just a sore throat. A tummy pain is extremely unlikely to be cancer.
If in the future you do have something then make a pact in your mind to cross that bridge then. Don’t waste your life panicking about it. Oh to be 19 again!

Time2change2 · 24/07/2020 12:05

There are so many issues that can cause vowel problems- Ibs and stress are two main ones. If you see blood or are in a lot of pain, go see a doctor again. If not then do all you can to relax and see if the problems resolve

Time2change2 · 24/07/2020 12:05

Bowel not not vowel

Hobbes2019 · 24/07/2020 12:07

@Time2change2 Thankyou so much, this helped a lot. I sometimes wish I hadn’t been on the internet at all because then I’d be completely ignorant! I just wish I could be happy and content.

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Ashmarie · 24/07/2020 22:29

Hi there. I feel the same as you, I have horrible health anxiety and spend a ridiculous amount of time consulting google and diagnosing myself with every illness under the sun. I’ve been having an issue recently which is likely very minor and the anxiety it has been causing me is terrible, I’ve been experiencing horrendous panic attacks, and then I worry that it isn’t actually a panic attack but a stroke/heart attack etc. I’ve had CBT a few times and haven’t found it helped very much, but I have heard good stories about hypnotherapy so a few weeks ago I decided enough is enough and I have now seen someone twice. It unfortunately isn’t available on the NHS (not where I live anyway!) but to me it is worth it. So far so good, I’m certainly not cured of my health anxiety yet but I have found I am better able to cope when I get the horrible anxious panicky feeling, so I’m going to stick with it. I can report back after a few more sessions if you like!

Hobbes2019 · 25/07/2020 20:30

@Ashmarie hi there, I’m so sorry that you feel like this! I’ll be thinking of you. It’s so so tough constantly feeling like there’s something wrong! It would be fab if you could let me know with how it all goes. I’m from the UK, you?

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