Horrible health anxiety?

[TherePanda]

Anyone else suffer with this?

Any advice? Seeing a therapist but starting to wonder if I should be taking medications.

I’ve had this for about 15 years but in the past 3 it’s become constant and draining. I am convinced there is something wrong with me daily, I bounce from one cancer to another. I constantly think about death and dying and it absolutely terrifies me.

For those of you who have had this… what helped, if anything?!

@TherePanda im afraid I don’t have any meaningful words of encouragement but just wanted to say you’re not alone.

I could have written your post. it’s the most debilitating thing. I’ve had CBT which has helped to a point but it doesn’t take away the overwhelming worry that sometimes kicks in.

Definitely for me one of the biggest contributing factors is that no one knows I live with this, not even my partner. This allows the worry to ramp up very quickly & consumer my life at times. Don’t be like me. Tell people how you feel.

I hope you’re doing okay. Remember you’re not alone.

It absolutely consumes me 24hrs a day

I’m sorry you are both struggling with this, it’s horrible. What I will say is @maldivemoment please talk to people - this really helps me when I am spiralling I will just speak to my husband (who conveniently is the least anxious person I’ve ever met!) He does help to calm me down. I am currently doing therapy and it has definitely helped to an extent - it has stopped me from googling and thinking I have five different terminal cancers a day!! However I am still living with that constant dread/ low level worry, still think about death a lot and I don’t think I ever genuinely relax even when I feel like I am! I am now at the point where I think medication may be my only hope. Is anyone on anything?

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this OP. It's horrendous and, for me, debilitating.

I haven't found any medication that works but that's partly due to having other (real!) health conditions which rule out many options.

For multiple issues, I've had (and still have) psychiatrists, psychologists, a great GP, I've had lots of therapy and counselling, CBT, EMDR, and more. Nothing works. I'd say it's now the health anxiety more than anything which consumes me and I do think it's minimised.

I also think there's nothing left for me to do about it but that's not to say the same for you. Definitely look into medication if you can because it's no way to live. Good luck.