Health Anxiety

[Toni145M]

Does anyone have any supplement recommendations for helping anxiety?

I suffer with Health Anxiety, particularly where my heart is concerned. I am much better than I was but it still creeps into my thoughts daily, especially when I am tired or have had a few alcoholic beverages the night before.

I have had counselling, learnt behaviour techniques etc but I want to try to rid this from my life as I want to start living again, it's so frustrating when I know this is all manifested in my head.

Any tips welcomed 😊

probably not the advice you want but the only thing that soothes me is getting it checked. Ive tried exercise, meditation, positive thoughts, healthy eating etc. So now I will just get things checked so I won’t worry about it for a few more years. This year iv had head and neck MRI, colonoscopy and ECG. Feeling much better for it. Probably not a helpful answer but for someone with healthy anxiety this has helped the most.

Hypochondria is notoriously difficult to treat op, I’m not sure getting checked is the answer for everyone, it will feed it for many, but works for that poster.

have you spoken to your doctor about medication?

Your right it’s not - as this contributes to the belief there is something wrong unless it’s checked - it’s a temporary fix

Magnesium for supplement, check your vitamin levels in general could be low iron/vit D etc. I have HA had it for years comes in waves of severity, I suffer tachycardia sometimes but Cherelle thinks, Trey Jones and Dennis Semsik are all fantastic people on YouTube you can access which may help you work through the symptoms and they specifically have heart orientated videos etc. Keeo hydrated, draw upon your coping skills where possible and I pray for your recovery because it's horrendous I completely sympathise! You can also do things to aid the vagus nerve, different toppings/meditations etc. X

As you state it is a manifestation in your head - thoughts are just thoughts it does not make them real. They pass like clouds. Keep practicing your techniques and refocus away from those health related thoughts.

It is entirely normal to notice changes in heart rate from drinking alcohol or eating high sugar calorific foods. Especially if you are overweight or more sensitive due to perimenopause. (Please ignore the latter if irrelevant)

I’m just being honest and letting OP know what genuinely has helped me the most. Getting things checked have let me feel peace and quiet for the first time in months.

I understand that, but it only lasts as a strategy until the next time as you depend on external reassurance. Ultimately it’s not helpful for you either.

Funnily enough NOT getting checked has been the only thing that works for me!! 😁

I've heard magnesium citrate supplements help but I'm not sure on dosages etc to take as I've heard you can OD on them?

I'm not sure about OD but I wouldn't take more than 250mg to start with then can work up to 500mg if you want to, but personally think you're safe taking them either way so just one tablet in the evening, if you have any worries of course ask a health professional but you'll be fine either way

The first thing my doctor said was to go on an SSRI without even seeing me, personally for me it wouldn't work as I'd feel I wasn't dealing with the issue itself and the SSRI would be a temp fix, each to their own and if SSRI's work for some people that's great but I prefer trying alternative methods

After reading up on Health Anxiety, a lot of the information does say repeated doctors visits for checking is a reassurance behaviour, so you feel relief for a while until you next get that twinge or pain your worried about and your back to square one again. It's horrendous for anyone going through this.

@Toni145M that's exactly what I was like! I would actually walk out of the doctor's appointment feeling great... for about an hour, and then I'd find something else to panic about! It was awful.
What sort of counselling did you have?
I've tried it but it didn't help too much. I've considered meds but I feel the same as you, I want to get to the bottom of it!!

I had CBT and a hypnotherapy session which helped. Happy for you to message me if you want to chat? We can compare tips and remedies

That sounds good! I've never messaged on here actually, I'll have a look!