To still be worried about this :(

[Wildberryplatt]

hello I need some words of wisdom - I discovered my partner was cheating on me about a year ago for 3 years with other women and immediately ended it. I got quite ill with the flu afterwards. I then went on Google and thought god , it could be hiv.

I went to the nurse at the sexual health clinic and she was LOVELY she talked me through everything took swabs and did a rapid test to detect hiv on me with a finger prick blood syringe thing. Even though the test results came back negative for hiv I immediately asked her to do it again to which she responded ‘ this test is 99.9% accurate’ especially after the months and months I waited to get tested. She told me I really don’t need to worry as I had a negative result.

I guess this post is really about how to stop worrying and stop health anxiety. I did the test saw the results but the little part of my silly brain is thinking , what If it was a false negative, what if I am positive what if what if what if. Im 30 next year and feel I haven’t got a grasp on health anxiety at all it makes me feel immature.

Is it a common mental illness to have?
do you think I should be worried about the test ?

arghh I hate myself sometimes. thank you

I don't have any real words of wisdom but have you thought about maybe speaking to a GP about the anxiety and seeing what they can do to try and help? Or, alternatively, maybe speak to a therapist about it? CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) might be good in this situation? With regard to the specific issue about the test, there is absolutely no reason why you can't get tested again if that would help put your mind at rest. But if after receiving another negative test you start worrying again then I would urge you to consider speaking to someone about the anxiety xx

I agree with PP, you should seek MH support. The anxiety might be transferred frkm the cheating and it sounds like you need to work through it all.

Was your partner tested, and are you still with him?

No I left him immediately as soon as I found out , after the test I was relieved and I think you’re right the anxiety from the cheating may have transferred and now I’m worrying about it being a false negative etc but In my heart of hearts I know I’m not positive for anything but it’s just the anxiety. Thanks for the reply :)

Yes cbt sounds like a great idea , thanks so much for the reply.

I agree you need mh support . I went through a similar thing. Those nurses wouldn’t allow you to be tested with something that wasn’t quite accurate or would allow you to not be detected. These tests are accurate OP that’s why they are held at sexual health clinics . Try and relax and hugs to you after all you’ve been through. :)

Hi OP. I suffer with health anxiety and have found CBT very helpful, as well as SSRIs, on occasion. I still have health anxiety and perhaps always will, but it is under control most of the time.

Hi OP I was in the same situation went for a rapid test - good enough for me ! Those things are 99.9% accurate after 3 months exposure. Relax!!