a little sole searching

Dottie,

Right on the money..........  Kudos to you for discovering that you can have anxiety of any type and still be able to control it and lead a good life.

You do deserve to have a good life and you have obviously taken the  responsibility for making it happen.

You are awesome and what you have written should help many members on the forum realize that they too can make their own happiness with hard work and determination.

Hope you have a joyful new year and many happy years ahead!

Kitt

Dottie, I guess I was meant to scroll down and read what you wrote, because it was exactly what I needed to hear. I am new to this forum btw, hello--I posted for the first time yesterday. I have been wondering so often lately how I used to be this completely "normal" person and for the last part of a year I have become a complete hypochondriac which has caused A/P or vice versa (still trying to figure this out). I feel so many aches and pains in my body, I am constantly convinced I must have a heart condition, asthma, cancer, Lyme's disease, thrombosis, mono, even lice, you name it, I have been imagining that I have it. And it takes up so much time and energy thinking about it--time that I could be enjoying doing something else like spending time with my children and husband. And thinking about it also just makes it worse and I work myself up into frenzies--usually at night when nothing can be done about anything anyway. The funny thing is when I have had different (not all) complaints checked out by doctors, and have found out nothing was wrong in every case, the pain usually has disappeared in those spots and I moved on to a new worry. I am really going to try to kick this vicious cycle, and it is so good to know that other people are out there who understand. It gives me strength and resolve. Thanks again, Tessel

Lyn, Thanks for your reply. Actually I didn't know hypochondria and health anxiety are two different things--I am so new to this. Thank you for letting me see I have to look into the labels I am using.

I am already feeling better today, but mainly I see that I cope when I keep myself busy. On the other hand, it doens't give me much time to sit still and relax. But I have seen the relaxatation techniques thread and will give them a try. You are lucky to have an empathetic doctor. I think mine could be but I have to get past my own shame issues about going (too often).

Take care, all, Tessel

P.S. Have never taken any meds. but melatonin, asperine and Tylenol PM. Actually I went through a period of not being able to sleep without taking 2 Tylenol PMs every night. But I was so worried about taking them too often that I stopped. I am one of those people who is deathly afraid of becoming dependent or hooked on something, which I'm learning is normal for A/P--also makes me feel better knowing that!