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My health anxiety is driving me crazy

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Posted 7/25/2011 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I was doing so well lately, then today I just fell in a big hole....I have fibromyalgia which causes me lots of pain but I also suffer from health anxiety so of course today I've been questioning myself....you know is it really fibro??...maybe it's something worse much worse.....I have a really defective brain I think...

I've seen 5 drs in the last 6 years since I got sick with the fibro and they all say fibro....why can't I believe them?....I'm so exhausted today I feel like a bus has hit me....my husband was being kind and rubbed deep heat into my shoulders and back for me and I snapped his head off for hurting me... sad

I feel like I'm worthless today, I start therapy on Friday and I'm hoping that she suggests cbt because a lot of people on here swear by it so keep your fingers crossed for me.....sorry everyone I think I'm just having a pity party today for myself, I can usually find something to cheer myself up but not today sad

My brother rang me and said you sound sad....and then suggested I come visit him at his shop and he will tattoo me....hes a tattoo artist....I told him NO!

The way I feel I would probably get a poo or something tattooed on myself...lol

Anyway gotta go my party awaits me...got to stay positive or at least try....what is that saying...fake it till you make it.....hugs to you all shannon
Posted 7/25/2011 9:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shannon.

Sorry to read you are having a tough time with health anxiety I can relate to that as I also get bad health anxiety and have convinced myself I have all sorts of things the mind is a powerful tool.

Good to read you are starting therapy and yes CBT works very well regarding anxiety so worth doing. I have my second group therapy session this afternoon and it is basically CBT but in a group setting. No need to say sorry we all have bad days and it good to vent and gets things of your chest and we are all here to listen and support you.

Health anxiety is horrible and I would say if you are anxious then do see your doctor about it. I was at the doctors on friday as I have been having problems with Kidney pain & back pain and generally just feel really fatigued and not right at the moment so had some more blood tests done to find out what's going on and this has caused me anxiety.

You made me laugh about the poo tattoo lol that would not be a good idea. Glad you are staying positive and keep posting to let us know how you are getting on.

Your Friend

Ben
Posted 7/25/2011 10:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ben, I have an appointment with the doctor tommorrow, thanks for reading my post and replying....it's nice to hear from others with similar problems as me...I'm really looking forward to starting cbt, I've heard so many good things about it.

The mind is a powerful thing isn't it, it's scary the things I can make myself believe,I'm really lucky I have a great dr who really listens to me even when I come out with the strangest things....by the way I was thinking of you when I put in the poo tattoo comment...lol...and you were the first to reply...ha..

Hope your cbt session goes well, it's funny isn't it when we have tests that makes us anxious too..I'm the same...thanks for listening to my rant again talk to you soon....your friend shannon
Posted 7/25/2011 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Shannon,

I too suffer from a bit of "health" anxiety. Once I begin focusing on an illness my anxiety turns into a whirlwind and I start up with anxiety feelings which is hard to come out of. Just keep remembering your going to be alright.

I tend to google alot.  Googling is definitely a bad thing for people with health anxiety. I can spend literally hours googling my symptoms and scaring myself into thinking I have various illnesses. I finally just get more confused and walk away from the computer as I know the web will give me to much info and much of it I find I try to make match my sx.

I am glad to know you are seeing a therapist tomorrow and I wish you well.  Let us know how all is going for you.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 7/25/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I get bad health anxiety 2. It doesnt take much to set mine off. Just had an attack an hour ago that came out of no where. Heart went from skipping beats to beating crazy fast and almost passed out. Just now starting to calm down a little. These really wear me down and there hard to explain to my family while its happening. Just wishing i could be normal again:(
Posted 7/25/2011 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
thanks everyone, kitt I totally relate to the google thing....I am actually banned from using dr google, my husband removed it from all our computers and my iPad which is a good thing. At my worst I was spending 4-5 hours a day surfing the net working myself into a frenzy over the things I was reading....my dr told me people with health anxiety will continue to search until they find the worst case scenario and then run with it.

And gene you are normal like all of us were just a different kind of normal...well it's a new day so here's hoping it's better than yesterday....positive thoughts to you all......your friend shannon
Posted 7/26/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shanny, I am sorry that you are having such a tough time of it right now! I am glad to see that your sense of humor is still in tact though:) that will go a long way in seeing you through this!

'Poo tattoo' is too funny...it made me think of those scratch n' sniff stickers...OMGsh, wouldn't that be a bad idea? scratch n' sniff tattoos! My brain is apparently defective as well for even thinking of that;p

Anyway, besides CBT, one thing that helped me is something that my sister said to me. I was venting about how anxious I was about my health and scared that I could have/get various diseases/disorders, and she said to me 'So what if you do?' 'You can't change, or control it in any way' I realized that I was trying to control my fate by worrying about it...but that doesn't keep us safe from the things in life that are going to happen no matter if we worry or don't worry about them.

I decided that if I am trying to be as healthy as I can, and getting regular check-ups...that is all I can or need to do. It has been a crucial, and freeing lesson for me. I also used it recently when I was flying. I literally told myself that I had absolutely no control in this situation whatsoever...and that was really a liberating moment...after all it wasn't my anxiety keeping that bird in the air!

Anyway, I don't know if that helps you feel better (or worse), but I hope that it works for you too.

Good luck with your upcoming appointment, it will be great...and keep posting!

S.C.
Posted 7/26/2011 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
S.C you are so right. I have a friend of mine that when I have a panic attack she always calms me down and talks me through it, and one of the things she says is "so what if you do... It's not up to you" and she's right. It's not up to me. It's in God's hands and I have no control over it (and as a control freak, that's scary to admit). You just need to take each day as it comes and deal with each obstacle in front of you to the best of your ability. :)
Posted 7/26/2011 8:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, everyone, you know scaredy cat you have absolutely hit the nail on the head I am a control freak...I am also terrified of flying because I feel like I should be up there flying the plane or at least telling them how to fly the plane...lol.

I have deceided to eat healthier, I've been feeling sorry for myself a bit and eating junk which I normally don't, also im going to get out there and exercise ive let that slip too...anyway I start my cbt on Friday...so looking forward to it I want to get better...and get on with my life....hugs to you all shannon
Posted 8/1/2011 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
Shannon I had to laugh at the tattoo thing! That is just too funny :)
My best friend is a psychologist who also suffers with anxiety (Go figure) and she always tells me anxiety is related to feelings of loss of control or those kind of issues. So the fact that we may not have control over ceratin elements of our health makes us anxious.

In addition to the major panic attacks that I am having these days, I also have health anxiety and it sucks big time I know. I guess we just have to try and accept the challenge we have but also focus on other stuff and live in the moment. I always ask god to help me, to help me to deal with whatever.

At this point I think only meds and therapy can help me.. I have tried hard to hang in there but I need some help. Also I think it is a great idea that you are going in for therapy and definately eating healthie and excersicing can only help you feel better.

Lots of hugs to you :)
Posted 8/1/2011 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi bubbles, I totally agree with your friend, I think a lot of anxious people are control freaks like me and when we can't control everything around us we get anxious...

Health anxiety is awful isn't it? I have always been an anxious person a worrier but it's only been in the last 2 years that I got health anxiety.

I ask god to help me all the time, I ask him to give me strength and to help me thru each day....

I'm glad the poo tattoo made you laugh I've gone off it now..lol
I could just see the look on my husbands face....aargh it would be priceless..

I hope the meds and therapy helps you, I'm hoping therapy helps me too unfortunately can't take many meds due to a health issue I have, but that's ok....look after yourself and we will beat this anxiety...ok hugs to you...shannon
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