Hypochondriac..help!

This is my first time writing on any kind of forum. I've been having panick attacks due to being a hypochondriac since I was 13, I'm now 29. My panick attacks revolve around dying, whenever I have an ache or pain I immediately think the worst and I must have something terminal and will die. I'm currently panicking thinking I have bone cancer because I feel that one side of my clavicle bone sticks out farther then the other. And of course I diagnosed myself via the Internet and googling the signs and symptoms. I know that is the worst thing to do, but I always find myself back online to confirm what I'm thinking and 9 times out of 10 it comes back to some sort of deadly illness. I guess I'm on here to see if anyone else is going through what I've been going through. Sometimes I feel so alone because there is no way to describe what this feels like to someone who doesn't experience attacks. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

I feel it's almost to the point of controlling my life bc when I think I'm okey, something else happens. I wish this was curable. :( I really need to stay away from the Internet because that only intensifies the situation. Thanks for the replies!

I do this to myelf all the time... I'm up at 5am right now because I'm convinced I have some sort skin disorder or underlying condition because I've broken out into hives. My health anxiety is what brought me here to this forum a few years ago. Like Hibee said NEVER google your symptoms it will only make your anxiety worse. I always obsess over a new ache or pain or strange sensation and it took a lot for me to finally be able to get a grip and stop worrying every little symptom. I still have health anxiety and I can definetly relate to when you say as soon asyou get over one issue another one arises. You should talk to a therapist who specializes in CBT, that's what worked for me. Good luck and I hope things get better for you.

Nelle

Hello, I have the exact same thing you are posting about, I just found a new doctor who has been seeing people with the same thing for 31 years, she swears its a form of obsessive compulsive disorder, I was calling it health anxiety, she said that what happens is, when you think you are fine, something else will happen, its ocd, just like how some people have to keep rechecking a door knob or stove knob, its the same thing with health, shes been talking to me about a lot of different avenues to venture to relieve this, but, I just met her Friday, so I haven't gotten far with her yet, she said another thing is, when someone has this really bad, its better to keep them reassured every so often so they don't go off the deep end like I do (I'm friends with both the ER's here) lol.

Anyway she also told me she had the exact same thing for years and finally has overcome it, I can't wait to see her more and learn from this woman, when I met her, she had this confidence and knowledge that you rarely see in a doctor, or around in my neck of the woods anyway, so I really like her so far and am looking forward into finding out more about ocd and what I can do to resolve it, and hopefully share some good news with ya and see if you could ask your Dr. about these things as well.

Hope the best for you. Jess

Thanks SC!

Will keep everyone posted.

-Jess

hi everyone here.After reading your post i more convinced that i am 100% hypochondriac. I'm 27 years old now and I'm suffering from this situation since i was kid. Every little ache i think its cancer or anything bad illness or diseases. Now my life is stuck because of this anxiety. I have many dreams that need to fulfill but i can't start anything because of this. Dreams of having a good job, having a good life together with my parents. To help my poor relatives but how can i achieve this dreams? Need an advice please help me. . When will I start to fulfill this dreams i'm not getting any younger, i'm getting old. I'm glad cause i found this forum bec. here i can say anything about what i feel. Because I have no one to share this things.

hello scaredy cat, thank you for listening and welcoming us here. i'm relieved because i know there's someone who can talk to and someone who will listen to me. Feeling of having a new friend. Yes i will do what you said and i'll never lose hope.

I'm so sad to know everyone on here is going through what I am. These panick attacks I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I don't know what it is, I can see or feel something that doesn't seem right on me and I have this rush of panic that goes through me and I feel as though I'm going to die. It's so awful and most Doctors just want to prescribe pills. I don't want to take medication all my life bc of this. I want to overcome. Please keep us posted Jess on what happens with the Dr. your seeing!