Health Anxiety

Hello,
I'm new to this website but found it while googling symptoms (which I know is just awful for my anxiety). I've never posted to this type of thing before but am really looking for support with my worrying. At times I feel like it is completely taking over my life. I've worried about different types of cancer since I was about 11 years old (I'm now 23). Just over a week ago, I discovered a small lump in my armpit. I went to the doctor to have it examined. She felt it and told me it felt normal to her. She didn't mention anything about wanting to do tests, which I assume is because she could tell it wasn't worrysome? But I am still worried. It causes me some soreness at times and she recommended putting ice on it and taking ibuprofen which would help with any inflammation. I hate how worried I feel over any new symptoms and really know that it's just my anxiety causing me so much stress. I am really hoping to learn some ways to deal with the anxiety so any suggestions anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi Jazz,

Thank you for your response. I really appreciate it. I actually just had the same experience of waiting for my GYN tests and was worried about STDs even though I knew I had no reason to worry. I got the results and it all turned out fine, and I'm sure it will all be fine for you too.

I agree about the stress and anxiety causing me to notice the lump more and feel pain more. And yet even though I know this, I still worry. But I am going to be starting therapy next week too as long as it all works out ok, so I'm hoping that will help me.

Again, thanks for your response and I hope that going to therapy helps your anxiety too.

I know exactly how you feel.  I've been going through issues myself.  I've worked myself into quite an anxious state.  On Monday, I have an appointment with a therapist and then a doctor appointment after that.  I'm hoping the therapist will eventually be able to help my health anxiety.  I can't say that therapy is right or wrong for you, but it may be something worth looking into.  One day, we will all have health issues to deal with.  I want to be able to handle them when the time comes.  If I freak out over possible health issues, I can't imagine what would happen if something were really wrong.  I need to find a way to deal with any health problems that come my way and to be able to work through my anxiety that every ache or pain is fatal.  Try and find some help now.  It will only become worse if you don't deal with it.  Constant health worries are no way to live your life.  You're young.  You have a long life ahead of you and you want to live it without constant worry.  Please contact to keep in contact with everyone on this site.  They are a great support system and many others are or have experienced what you're going through.  Hang in there.  You're going to be fine!

Thank you all for the support. Last night was a rough night for anxiety (so this morning is hard too as a result). While lying in bed last night, I think I started to have my first ever panic attack. I was able to settle down by focusing on my breathing, but still woke up feeling incredibly anxious and like I have this sense of fear and doom just hovering over me. I have an appointment to see a therapist this week who has worked with me in the past about other issues (not as much about health anxiety), so I'm hoping that will help. I'm considering making another appointment with a doctor too to get it checked again, but I'm also terrified of seeing doctors (as I'm sure many of you can relate to). All I want is to be able to live my life without fearing that death is lurking right around the corner. It's such an awful state of mind to live in and I just feel so alone with these thoughts.

Hi Specialone,

Thanks for your support. It's good you are going to a therapist too. Mine has really helped me in the past with some relationship anxiety issues, but I stopped seeing her due to insurance/expense. With this new anxiety about the small lump in my arm, I realized I don't want to live in fear anymore and decided that this is something I need to learn to deal with. As you know, it is awful to feel paralyzed by fear, which is how I've been feeling the last week or so. My mind is constantly visualizing the worst possible outcome and the visualization feels so real to me.

I wish you luck with your therapist appointment! I really hope it helps you with your fear and anxiety.

I'm so sorry about your experience with that doctor! I've had that happen to me before too. I saw a doctor who was terrible at communicating with me and left her office feeling terrified. It was awful. I'm considering seeing another doctor to get a second opinion this time since the doctor I saw seemed very nonchalant about it. However, I also know that it's my tendency to not trust doctors so I may not really need a second opinion.. It's so hard to know what is anxiety-thinking and what is reality. That's one of the worst things about it. But I just keep trying to stay positive (really hard to do) and distract myself since I keep having the compulsive desire to google my symptom which always leads to cancer as a possibility... terrible!

Hi. Just got back from the therapist. I feel it's a good mix with her. She's thinking I should ask the doctor to increase my Zoloft dosage as mine is quite low at 50mg. She also feels I should take the Xanax more often than I do which now is about once per month. She didn't say I should stop googling symptoms though. Odd!! I'm still convinced my doctor will agree with the orthopedic doc I saw and want tests. I really need to get a grip. I can't and don't want to live like this.

How is everyone else doing today? I feel so bad whining about myself when you all are suffering too. Please let me know how I can help you. I can't help myself very often but I can support you when you need it. Strange I'm able to give advice but I can't heed my own!!

I had 2 spots on my lungs amd a swollen bone in my sternum. According to the internet I should have died years ago. The spots were a collection of blood vessels clumped together and the swollen bone was arthritus. Don't believe everything you read on line. Alot of it always points to cancer or something like it.

Hi a.n.j. and welcome!

I have moved your post to its own thread...I hope that this is okay with you.

In this way, more people can recognize you as a new member and welcome you.;)

Talk to you in that post...

S.C.