Health anxiety... I think

My name is Gabriel. I am a 17 year old male.

about two or three months ago I was home sick from school for almost a week. I had diarrhea, shortness of breath, headache, and vomiting. Me, being the curious person I am, thought it would be a good idea to google my symptoms. After seeing everything that google and WebMD had to say about my symptoms, I was very worried! I went to the doctor and my doctor told me that the shortness of breath was most likely due to allergies and that all of the other symptoms were due to a cycling stomach virus that was going around. This is where it all went downhill...

I was not happy with the answer that she gave me. I didn't believe that she knew what she was talking about. Because of that, I decided to switch doctors. My next doctor asked if I had seen a doctor already. I told him yes. After an hour of talking to him, he came to the same conclusion as the last. Just to try and put my mind at ease, I ordered a chest x-ray for the shortness of breath (which was the symptom that scared me the most). The x-ray came back with nothing.

Somehow, I was still worried about it. I decided that the doctors didn't know what they were talking about and stopped seeing them altogether.

Through the last two months I have thought that I had: Ascaris Worms, Lung Cancer, Leukemia, Pneumonia, and stomach cancer.

Cancer does run in my family. Almost everybody on my mom's side of the family has died of cancer, so that just worries me even more.

My last doctor recommended that I see a psychologist because he simply thinks that that is what it is, health anxiety... But could it be more? Maybe there is something that I am just not seeing. I have been confused on what to get tested for and what to ask my doctor. It's all just so stressful and I wish it could all just end.

I would really like some feedback and I am considering seeing the psychologist, but I don't want anybody to think I'm crazy. I just hope that somebody can give me some support and help me out here. Do you think it is health anxiety? please respond. I hope that the responses out there will help calm my nerves

Thanks in advance,
Gabriel

If you look on my profile it may say I'm a female but I clicked the wrong one so that's a stupid mistake.

It's no problem! Health anxiety is a common theme around here! There will probably be more visiting here giving more reassurance especially the loved moderators and our good friend Larry.

Hello Gabriel, People with Health Anxiety fear that   bodily symptoms may indicate a serious illness. Constant self-examination and self-diagnosis, and a preoccupation with one's body. Many individuals with Health Anxiety   express doubt and disbelief in the doctors' diagnosis , and report that doctors’ reassurance about an absence of a serious medical condition is unconvincing, or un-lasting. Many people with Health Anxiety   require constant reassurance, either from doctors, family, or friends, and the disorder can become a disabling torment for the individual.     I am going to ask you to stop Googling and look into finding a therapist to help you in dealing with what appears to be Health Anxiety.     While it is wise to be aware of how you are doing physically, it is actually not helpful to pay close attention to your body at all times.   This is because your body naturally fluctuates during the day and at night, and overtime.   Thus noticing every little change provides very little useful information. And worse - any change that is noticed is worried about , and as worry increases, physical changes and symptoms tend to get worse, and as this happens, checking and monitoring increases even more.   In other words, checking and monitoring your body feeds into the vicious cycle of health anxiety.   It is sad to see so many young people with health anxiety ............I hope each of you learn how to deal with this disorder so that your life will be happy and productive.

Amateurpsych

I know how you feel haha sometimes I think that I won't live to see the new year! and my birthday is on new years eve. And in worst case scenarios the next day!

Welcome to the group and keep posting!!

I can recommend therapy as a treatment for health related anxiety! It helped me to overcome the majority of my fears in this regard...and to stop the resulting panic. I now can manage my anxiety and my health worries have been greatly reduced.:)

I also want to tell you that you are not alone! You can see from the responses that other members can relate to what you are going through...so much so, that I recently added a couple of great book recommendations in our Resources (main page, 1st post) that are on the subject of health anxiety. You may want to look into getting one as you are in the process of waiting for an appointment.

Keep talking with us. We are here to care and support anytime!

Scaredy Cat