HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Health anxiety

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/12/2016 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
I have horrible health anxiety that completely controls my life. I constantly everyday feel like I'm dying even though doctors tell me I'm healthy I don't believe them because my symptoms just feel so physically bad. It's hard to believe someone can feel this way and not be dying. I feel like I'll pass out any second and get dizzy with headaches, digestive problems with abdominal pain and severe shortness of breath with a lot of chest pain and many more that I can go on about. And those symptoms are constant everyday and if it was anxiety wouldn't they go away? Those symptoms are always there even when I'm relaxed and my mind is occupied. I'm constantly worried about dying even when I get a common cold for some reason I worry about dying from it. Sometimes I don't even sleep at night because I'm so scared to die in my sleep. I'm only 20 years old so I'm terrified of dying. Is this really anxiety or am I really dying?
Posted 1/12/2016 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
Brandi,

My short answer: yes, this is really anxiety.

My long answer: Anxiety has a way of manifesting itself in physical symptoms that is just beyond my comprehension. Like you, I have a long list of physical symptoms--dizziness, shakiness, digestive issues-- even some that I can't put into words. Despite every blood test, every poke and prod, everything comes back normal. Better than normal. Yet still my symptoms persist, and I ask myself why. Recently, I've realized what it is. My pattern of thinking. The more I perpetuate these "what if" thoughts, the more my symptoms persist. When I say to myself "I am a healthy 24 year old female with no history of health problems, and none at this moment, I have to trust the doctor's and the tests and live my life," my symptoms dissipate. Sometimes it's as simple as altering your thinking. I know easier said than done, believe me.
Keep coming to us for support !
Posted 1/12/2016 7:35 AM (GMT 0)
Brandi, please try to understand what i am saying, "if the doctors had said you were dying, would you have believed them"?
I have already been through what you are and seldom have any problems now but there was a time when i thought my life was over. I started having my problems about your age i understand the fear all too well. Then one day a man i only met one time and i were having a discussion at the VA. He said you do realize that you are rehearsing the day of your death dont you, i was dumbfounded but the second he said it it made perfect sense. He said you and I are going to one day die but what you are doing to yourself is dying every day, no amount of fear or anxiety will make you live one more second it may even shorten your life, so stop rehearsing, anyone can die without practice, "You need to get out there and live the best you can and don't look back". I didnt immediately get better but the more i thought about what he said the more it made sence, the more i told anxiety to take a hike the better i got, i am now 73 years old and i truly believe the answer is Live, the dying will take care of its self. Peace Larry ***
Posted 1/12/2016 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear you are struggling with health anxiety I know how much it can take over your life as I also suffer with it.

Anxiety can cause so many physical and mental symptoms and is very good at mimicking other things. I found that Mindfulness Meditation really helpful so maybe look into that.

Keep us posted we are here for you.

Hibee
Posted 1/12/2016 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brandi,

I am so sorry you are going through this.:(

I know how it feels...and I encourage you to seek therapy for recovery, if it's an option for you...

...and/or use the health anxiety self help from our Resources. Would you like me to post the links for you?

With understanding,

S.C.
Posted 1/12/2016 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Brandi,

I am 22 years old. I feel the same way as you. Or at least at times I do. I was first diagnosed with GAD when I was 20. Started medication ranging from Buspar, Celexa, Lexapro , Effexor with Klonopin. Nothing has seemed to be the right answer for me. I haven't been able to tolerate the side effects well.

With the chest pain, I can give a little advice. Try and practice breathing exercises. Drink a glass of water. Get yourself out of the place or situation. Do not do things that you know will set off a anxiety attack . For example, I am also prescribed Vyanse and as a result I have started not working after I take it. If I want to work out I will get up, workout then take it.

To be honest with you Brandi , I think it is a matter of managing the symptoms. I have tried the medicines and the only two that work are the opposite of each other. At 20 I was able to somehow convince myself I had contracted HIV because I was so anxious. I did not even put myself in that situation. I literally went out to the store bought a home test , and when that was negative, went to a doctor to get tested and it was negative. It is crazy what we can convince our minds to believe if we tell them too.

Try and eliminate the situations that make you know you are going to be anxious. Try and find the cause.
Posted 1/12/2016 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Larry! That was powerful! I'm going to think on that and remind myself when the symptoms start to creep in. Thanks so much for sharing that wisdom.
Posted 1/12/2016 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
I too was convinced I was dying all the time. One day, after dropping out of college and being almost completely homebound because of the thought that I was going to a. pass out or b. die, I just said to myself, Well, if I die or pass out at least I won't feel this pain anymore. That was the beginning of the end of my panic attacks...that was 21 years ago, a year before you were born :)

I stopped caring about the anxiety. When you care about it, you feed it.
Posted 1/13/2016 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Yes it can, I am in the middle of something of this nature right now. My anxiety is trying to pop back up and I keep telling myself that I am fine and so is the rest of my family and we will be just fine it is a rough spot. I have anxiety the worst in the winter months. When people are sickest and it goes around hard and fast. This is an every year thing for me, it got worse when my son started school. The past few years in CA have been okay as we have not had real winters but this year we have been slammed hard and this is making me wreck. This typical of anxiety and NO you are not dying even tho it feels like it. No one has ever died by anxiety
Posted 1/13/2016 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
When you have several diagnosed illnesses EVERYTHING causes anxiety! So all those symptoms are bombarding us from all directions. Hard to say which are disease symptoms and which are anxiety driven. I've been in your position for many years. I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what's causing it. It's all very hard to deal with. The hardest thing for me is getting my family to realize I'm not a hypochondriac. I have real issues, autoimmune diseases and very real anxiety. To me, that is Health Anxiety.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply