Really need help understand anxiety....I have health anxiety

Back in spring I was misdiagnosed with Lupus. I did not have it but the doctor told me I had it, he just based it off a positive ANA lab and that was it. That sent me in to a whirl wind and ever since then I freak out over everything with my health.

In the summer I got a crazy headache that took forever to go away.. the worst part went away but since then I have random pains in the back of my head near the bones and I get pain on the sides of the head. I’ve had brain mri that was clear. I’ve been giving several medicines that don’t do anything. Can this be anxiety that my brain is thinking something is wrong which is causing the pains?

I have not yet... I guess I just don't understand how anxiety causes me to have pains in my head? Can you help me to understan?

Hi CGreen

Actually health anxiety is a disorder which is categorized under a group of disorders called "Somatic Symptom Disorders". The new name for HA is now Illness Anxiety Disorder.

In Somatoform disorders, the pain you are feeling are basically real and with NO specific physical cause. But the problem with health anxiety is that we excessively worry about our bodily symptoms and give all of our time to focus on them. The more you give your attention them, the more severe they become.

Also with anxiety you strain your muscles in your body without noticing. That is the main reason of anxiety causing pains. This is a very complex mechanism really.

I too get tension headaches, sometimes from anxiety. Usually on the sides of my head or the base of my neck. My doctor thinks it is the after effects of a sinus infection.

Most likely yes.

Of course there is no guarantee, and if they become chronic, or worse...you will want to rule out a physical issue...

...but there is very good reason to believe that with anxiety coping skills, you will find relief. :)

Peace and progress,

S.C.

I don't have an answer to your question, but I wanted to share my story. I have suffered chronic migraines for 4 years now. I would get them 5 days out of a week. about a year ago my headaches blended in one continues migraine, meaning, It would never go away. I would get up in a morning and go to bed at night with some degree of pain. Sometimes better, sometimes worse, but never pain free. It affected my life greatly, it was ruining it. I quit my day job, I was no longer reliable, and could not be on a schedule. I worked with my neurologist and tried everything practically what is available for migraine treatment - nothing worked. My MRI was clear too. I developed bad insomnia and anxiety over these health issues (migraine and insomnia), I was a mess. I ended up seeing a psychiatrist, and was prescribed knolopin (anxiety med), and the first day I took it, my anxiety went down to almost nothing and my headache went away! Imaging this after a year of non-stop pain? I thought, it was just a coincidence, and that my pain would be back tomorrow. I continued taking my knolopin (1mg/day) and be headache free (to my huge surprise and relive) for about a month. Unfortunately then my psychiatrist started adding antidepressants to my treatment, and they did not agree with me. I got many side effects including worsen of anxiety and headache. These two inseparable for me; where is one, there is another. So now, when my anxiety is back, my headaches are back too. But as you see with my example - anxiety can cause headaches. I can 100% confirm it. Try to work on your anxiety first, it might help you to get relive from the pain. For many people relaxation techniques are enough, I was so beyond that, I NEEDED medication. But I believe a combination (meds plus self-help) is the best way to approach a serious anxiety issues. Good luck! I hope you start feeling better soon. I know nothing is happening fast when it comes to anxiety and depression.