Anyone with health anxiety have a chronic illness?

Hi,
I started reading this forum last night after waking up at 1 am scared for no reason. I am a 37 year old divorced mom of 3 (I have 100% custody which is hard when I am not functioning so well). I was perfectly healthy until the summer of 1996. Suddenly I got very sick after vacationing on the east coast. I was misdiagnosed with mono, then anxiety, then CFS. 12 years passed and finally was propyl diagnosed with Lyme disease. A year later after treatment I was well, anxiety just disappeared as did my physical symptoms (fever, body pain, severe anxiety with panic attacks, brain fog, muscle twitches, fatigue, sleep paralysis, drenching night sweats, choking when eating, weight loss, etc). Spending my twenties and late teens so sick it felt like a miracle! 4 years passed and a few months after getting a root canal, my symptoms started coming back except for myoclonus and choking.
I have done Lyme treatment again but still have many symptoms. I also recently tested high for arsenic.
I get scared about dying frequently and feel awful at times and have middle of the night insomnia.
Anyone else here also have a physical illness? I believe part of this is rom Lyme but I know my thoughts scare me about my health too. How do you cope when you do have a physical chronic disease?
Thanks!

Hello and welcome!

Yes, we have members who cross over from the U.C. and Crohn's forums...those who deal with rheumatoid arthritis...ect.

Seeking to manage both your physical issue(s) while also seeking help for the anxiety, through either meds, therapy or a combination of all three will find you working a well rounded program for your overall needs.:)

As Hibee suggested, please see our health anxiety self help material in our Resources for a great start!

Post with us anytime for anxiety support.:)

Scaredy Cat

Hi Damo and welcome back to the A/P!

Thank you very much for sharing! I find what you describe about the unknown being the cause of the anxiety...rather than the understood factor really interesting.

One of our former mods stkitt (RIP dear one) battled Colon cancer...and as awful as it was of course...she said the anxiety of the unknown was actually more debilitating/terrifying. Once she had a definitive dx., the anxiety was actually less than her previous general anxiety/panic.

I am glad to hear that you are managing your U.C., and wish you much the same progress with the anxiety.

Post with is anytime for support...many of us are challenged with health anxiety, and we understand! :)

S.C.

Yes, I have an undiagnosed chronic disorder. I was quickly diagnosed with fibromyalgia by one provider, but didn't feel satisfied with that and the second provider has yet to diagnose. Since her next step is to medicate I am seeing a functional medicine practitioner on Friday in hopes of getting some answers. Its tough because every day my symptoms are slightly different and no one as of yet really knows what is going on with me.

Hi Agenius.

I have several chronic illnesses, so I absolutely get how tough it can be to cope.

I'm sorry you are struggling so much.

I mostly use positive mantras, and prayer as my main coping mechanisms. Usually, they work, but this forum is very helpful too.

Just knowing you're not alone goes a long way.

Yes, I have crohns disease and have had lots of pain, procedures and major surgeries. I was always anxious but am a major wreck now and sometimes feel like I have PTSD. You are not alone and these forums are very helpful in letting you know that. There are many helpful and comforting words to help you cope. Check out some of the other sites if you get a chance. Blessings!

Agenias - I was just diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome and possibly fibromyalgia (that one they aren't certain on). My health issues started 2 years ago and have only gone downhill. I was diagnosed with GAD, Panic Disorder, and mild OCD. A lot of my anxiety stems from not only my health but the health of others around me, especially my toddler aged daughter. I do believe that any illness, especially chronic illness can be a huge contributer to anxiety/depression. I'm also depressed, mostly because I feel like crap every day and I just want to lead a normal life with my daughter and fiancé. I want to be able to take my daughter to the park every day and go on vacations and be healthy and active. Please don't ever feel like you are alone. I wake up every morning with horrible anxiety because of the uncertainty of the day and what I'll be able to do (my body has limits). All we can do is try our best to stay positive and remain hopeful that we will see better days <3