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Posted 10/29/2007 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Everyone or anyone! I can't seem to quit worrying lately about my health. Every little twinge, or tingle, or pain makes me paranoid that I have some serious illness, or I'm about to die. I have Faith in GOD and I know I should leave my cares on HIM, but I can't seem to let these fears go. I don't have insurance, so I don't have the money to go and get a gazillion test done to ease my mind and I haven't been to the doctor in around 10 years. However, I take care of myself through exercise, good eating, and clean living and having all of the classic signs of anxiety attacks (which I was diagnosed with years ago and was on paxil for up till about 4 years ago)makes me feel this is anxiety. I was on claritin for the last 4 months, and have been off now for about 2-3 weeks. I believe it was the culprit in causing my anxiety to return after several years of no anxiety. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? My Dad is trying to help me set up insurance , but even the thought of getting insurance scares me. I'm afraid the doctor will find something wrong!
Posted 10/29/2007 2:17 AM (GMT 0)

Mike,

IMHO I feel you may have some anticipatory anxiety going on here.

Anticipatory Anxiety:

Common Anticipatory Anxiety Reactions include :

Feelings: anxious, fearful, angry, confused, hopeless, losing control, numb, sad, moody, irritable, guilty.

Behaviors: withdrawal from others or activities, disrupted routines, startle reactions, easily crying

Cognitions: preoccupation with possibility of trauma, concentration difficulties, self-doubt, worry, indecisiveness, memory difficulties

You seem to be worrying excessively about the what ifs? I hope that you will see your physician and get back on a med to help you get your anxiety under control while you work at learning coping skills.

We understand how you feel as each of us has a little bit of each kind of anxiety in our lives at one time or another. I want to see you happy and enjoying life so please talk with your physician.

Keep posting here. There is something comforting about baring your soul to the members of A & P and still being able to be anonymous.

Kitt

Posted 10/29/2007 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Mike: Kitt has offered some great advice! I also suffer from anticipatory and "health" anxiety. I am going through some "GI" problems ---that, of course, I think is my death sentence! I cry a lot, can't sleep, have back/chest pains, can't eat too often, etc... and the worst thing is the FEAR of the worry--and the "what ifs".....

I am going to the library today to pick up a book about Health Anxiety. Let me find the name of it and post it here for you-----maybe you can go to a library (it's free) and get the book also---it may help you feel better! I hope it makes me feel better!
Laurel
Posted 10/29/2007 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Mike:

OK--the book's name is: "It's not all in your head: how worrying about your health could be making you sick--and what you can do about it" By Gordon Asmundson

This is not to say you shouldn't see your physician if it has been a while---but, maybe reading this will help calm some of your (and mine) fears! Let us know how it goes--and if you read this! ;)
Laurel
Posted 10/29/2007 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the book suggestion and for both of your replies Kitt and Laurel. I'll see if my local library carries that book. Kitt, I'm worried about getting back on meds, because getting off of paxil was hard! When I first came off of it, I had major mood swings (impatient one minute...crying the next...angry the next). Also, I was on it for so long, it seemed as if my emotions were sometimes numb. Like I didn't get upset or mad about anything,even things I should have!
Any thoughts? Thanks, Mike
Posted 10/29/2007 5:31 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Mike,

I understand about not wanting to go back on the meds.  I would suggest then the self help materials or a therapist that can teach you how to deal with the anxiety.

I chose therapy and I still have to practice daily what I learned during therapy.  I do take medication too.

Perhaps others will have some good ideas too.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 10/29/2007 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same problem. I am always thinking there is something wrong with me, which just causes me to have anxiety attacks. I do not have insurance either.

Anne
Posted 10/30/2007 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
A couple of days ago I bought a new book called The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook Fourth Edition and it has some good stuff in it. Has anyone heard of it? It's by Edmund J. Bourne,PH.D. The problem is that it doesn't cover all of my symptoms (Like any book could even have room to contain all of my symptoms! LOL!) and it's hard to find comfort when you feel something that is not covered in the book. Another thing...If I know it's anxiety, why does it still bother me so much? A prime example: I just went on a half hour bike ride with my daughter. I noticed after the bike ride that I'm having a muscle spasm on the inside of my right leg. Now, logic would be that it's just that...a muscle spasm from riding on that small bike seat. But "Mike" logic says it's bone cancer or something horrible like that!!! Why do I do this to myself?!
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