Health anxiety question

laurar,

Hi this is Kitt and yes many people have health anxiety.

In the A & P Forum we usually refer to the newer term, Health Anxiety so this disorder does fall under the A & P Heading.

People with health anxiety  are overwhelmingly convinced that even innocuous physical symptoms are an indication that they have a serious disease or illness. They aren't reassured by doctors or medical tests showing that they're in good health. Instead, they may turn to doctor after doctor and demand test after test in search of a diagnosis.

Although people with health anxiety  have often been the butt of jokes and ridicule, this severe form of health anxiety is nothing to laugh about. Health Anxiety  is a serious mental disorder that can sometimes consume the lives of those it affects, even becoming disabling.

I would like to suggest you discuss your concerns with your physician as you may not have health anxiety per se but I am not a professional.  You do not talk of going to the physicians or having a lot of other physical complaints.  Worrying seems to be your major problem. You are in my class...............try to stay in the moment and let go of the worries.  See you PCP and let he/she advise you.

I am glad you posted here and please browse the forums and you will find others with the same concerns and fears as you have.
Hugs to you

Kitt

 

Thanks for the responses. I actually do worry about physical stuff too, like cancer, but I've been trying not to freak out about it too much. I've been really up front with my doc about my anxiety issues, so she knows I have a tendency to over react sometimes. stkitt, you're totally right about just staying in the moment. That is the absolute key when it comes to dealing with anxiety. i notice that on the days I meditate I worry alot less, and am actually able to laugh at myself some of the time.

Paniccu, I totally understand what you're dealing with! Hang in there. Something I try to do is talk to a few friends about what I'm fearing to see if they think it's rational and warrants making a doctor appointment. If it is, I make the appointment and then try to keep busy, or meditate in the meantime so that I don't worry. I keep reminding myself that I'm going to get it taken care of, and that worrying won't change the outcome at all, except maybe for the worse since the anxiety puts a strain on me physically.

Sigh. What a strange affliction, but I'm glad we're all here to support each other.

Paniccu and Laura,

I do exactly that to help deal with my health anxiety: I make a list of all my questions and symptoms, but I tell my doctor verbally rather than having him read it (*I* read it). No particular reason for not having him read; maybe it helps me feel more engaged with his thought processes, so that I feel more confident with his diagnosis and treatment suggestions.

Good luck!

percycat

Laura, panniccu, I've had to ban myself from health web-sites, and don't even let me NEAR a DSMIV!! Oh noooo! I had to do an assignment on Borderline Personality Disorder yesterday and it took three people a few hours to convince me I didn't have it.  I think this is a fairly common problem with us anxious types...but at least we know ALL the things we don't have at the end of the day!  Take care and stay off those sites.

Oh and Laura, I think it would be really helpful to take that list along so you don't miss anything.  I hope it goes well.

Hi Laura,   I too suffer from health anxiety, but I don't worry about mental illnesses too much as I aready know what they are.  I worry more about my health such as developing cancer as I do have a pre-cancerous condition in my esophagus.  But I also worry about other health issues.  So don't feel alone and keep posting to let us know how you are doing.  We are here to help.   Take care, Wen