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Posted 12/13/2010 12:47 AM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone, I've been suffering with anxiety for about 2 years on and off. Although i've always been a worrier my anxiety really started after there was a major falling out in my family and every gathering became a source of stress and worry. Around the same time I dropped out of uni  I couldn't help having overwhelming feelings of failure and that i'd let me parents down. After all this happened I started getting weird physical symptoms like headaches, stomach problems and stabbing pains literally everywhere! I also couldnt eat and just the thought of food made me want to throw up.

So off I went to the doctor, expecting him to tell me I was dying or something and he carried out tests for thyroid problems, anemia and a few other things. They all came back clear and he said it was more than likley all down to anxiety. Shortly after my symptoms disappeared for a long time, but a few months ago I started getting burning pains in my joints, especially in my fingers. Arthiritis runs in my family and my great aunt had it severley and at a very young age, so naturally I started freaking out again! Once again I went to the doctors and he agreed to give me a test for arthiritis even though he said it was very unlikely due to my age, but due to my family history it would be for the best. Once again they came back clear.

However the past month or so my anxiety is really back with avengence, I'm getting pain everywhere and can't stop worrying about all the diseases I could have. I'm also addicted to self diagonosing myself online, which I know is the worst thing you can do but I can't help myself!

Anyway, the reason i've decided to come online is that no on understands what i'm going through. I try to talk to my mom about it but she bascially tells me to stop being a hypocondriac. My friends don't know about it as im too embarrassed to talk about it because I know they won't undertsand. I'm only 20 years old and I feel like im missing out on life due to all the worrying and the physical symptoms that come from it. Sorry this is such a long post but I really need to talk to people who will understand how this feels.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

Post Edited (Ellie90) : 12/12/2010 5:51:48 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/13/2010 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you're inducing your pain and discomfort through hypochondria. I've sort of been there, but not to the degree that you are right now.

I used to convince myself that I had all sorts of things. The worst was when I convinced myself that I had HIV. Realistically, I wasn't even at risk; but I would still research the symptoms, and worry myself so much that they would start to manifest. After worrying myself into depression, I finally decided that it wasn't worth it anymore. I stopped allowing myself to access medical sites, or to research any of my symptoms. It's easy to worry about the least little symptoms that creep up on you, but it's never a good idea to diagnose yourself. Symptoms only look a certain way on paper, but in reality, a medical diagnosis is usually much different.

Sometimes, the belief that you have certain illnesses or infections can be so strong that your way of thinking only proliferates what you're feeling. I've done it to myself several times. When I finally cut myself off from the medical sites - or any other place where I could research symptoms - a lot of things I was experiencing just went away over time. I also try to look at things more objectively. If I get a rash, I don't jump on my computer, check medical databases and say, "Oh, my god. It's herpes!" There are probably thousands of things that could cause a rash. I try to assume the most simple conclusion, apply a topical ointment, and stop worrying about it. If it gets worse, then I can consider seeing a doctor. In the meantime, worrying about it doesn't help my circumstances any.

Anxiety can manifest in very physical ways. I'm not saying you should preclude any possibility of there being some actual illness involved, but you have to be realistic about things. Go to a doctor, and get a professional diagnosis. If you don't trust the first diagnosis, then it doesn't hurt to get a second opinion, or even a third. Just don't diagnose yourself if your symptoms don't subside, or you don't get a definite answer.
Posted 12/13/2010 2:18 AM (GMT 0)

Ellie90 said...

Hi everyone, I've been suffering with anxiety for about 2 years on and off. Although i've always been a worrier my anxiety really started after there was a major falling out in my family and every gathering became a source of stress and worry. Around the same time I dropped out of uni  I couldn't help having overwhelming feelings of failure and that i'd let me parents down. After all this happened I started getting weird physical symptoms like headaches, stomach problems and stabbing pains literally everywhere! I also couldnt eat and just the thought of food made me want to throw up.

So off I went to the doctor, expecting him to tell me I was dying or something and he carried out tests for thyroid problems, anemia and a few other things. They all came back clear and he said it was more than likley all down to anxiety. Shortly after my symptoms disappeared for a long time, but a few months ago I started getting burning pains in my joints, especially in my fingers. Arthiritis runs in my family and my great aunt had it severley and at a very young age, so naturally I started freaking out again! Once again I went to the doctors and he agreed to give me a test for arthiritis even though he said it was very unlikely due to my age, but due to my family history it would be for the best. Once again they came back clear.

However the past month or so my anxiety is really back with avengence, I'm getting pain everywhere and can't stop worrying about all the diseases I could have. I'm also addicted to self diagonosing myself online, which I know is the worst thing you can do but I can't help myself!

Anyway, the reason i've decided to come online is that no on understands what i'm going through. I try to talk to my mom about it but she bascially tells me to stop being a hypocondriac. My friends don't know about it as im too embarrassed to talk about it because I know they won't undertsand. I'm only 20 years old and I feel like im missing out on life due to all the worrying and the physical symptoms that come from it. Sorry this is such a long post but I really need to talk to people who will understand how this feels.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

I just want to follow this post. I made another posting just tonight about Support and coping skills.

Hara

Posted 12/13/2010 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellie and welcome, you have come to the right place for support and understanding! I as well as many others have experienced exactly what you are going through. My anxiety also started as a result of family conflict, and manifested itself in health anxiety and panic attacks. I am sorry that your family is not able to understand what you are going through. You are not a hypochondriac, they seek out attention through exaggerated maladies, and trips to the dr.'s office. Those of us with health anxiety suffer debilitating physical symptoms that cause us to believe that we are really ill. We don't seek attention, but are genuinely terrified by what our bodies are doing.
If you are going through a setback right now, maybe you could consider some therapy to help get you back on track. I went through Cognitive Behavorial Therapy (very effective for anxiety disorders) and have gotten my life back-literally! I highly reccomend it. If you can, ask your dr. for a referral to a therapist who offers it.
I hope that you will plan to stay on here. There is great information, support, and a community of people who will care, and be there to help when you need them
Take care and let us know how you are doing soon,
Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/13/2010 5:21 AM (GMT 0)

Scaredy Cat said...
You are not a hypochondriac, they seek out attention through exaggerated maladies, and trips to the dr.'s office.

This is just your opinion; and it's also discourteous to negatively generalize upon those suffering from this condition. Bearing in mind, this is a support forum.
Posted 12/13/2010 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry, didn't mean to offend or generalize! I was trying to convey to Ellie that she was not, as someone in her family put it, looking for something to be there that wasn't. My apologies if it was stated badly, or taken the wrong way.
Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/13/2010 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning and welcome to HealingWell,

I have been where you are and have found that most of the time my symptoms are related to anxiety.  Not everyone who worries about health problems is a hypochondriac. Having symptoms caused by something you and your doctor can't identify clearly can cause anxiety. In some cases, a second opinion or further tests may be in order.

It feels to me like you may be experiencing  high anxiety triggered by personal events and perhaps you should seek out the help of a therapist.  Here is a link to the many sx of anxiety and panic.

Anxiety Symptoms, Anxiety Attack Symptoms (Panic Attack Symptoms), Symptoms of Anxiety:

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

"It's wise to discuss all new, changing, and persistent symptoms with your doctor to ensure that they are not being caused by some other medical condition, since there are many medical conditions that can cause anxiety- and stress-like symptoms. If your doctor has attributed your symptoms to stress and anxiety, you can feel confident that your doctor's diagnosis is correct. If you aren't confident in your doctor's assessment, you may want to seek a second and even third opinion. This way, you can feel confident that nothing more serious is causing your symptoms."

HealingWell is a support group and each person is entitled to their opinion.  I hope this helps you in some small way.  All comments are welcome.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 12/13/2010 5:30 PM (GMT 0)

wendel11 said...

Sometimes, the belief that you have certain illnesses or infections can be so strong that your way of thinking only proliferates what you're feeling. I've done it to myself several times. When I finally cut myself off from the medical sites - or any other place where I could research symptoms - a lot of things I was experiencing just went away over time.

 

I know deep down that it is anxiety because as you said when i'm able to cut myself off from these thoughts my symptoms do dissapear. For example when i'm doing something which requires  concentation like when i'm busy at work or driving, and when i'm out with my friends I don't even think about it. It's usually when i'm at home by myself and especially when i'm trying to fall at asleep at night I start to think about things and then start to get worried and hey presto the pain is back again!

A few of you mentioned therapy and I know it is something I will need to think seriously about because it might be the only way I can get out of this way of thinking. It's just I have a really hard time admitting I have problems and I don't like talking about my feelings to anyone. I'm really good at putting a brave face on things and i'm always the person whose there for everyone else. I realise this has contributed to my anxiety as I do bottle things up a lot.

Thank for the support and advice everyone I really appreciate it :-)

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