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Bad week with health anxiety

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Posted 7/18/2011 11:00 AM (GMT 0)
So this was a rough week. I have huge health anxiety, it seems to have come up at this point in my life ever more present than before. I think in large part because of my two small children. I want to make sure that i'm healthy for them. I had booked a few appointments over the course of the next month with a GP for general health checkup, dermatologist for some strange moles i can't stop looking at, and an optometrist.

In short it's these moles that are bothering. I'm experiencing this deep fear that i may have cancer. I can't understand this coming up so recently. I had just been to a dermatologist last month that gave me the all clear but for some reason I didn't think she was correct because she never did a biopsy on these incredibly suspicious moles. I never had a fear of cancer before and now i can't get my mind off it and it's becoming a little uncontrollable. This sense of impending doom is paralyzing my activities.

I had a fight with my husband. My frustration and worrying is making me a little more snappy. He doesn't really know the underlying cause for my short fuse because history has taught me that he sees my fears of health as absolutely ridiculous.

I'm very much on edge here, if anyone else has experienced this healthy anxiety I'd like to hear your stories and how you managed to overcome it. It's taking a hold of me quite bad this week.
Posted 7/18/2011 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi mocha, I too suffer from health anxiety in the last six months I have believed that I have breast cancer, ovarian cancer and bowel cancer, did I also mention that I thought I had a ruptured bowel and spleen..

Needless to say I've had none of the above, but I do understand the paralyzing fear that comes with health anxiety.. It seems that once I get fixated on something there is no changing my view..

My husband rolls his eyes to the heavens too when I start down the health anxiety track too your not alone..

It's good your seeing your gp for a check up, are you taking anything to help with your anxiety? Once you have seen the dermatologist and she gives you the all clear remember that's two expert opinions so let that fear go.....I know it's easier said than done...

I can't tell you why you have health anxiety but I know that when you have small children there is always that fear in the back of our minds is what would happen to them if I'm not there.....

And like you some weeks are good and some are terrible....just remember your not alone there are lots of HA sufferers out there just like you....keep posting and get support from this forum.....best wishes to you ...shannon
Posted 7/18/2011 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi mochaa, forgot too mention don't dr google, ok it's one of the worst things health sufferers like us can do...there is so much bad information and inaccurate info out there it can really scare you.....ok so no dr google :))))))))
Posted 7/18/2011 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
That Dr. Google gets me every time! I believe in my lifetime, i have diagnosed myself with Diabetes, skin cancer, lymphoma, hiv, a brain tumor and colon cancer. i'm sure plenty more.

My greatest fear is that my body is harboring a deadly disease that i don't detect and then it becomes too late for me. All the stories of sudden death in people doesn't help me AT ALL!

Thank you Shannon, yes i will try and quit the self diagnosing on the internet before my appointments.

Post Edited (Mochaa) : 7/18/2011 6:09:28 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/18/2011 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
Also i'm not taking any medication for my anxiety because I'm breastfeeding. I've often thought about it. When i'm finished BF if that would be a good option for me. For now all i can turn to is teas and breathing exercises. When my anxiety is as bad as it has been in the last week, they're of little help.
Posted 7/18/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Mochaa

Good Morning ! I understand the worry about a skin problem. I will admit that I have had 5 skin cancers removed but none of the 5 were a mole.  I am not always good about following up every 6 months for a total body skin exam.  "Shame on me".  Last winter I noticed a red bumpy area on my ring finger and decided it may be something so off I went..........It was dry skin and I was sent home with a Rx for extremely dry skin. You are not alone with your worries but keeping them under control can be tough.

Here are some things to help get you on the road to dealing with Health Anxiety:

1. Therapy---meds if you and your doctor feel it is appropriate---everybody is different on this issue.


2. Self-help books--lots of good stuff out there these days    Some folks around here, I'm sure will have some suggestions of books.


3.  Exercise---even if you don't want to.  At first you are likely to feel miserable and panicky feelings are likely to bubble up OR rush at you.  It is Beasty (your anxious overthinking) causing this.  But do it anyway.


4.  Eat a healthy diet.  This helps on all kinds areas of your life.


5.  Stick with the Forum - sharing your problem is like halving it.

6.  Hobbies--anything that completely immerses you in it and keeps you occupied.  This helps because eventually you'll get snippets of time when you feel good.  These are teaching moments because then you know it is anxiety mucking with you.  After a while those snippets turn to days, hours etc.


7.  Believe !  You can take your life back.  Don't compare your 'pre anxiety' life to your new life.  As we experience life, we change.  Having anxiety will impact your life just like all life experiences do.  But that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Even once you are on the road to recovery, you will have a 'new' normal but that doesn't mean you aren't happy and fulfilled

8. Look into CBT - Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations,and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel / act better even if the situation does not change.

 

Most of all know that you are not alone - we are here for you.

 

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 7/18/2011 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi kitt, wonderful post and I'm going to take it on board and try and do some of the things you suggested too ...:)
Posted 7/18/2011 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Mochaa,
Kitt gave some really solid advice and methoeds. Here is my take on your situation. Anxiety is treatable in many ways. When the anxiety is tense I think we are in a mode to deal with bringing it down, if we can calm it some, I feel we must work on our thoughts and behaviors so as not to put back into a frenzy. Beating anxiety takes a lot of effort and daily effort and in most cases for years. If we really want to decrease the anxiety, we have to commit to this effort and I think the rewards are very much worth it. From reading your post that Dr google does it to you everytime should be a GIANT RED FLAG for you. We have to look for ways of change, thought change, behavioral change, things like that to break the cycle and begin to reprogram ourselves. Googling symptoms HAS TO GO! period. It's feeding your anxiety and with all the good advice you will get....may not do much good. Baby steps toward the positive to get your anxiety a bit more undercontrol and then build from there. Use real doctors if need be. This is like so many other things, what you get out totally depends on how much you put in.....so break some bad habits and focus on positive steps to return to a more normal life. I believe in you and you should as well. You can do this...it's time for change!
Take care wingman
Posted 7/19/2011 10:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Kitt and Wingman for the great advise and support. I've taken these on board and yesterday evening managed to keep my mind from wondering and going on the usual route of reading through symptoms and so forth. Woke up a few times during the night but still forcefully turned my mind to other things. Still hard for now, but it's a cycle that will break. I'm thankful i can come back here and keep my mind on track. So after this it's emails and then i'm getting on with the day. Focus Focus. Thank you to all!
Posted 7/19/2011 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
Good girl, I'm proud of you! Keep your mind busy, and remember NO DR GOOGLE.......:))
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