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Shaking and Can't Stop Crying

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Posted 10/14/2013 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I know you have probably heard enough from me.  I don't blame you.  I was alright yesterday without doing any internet searches and now all the sudden this afternoon I have spent close to 3 hours online and am convinced and scared to death that I might have oral cancer.  I know the dentist said last Monday not to worry and I've tried doing that very thing but at this point I'm past worrying.  I'm panicking.  The red patch should be healed and it isn't and that is a sign of cancer.  I know this is probably my imagination gone crazy and gotten away from me.  I am soooooo scared and have no one to talk to.  I'm single so don't have a husband/boyfriend to provide support.  I don't want to worry my family with my health anxiety.  I am paranoid at this point.  I do not know what to do anymore.  I cannot concentrate on anything.  I've got a CBT book from the library and tried honing in on my anxiety and talking myself out of this but it is not working.  Please someone give me some help or advice as to what I can do.  I'm desperate at this point to get this fear out of my head.
Posted 10/14/2013 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Ocean - If you live in the United States, you may be interested in these numbers. There are approximately 316 million people in the United States. Of that number, about 36,000 will be diagnosed this year with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. So, unless you have a particular risk, your odds of being diagnosed with this cancer are EXTREMELY small. (And most oral cancers are curable anyway).

For me, knowledge is power. So if I were you, I would go see a competent dentist, oral surgeon or doctor, and ask him/her to have a look and see whether it appears you might have oral cancer, and if so to do a test. On the EXTREMELY small chance that you have this illness, you can get it treated. Assuming you are told that you do not have this illness, you can be comfortable that you got it checked out and it was nothing to worry about.

Best wishes, Medved
Posted 10/14/2013 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Here is a link for some CBT downloadable worksheets. Try one of the thought challenging pages and see if you can beat this fear down...and expose it for what it is...just the anxiety trying to take over your rational thinking.http://www.get.gg/freedownloads2.htm

If need be, can you go in and be seen again tomorrow for peace of mind?

Let me know how the worksheet goes, and how else we can be of suport.

You are going to be alright. I know that it is hard to see that now, when you are frightened, but I know it is.

Did you see my last response about all the things that I have thought were wrong with me that turned out to be nothing?

Let us know how you are doing soon.

S.C.
Posted 10/14/2013 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Ocean1, This is Earth, come in please! No one here is tired or disgusted with you, we are all trying to break
through the wall of irrational fear you have put up, The dentist obviously did not know about your fears,
or at least the extent of your fears. Sour places in the mouth heal but due to the moisture they do not heal as fast as a cut or scrape on our hand or arm, he/she probably thought that with their reassurance you would forget the abrasion and it would heal, (he/she does know that) Now lets think common sense I'm pretty sure that you do not dip or chew tobacco, most oral cancers are tied to that cause especially in young men, so do you use smokeless tobacco? "it's just my luck you are getting a dip while reading this". Hopefully not, cancer in any form is scary, I think you are very young remember it takes decades of abuse for even abnormal cells to appear, so be nicer to yourself and think about what I have said. You are Ok! Peace
Larry ***
Posted 10/14/2013 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your support.  I know my fear is totally irrational and out of control.  I do have an appt. tomorrow with the dentist as a followup from last weeks visit where he told me it would be healed by this time and it isn't.  I frightened to go back and I'm frightened not to go back because I don't want to know (even though I really do want to know).  Fear has taken over control of me and it is very hard to let thoughts go.  I've tried getting a little busier this evening and while still crying and shaky at least I was able to get some stuff done in my apartment.  I have a severe dental phobia so that is exacerbating the situation that much more.  I don't think I'm going to be getting much sleep tonight until after I see the dentist tomorrow.  The dentist is aware I have health anxiety but I don't think he knows how extreme it is.  I don't think I knew how bad it could get until the last week.  It really has taken control and I have lost all control.  I want to get that control back. 
Posted 10/14/2013 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ocean

Its so scary, right? All of the sudden a small things becomes this massive daunting problem. And what changed? Only a few hours on Google and a lot of thinking about it. Nothing in your body changed, nothing in actuality was any worse. Besides, Google isn't as reliable as your dentist when it comes to having information specific to you right? You can't ask Google, "so what about my check-up and this patchy thing?" Of course its going to give you crazy things to look at. But your dentist on the other hand, well he's there with you and can see and interact with you. Trust your dentist, not a mindless computer program.

My advice, and its easier said than done, but if you can put your mind to work on something else and get involved in your present life, you'll find things are a lot more pleasant when you're not worried about worrying for three hours.

Life is way too short to lose it to anxiety. You are totally in control right now, but you have to believe it.

Try a book called "At Last a Life" by Paul David. Nobody can get over this for you, only you can.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Joshua
Posted 10/14/2013 7:19 AM (GMT 0)
Ocean, I can tell already you are better as you should be, You will sleep good tomorrow afternoon.peace

Larry ***
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