Am I simply being weak minded?

Hi Everyone,
It's been awhile since I've last posted here, but frequently read through the posts and connect with many. My health anxiety has reached an all time high and it feels as though my anxiety has kicked into another gear. I frequently have tingling in my head, chest pain, indigestion, heart palpitations, dizziness, etc. And an extreme fear of dying. All in which have been checked/tested many times over by my PCP and reassured as simply Panic Disorder/Health anxiety by my psychiatrist. I'm still in the beginning stages of my treatment for this disorder, but am still struggling with my feelings of death, and leaving my young son. When I have chest pains, I'm having a heart attack. When I'm having brain tingling or a headache, I have a tumor. Any little twinge of pain, and my mind automatically issues a death sentence. I'm going crazy. Apparently so crazy that my support system is "sick of hearing about my alignments" and use my disorder to be a source of mocking, laughing at me and making fun of me and my "made up illnesses." My biggest supporter just told me that he believes that I am "weak minded and should have been able to get over whatever this is months or even years ago." I feel as though people who haven't experience mental illness (especially this one), simply have no idea what it is, the effects, or the damage that is causes. Many of my friends believe this is something that I have brought on myself for attention; and that I concoct symptoms. They are all frustrated that I have been battling this for years with no apparent end (recovery) in sight. Has anyone else experienced these types of attitudes/beliefs from people? How can I make people understand that this is truly a mental illness and that there is no time table for recovery. Why the apathy? I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!

Thanks!

Hi and welcome back.

I am sorry that you are going through this...and the attitudes of your friends and support that are not making it any easier.

Many of us feel this isolation. Anxiety is a lonely disorder at times!

That is why so many of us are here daily...to find the understanding and care that someone else experiencing anxiety can provide.

Please keep posting with us as you continue to work on your recovery. Improvement will happen with your ongoing efforts.

Have you checked out the book recommendations specifically on health anxiety in our Resources? If not, I would encourage you to do so...they could prove helpful.:)

Keep posting with us...we get it, and will be here to help!

S.C.

It's kind of interesting because as I read your post I was thinking that I could have written it. I also suffer from tingling sensations, headaches, palpitations, and dizzy spells and my family and friends seem to think it's just a "on/off" switch. My husband has never experienced any form of anxiety so he doesn't have any idea on how to understand or help me for that matter. It's really hard feeling like your the only one, just know your not! And other people have overcome it so so can you.

You are not weak-minded. Just the fact that you keep going on a daily basis, makes you very strong.