Eye Exam-Super Anxious

so i have an eye exam for the first time since i was a baby next week Wednesday. Im 20 now and knew that my vision was deteriorating since i was 16 but was always in denial that it was actually hard to see from a distance. I can see things well upfront and all its just things from a far i have difficulty with.

Seeing as this will be my first eye exam I decided to search reasons for vision loss which is when i stumbled upon glaucoma. For the past two days i've been researching about it and have convinced myself that the optometrist will tell me im suffering from it and its had me so anxious. I broke down a couple of hours ago because i just dont get why im so adamant that this is the case when clearly its near sighted and maybe astigmatism. Its just at the forefront of my mind glaucoma and i could barely sleep last night and felt nauseous from the thought of eating. I keep on telling myself i shouldve gotten my eyes checked much sooner and now regret that i havent even though i cant turn back time.

I will look at my eyes and try to find something wrong to validate my worries but i can't. i'll come up with my having headaches and think oh no glaucoma when in actuality ive been staring at my laptop for too long.

I have midterm next week and i just cant focus to study due to my fear of being diagnosed with glaucoma. This was the same when i went to the er thinking im having a heart attack. the er doctor than refered me to a cardiologist and i was fretting over that for the entire week as well she than sent me to my doctor who than did blood work and realized the problem was iron deficiency.

TL;DR how can i overcome this fear of being diagnosed with something i most likely do not have. i wanna be able to study for my midterm next week and not just pause and be anxious.

Thank you for reading all of you

Post Edited (freemymind88) : 10/15/2014 10:20:11 PM (GMT-6)

Hi

First of all a big welcome to the forum I am glad you have found us you will find good support here from the members. Sorry to hear you are feeling really anxious at the moment I can relate to how you are feeling and know how horrible anxiety can be.

It's best not to google any symptoms as that can just make your anxiety worse I know because I have done it many times before so try your best to avoid that if you can. Do you take any medication to help with your anxiety? Medication is not for every on but talking therapies are a proven way to combat your anxiety there are a number of therapies you can do but two of the best are CBT and Mindfulness you could maybe ask your doctor about these?

Keep posting and let us know how you are getting on we are here to listen and support you through this tough time.

Hibee

Thank you Cornell, Hibee and ScaredyCat for welcoming me ^^

I actually had a doctors appointment this tuesday about my hair thinning situation and i was referred to a derm and i totally forgot to mention anything else since that was at the forefront of my mind. I've stopped googling everything and anything and decided to go take a walk today and pick up a package which allowed me to explore a new neighbourhood and that definitely helped me take my mind off things.

I have looked into therapy being offered at my university and plan on making an appointment soon. Also have been looking into cbt and mindful training and plan on bringing that up with my doctor. No i am currently not on medication and i've recently changed family doctors so i'll have to bring it up. I've never been on medication for anxiety heck many dont even think i struggle with it. My sister and cousin do but thats about it. Theyre mainly my support system and they do help but i dont like worrying them to much and i need to stop that mentality since they always tell me theyre there for me.

I plan on looking at some coping techniques now and hope i continue to stay calm for the remainder of the week.

Once again thank you to the three of you ^^

Google can cause more misery than give help when it comes to any kind of physical malady.
Please just have your appt. and let the dr tell you the diagnosis... Also...please know that glaucoma doesn't have to be a really big deal! It does NOT have to end in blindness! Many people have light cases of it and had it for years without any kind of treatment. I have a light case and all I do is take Timolol eye drops once a day.
Good luck to you. Let us know how it all goes!

i can't go to therapist and any doc because i am like you and its getting terrible.

don't worry too much ,eye exams are fine and short !

you will be fine !!

best wishes !

another update same day i spoke to my sister and she calmed me down for if something was wrong surely hed refer me there and than. migraines run in my family as well and ya and i need to think clearly