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Obituaries and Health Anxiety

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Posted 11/21/2014 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hey friends!

I have been very busy this week... We are moving offices and it's been nightmarish (but productive)... Hopefully soon, I will find some time to come here to spend some time with ya!

I have a confession to make.... Obituaries greatly increase my health anxiety as do funerals. When I read the newspaper, and my eyes just quickly scan across the word "Obituaries", instantly my anxiety sky rockets. I find myself reading through with an obsession to find out how they died AND their age... ALWAYS have to know their age.

Each and every time when I hear of someone passing away I immediately ask how it happened and then I ask how old they was... And then without fail, my health anxiety skyrockets! When I hear of anyone dying at all it makes my anxiety soar... Then sadness takes over.

Anyone else share this or am I the "obsessed obituary crazy dude"?

Post Edited (Cornell) : 11/20/2014 7:55:27 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/21/2014 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Going to respond to this real quick... My total posts were at "666"... Wasn't no way I was going to sleep with knowledge of that! Here's to "667"!

Yep - my health anxiety has been acting up!
Posted 11/21/2014 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Why am I laughing!!?? LOL..... I shouldn't be laughing!! :D But here I am, laughing!

Ok, ok, got to get serious now....

You're not the only "Crazy Obit Dude!" I used to do the same thing. I think it was a fear feeding thing for me. If someone was young when they died, it reinforced my health anxiety. And of course, my anxiety LOVES to be reinforced, because it can't survive without me being scared of something.

But I also have an extreme sensitivity to death, and I have experienced far too much of it in my 32 years. My husband somehow lucked out and hasn't lost a friend yet. I've lost around 12 dear friends, and some family as well. :(

Congrats on the new office space! Hope it comes together beautifully arranged for ya!!
Posted 11/21/2014 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have to tell ya because you already know "you rock" TMA... Hope you got my last email.... My email is going through some funky stuff right now ....

Hope you're having a good night!
Posted 11/21/2014 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
What?! Seriously---you rock, not me!!! :P

Not sure I got the last email. I responded to the last one I received though!! So now I am not sure if U got that one.....????

Hmmm.....
Posted 11/21/2014 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Ugh I started to write back and my phone froze!

I had a blood test result that came back at 666 while I was pregnant and darn near lost my mind!

I think a lot of us are experiencing heightened health anxiety! Mine surrounds the Big C right now.

Hang in there and keep busy!! We miss you here! I hope things are going well with work! How's your sleep!?
Posted 11/21/2014 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
TMA. - Send it again when you get a chance.... Some of our vendors have been trying to get us their invoices all week (they're hit and miss). Not sure what is going on in "gmail land"... They better get on the ball! Or I'll take my business to yahoo - yeah that will show em ;)
Posted 11/21/2014 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cornell! Good luck with the move! Sounds like a lot of work, but will be good in the end!

I do it too. I don't think you're weird! At least not for that reason anyway. ;) I'm kidding!
Posted 11/21/2014 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Park. Sleep would be a lot better if I wasn't by myself...... Never fails though that each morning I will wake up with Addy (my middle one) laying directly on top of me and my littlest one snuggling to the side of me. Mornings are great! Even though they are squishing me to death, I am happy to wake up next to these angels!

How you're doing alright Park!!! You are always on my mind Willie Nelson would say... But I mean it!

Keep in touch buddy ole pal!
Posted 11/21/2014 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Funny you should mention sleeping with the babies! We had our little guy in bed a couple nights ago. Head was in my husband's ribs and feet were basically up my nose. Can someone tell me why our children sleep horizontally??

My husband went out to watch hockey tonight so I have to go asleep alone. Bleh. My sleep has been mediocre at best. I'm glad you checked in. I've been wondering how things are going and you've been on my my mind!
Posted 11/21/2014 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Park! Is your husband a hockey fan too??! My husband has been out to a few too many games this season already! What team are you guys rooting on? NHL?? We are the STL Blues. Hopefully not rivals!!??!!
Posted 11/21/2014 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
TMA,

Blackhawks fans here! Well....I'm a fake fan. I'll watch, but I don't care too much!! ;-)
Posted 11/21/2014 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Cornell,

Ahhhh'. When the obits come on the nightly news, the only thing I look at is the age!!!

My HA has been acting up too:(

Glad you are keeping busy. Thanks for checking in❤️
Posted 11/21/2014 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
Cornell my friend, good luck with the moving! <3

Ahh, yeah I always check for the age of that person if I read some news like that. I don't know why but maybe I want to be sure it's more likely to die at an older age? Don't know... And I really get health anxiety increase if I read that this person was young. :/

Also, the last time I visited dr, the date was 13th and guess what? The dr came out of a room which has the nr 13 written on it OMG... But obviously, it wasn't her room and we never went into that room xD
I don't know what's happening to me, I'm not even a superstitious person.
Posted 11/21/2014 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
Cornell - you make me laugh! :)
I obsess over the age that people have died too! Think it's a common thing with us lot here!

Hope all is well :)
Posted 11/21/2014 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Um. Add me to your list Cornell- I ALWAYS look at their age and how they died. If it doesn't say how they died, I zoom to the bottom of the obit & see where donations can be made in case it gives any indication of what they died from! Surely this is normal for anyone reading obits??! Aghhhhh!!! lol I've also been known to send friends a FB message if they post a dear friend has passed, & ask them what their friend passed from :O

Hey I'm thinking of you friend. Isn't today a court date?

Why are you sleeping alone (except for the girls)?? Did I miss something? cry

Hugs friend!!!
Lisa
Posted 11/21/2014 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Lisa - hey stranger! Long time no hear!! Hope you're doing good! Thanks for your post! So glad I'm not alone in this - I'm not the wacko I thought I was!!!!

Something else I have been known to do is if their obit doesn't disclose their cause of death then I will find myself "googling" their name to see what I find... I need to stop doing this because it is not good for my HA!!!

I am trying to learn that death is a part of the "human experience" and I think when it does finally happen, a lot of us will be ready for it and may actually embrace it.... The Bible says that when we pass, we are instantly in the Lords arms. This is so comforting to me when I think of my loved ones who has passed away!

Okay, this subject is kind of a "downer" so I'm changing it!!!! Yes Lisa I am in court today!!!!! Actually right at this second!!! I'm sitting in the lounge waiting for my lawyer... I am thinking he will file a "continuance" and we will be back in court again on the 24th. I will definitely keep you all posted on what happens. Thanks so much for thinking of me!!!!

To answer your question- yes I always sleep alone on the couch.. My "safe spot"... Not much room for anyone else - big guy, little couch! But each morning when I wake up I always have two little girls laying all over me! Usually one is laying right on top of me and the other little one is cuddled up against me! Even though it's highly "uncomfortable. I still wake up with a smile each morning!

Can't tell you all enough how your support has touched my heart... You girls (and guys) are so special to me but you already know that!

Time for court, wish me luck!

;)

Cornell

Post Edited (Cornell) : 11/21/2014 7:31:58 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/21/2014 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
I also Google that info too Cornell. I get frustrated when they don't list the cause. Health anxiety sure does weird things to us, doesn't it?

Good luck with court. I'll be thinking of you!
Posted 11/21/2014 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Park! This could be trouble. Looks like you are our BIGGEST rival!!!! OH NO!! Go Blues!! Good thing you're not a real fan, or you might not EVER want to talk to me again. :P LOL.

Best wishes today Cornell! You and your lawyer pal got this!
Posted 11/21/2014 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I do that too, always thought it was just me. Glad to know I'm not the only one that obsesses over obit's.

I hate the number 39! My husband died 11 years ago at the age of 39. I then met a man about a year later and he suddenly passed away about 7 months later, at the age of 39. I then had a friend die at, yep you guessed it, at 39. So when my 39th birthday came, I obsessed over dying the entire year, it was miserable until my 40th birthday. Now here I am 47 and when I think back over that year I got to laugh at myself, cause I was crazy obsessed with dying. I still have a unhealthy relationship with the fear of dying, but it isn't as strong as it was for that one year.
Posted 11/21/2014 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Um, I wish I hadn't read that AngelLisa.
Posted 11/21/2014 7:42 PM (GMT 0)

MissGigi said...
Um, I wish I hadn't read that AngelLisa.

Sorry! confused
Posted 11/22/2014 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
What always helped me with HA, is i think of the odds, i am not
a gambler but if its like one in a million, just rock on! Peace

Larry ***
Posted 11/22/2014 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Cornell, my man!

Nah, I haven't gone through this, but my coworker (and rock) checks them daily. I assume it's because she knows so many people.

However, this is the reason I'm participating. I recently learned a guy that was a class ahead of me passed away. I'm not glad he's dead, but I'm surprised I keep thinking about him. He was a bully and other things I can't say here. I feel badly that I have any negative thoughts.

IN high school, he was in a car wreck. I was sad it didn't kill him. He didn't deserve the girl he had and I felt he didn't deserve to breathe the same air as he was such a jerk.

Ugh. Such weird emotions.

John
Posted 11/22/2014 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
AngelLisa - Feel for you :( sounds like you went through a verrrry difficult time! No wonder you worry about dying when you went through that in such a short time!

Have to say though, not looking forward to ever being 39 now, lol!
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