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Posted 12/16/2014 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
New to this sight. I am a long time sufferer of severe anxiety especially about health. Just today I went in to get an EKG done because I thought I had a heart defect or heart disease. It came back totally normal and dr told me my heart was fine but I still don't beleive her. I have heart palpitations a few times a day due to my anxiety. I constantly feel like something is wrong with me. Backstory: my husand has a chd and my one year old does as well. Both have had to have open heart surgery this past year. My Aunt recently passed from a blood clotting disorder and my other aunt died of breast cancer. Also, my uncle died of a brain tumor when I was 1. I know I am healthy but I just can't shake thinking there is always something wrong with me. Help!! It is so exhausting!! A few months ago I thought I had skin cancer. So tired of living like this.
Posted 12/16/2014 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Mam, this can go on a long time unless you are willing to face life, and death. What i mean is you are
re-hearsing the day of your death, over and over. The way to kick this to the curb is sit down and really
discuss it with yourself or some one you know and trust. "It cannot be avoided, it can be ignored"

We were given life to live, to enjoy, to work, strive, not to anticipate that fateful hour that will come
whether we are ready or not.

Don't waist one more day, walk straight at your fear and stare it down, then Live! Peace

Larry ***
Posted 12/16/2014 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Emy,

I can understand how you feel. I have health anxiety that was triggered more severely after deaths of people in my life. That was five years ago and I can't say my health anxiety has gone away. However, now that I know what bothers me I'm trying to think more rationally. Constantly stressing about your emotional state is depressing.

I haven't figured it out quite yet and I may not ever. But you have a whole support system here of people who goes through what you feel on a daily basis and can help rationalize a situation you're going through. I've found solace in interaction on the forums. When you're feeling panicky about a health issue you can post here for support. You are not alone in your struggle ❤️
Posted 12/16/2014 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Emy - Welcome to HW :) I know how you feel! Feels like I spend my whole 'life' just worrying about dying! Which isn't a life at all...

Love Larry's post! Thats exactly the way we need to look at it :)

I'm sure you will get lots of support here so keep posting :)
Posted 12/16/2014 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Larry, that was beautiful advice, that I plan to take myself!
Posted 12/16/2014 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello EG28 and welcome!

First of all, let me offer my sympathies and support for your role as caregiver to your dear husband and little one dealing with cardio issues. This is of course a challenge for you in many ways, and it is not hard to see how it could trigger your health anxiety.

With all that you have experienced, the worry alone would be a heavy load to bear for anyone, so know that your feelings are understood and validated here.

Have you discussed with your doctor all that you have expressed in your post? There is help and hope for what you are currently dealing with. CBT therapy is particularly effective in treating health related anxiety. Many of us here have benefitted, and I strongly urge you to look into this possibility!

For now, we have some great self help available in our Resources here. Would you be interested in me posting some links for you to check out? Just let me know!

You are welcome to talk with us anytime here! We understand, care and are here for your support. This is a place of compassion and community, and we welcome you.:)

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/16/2014 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to the forum you have found a good place to talk to others who can relate to what you are going through.

I have bad health anxiety so know what you are going through and agree with SC about speaking with your doctor about what is going on with you. The good thing is there is a lot of things that can be done to help anxiety the best being doing some talking therapy such as CBT which teaches you coping techniques and a lot of us here have had great success with it.

Stay with us and keep posting

Hibee
Posted 12/16/2014 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Larry: You always know the right thing to say. Your answers help not only the original poster but all others who read your response. Your answer this time is right on target. You can't avoid it but you can ignore it. Sometimes it seems all we can do is focus on our enventual demise and worry about how and when it will occur. I feel only God knows when that day will come and I don't think He's going to let me know ahead of time. So we all need to live each day as if it's our last as someday it will be.
Posted 12/16/2014 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone! It's always nice to get advice from a 3rd party. I appreciate all of your excellent advice : )
Posted 12/17/2014 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Emygrce28! A LOT of us here suffer from health anxiety so we all understand and are here for you! I'm so sorry to hear of your husband and child's health issues, that can't be easy to deal with at all!!! I also deal with heart anxiety and thinking something is wrong with my heart, even after about 6 ER trips within the last few months. It's like the logical part of my brain is now gone. 2 years ago if I had a pain in my leg....then I had a pain in my leg. Today if I have a pain in my leg, it's a blood-clot. If I have a headache, it's an impending aneurysm. I was convinced a few months ago that I had MS, then I was convinced I had/was on my way to having a stroke. Now it's my heart. It's all so crazy and i'm also tired of living like this!! But this forum really does help!! Best of luck to you!!!!!!
Posted 12/17/2014 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks GMoon, it really is exhausting especially to my husband who thinks I am absolutely ridiculous and doesn't understand why I always think there is something wrong with me. A lot of people just don't get it.
Posted 12/17/2014 7:15 AM (GMT 0)
I can totally relate to you. My health anxiety started when I was 9 years old and thought I had breast cancer, if you can believe that. I always seem to be at the doctor, now. You are doing the right things, though. Getting checked out physically and making sure everything is working okay. That's the right thing to do. I assure you, we all "get it" here :)
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