True Life: I'm a Hypochondriac.

Hey guys. im new to this site. I've been on many other anxiety sites, but very few people respond or post any comments, so it doesn't help me much. I go in spurts where for a couple months ill be fine and not have a worry in the world..I hear someone has a disease or something and i say "oh thats sad, i feel bad i hope they are ok" and move on. and then there are other times when i obsess over the disease they have and i think "omg what if i have that" then of course, symptoms appear out of nowhere. Once i get a thought in my head, it becomes very, very, hard to get it out...I had a check up this week with my doctor and he ran general blood work, it all came back normal. I had also told him about a pain i was having in my armpit/back, and he checked my lymph nodes and didn't seem to have any concerns about them and said it was most likely wear and tear on my muscles. However, that doesn't seem to be good enough for me. I am constantly feeling my armpit for lumps and i constantly think one side is swollen than the other, i am driving myself crazy! :(

Hello and welcome!

As A.L. said, you are not alone, and you will get as much undertanding and support as you can stand here! :)

What if anything have you tried for relief of your health anxiety thus far? Medication and/or therapy are the ususal options that are recommended, and you can talk to your doctor about both of these treatments.

For now, here are some of the links that A.L. referenced above. They are specfically for health anxiety self help, and effective if read through and pracitced!

 

Health Anxiety - A Self Help Guide:

 

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypochondria/pages/introduction.aspx

Helping health Anxiety

 

http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_id=53

Health Anxiety- The Super Scanner

See also more coping skills to lower overall anxiety in our complete Resources at the top of the main page.

Keep posting with us if you find it helpful...we are glad to have you join us!

Scaredy Cat