Accepting a diagnosis

As we're all painfully aware, we can go through a gauntlet of doctors visits and maybe trips to the ER before we settle and accept the diagnosis of whatever anxiety disorder we have. It is troubling when the symptoms can mimic that of other, more serious, conditions.

I wanted to discuss with anyone willing about how long you went through the gauntlet and what kind of tests you've had.

I've had several blood tests, all normal, along with checking blood pressure, consultant with an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) who couldn't find anything wrong beyond thicker than normal corneas. Sometimes I get the feeling that an MRI or CT scan just to make sure there's nothing sinister in my brain will do me good. For the most part though, I've accepted that it's a very remote possibility it's anything more than anxiety.

NC,

I think that for those of us with health anxiety, it is an ongoing process!

There are always the anxious 'what if' thoughts that go along with dealing with symptoms...or before each routine/yearly test...ect.

So I am not sure if we ever just arrive at, or accept a truly definitive dx, so to speak...

...but rather, I tend to look at it as a process of accepting and working towards believing I am well physically everyday.:)

Keep up the good work of your recovery!

S.C.

For me, even when I did get a diagnosis or more I have a hard time accepting that it is anxiety.

I do have an eye problem that will probably need surgery so my vision is distorted in 1 eye and the 2 blended together are just a strange sensation. I do have slightly high blood pressure and now that I"m on medication it's a bit better but like others I still wonder about my heart.

So, do we ever stop wondering and just say it's all anxiety....not sure I do. On my better days I do but when a downer day happens I slip back into the 'what if' mode.

Night,

I need an EKG done on my heart once in a while and it's always fine. I then ignore any symptoms because of that for a while. Recognizing anxiety has become easy for me, but I don't always deal with it best.

Hi

I agree with SC about health anxiety being an ongoing process.

I have suffered with health anxiety for years and have convinced myself I have had all the major serious illnesses and had every test going. It is only recently since I started Schema Therapy that I have learnt how to manage my health anxiety better and I am starting to get on top of it for the first time and get my life back. Health anxiety can really take over your life if you let it and it is hard to deal with but can be done with a bit of hard work.

Hibee