Health anxiety..
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi, my name is jackie and I'm a 21 year old. I'm not really sure what to write for all this, but I wanted to support because I sometimes feel so alone, it's only recently I've started to realise people are going through the same as me.
My health anxiety started about 6 months a go, prior to this I was quite an anxious, shy person. I would stress out at times but it was always controlled. I have no idea how my Heath anxiety got so bad, I think it was when I took a trip to the doctors about an abnormal mole on my left breast. I wasn't panicked at first, in all honesty I had it for years.. I just wanted to be safe rather than sorry. However, the doctor that dealt with me wasn't what I expected, he didn't have the advanced 'equipment' so couldn't tell whether it was cancerous or not.. He told me that if it's caught early, they can help me survive.. When I heard the word cancer I just lost control, I had an immediate panic attack, for my doctor to then turn round and say that how I was acting was 'abnormal' as I didn't know for sure yet, I had to wait for a specialist skin appointment for two weeks. It was pure hell, the waiting, analysing, constant research I put myself through, the daily panic attacks, I lost touch of reality, but most importantly myself.
Two weeks went by, and I had my appointment. She had a look at my mole which she determined wasn't cancerous, when I heard those words I broke down crying. Any Normal person that would hear those words would feel overjoyed, but unfortunately for me it became worse. Since that day I have been through every cancer in the book, breast (which I also had to be transferred to a specialist), cervical cancer (which I had a swab for).. Stomach cancer as I am constipated and have caused my body so much stress I'm now having acid reflux on a daily basis, bone cancer, brain tumour, muscle cancer, bowel cancer.. You name it, everything that I could think of at the time. Obviously I had these things checked and everything came back normal.
Since January though I've been extremely worried about my heart, not that I have any reason to be. I have a non problematic heart murmur.. A year a go I had tests with a 24 hour ECG which determined all my heard was healthy, flowing normally and strong. Despite all this, I got random bouts of chest pain, back pain, arm numbness, jaw pain.. I've seen 4 doctors.. (One being at A&E as I thought I was dying), all of them told me my heart was heathly, I wasn't suffering from heart disease, just anxietyand stress related symptoms. Despite 4 doctors, heart monitors I don't believe them.. I can't.. My mind is stuck, trying to convince myself I am dying daily. Deep down I know that my chest and back pain is caused from a mixture of stress and my Ibs and acid.. I know that my jaw pain is caused from sinus issues and sensitive gums and prodding them constantly, I know my arms hurt because of trapped nerves from stress.. So why can't my mind let my rest! It's got to the point where I've had enough, I can't live like it anymore.. Constant thoughts of ending it all, but I'm only 21, I have so much to live for and I can't ruin my life. I'm iust stuck in a place I can't get out of. It's truly terrifying.
1 like, 33 replies
david48602 Itsjackieeex
Posted
I just want you to know that you are not alone, and that ending it all, it's not the answer, nor is it ever going to be the answer. You have so much to live for; so, so much. At times when things are tough, when it seems like things are weighing down on you, know that we are all here. Have you tried anything to combat the health anxiety? CBT, DBT, any kind of therapy?
frank68910 Itsjackieeex
Posted
Itsjackieeex frank68910
Posted
rachel81023 Itsjackieeex
Posted
But I can't stop stressing about it
It's a living nightmare x
Guest rachel81023
Posted
Itsjackieeex Guest
Posted
Guest Itsjackieeex
Posted
Itsjackieeex Guest
Posted
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/ways-relieve-stress.aspx
https://patient.info/health/stress-self-help-guides
Hope these help
Emis Moderator comment: I have replaced one link with a link to the equivalent article on our site as the given link went to "Page not found".
Guest Itsjackieeex
Posted
If you need anything, post on here or feel free to send me a PM.
You are not alone.
You can beat this.
Good luck and all the best!
Itsjackieeex Guest
Posted
Guest Itsjackieeex
Posted
We're all here to help!
tina09089 Itsjackieeex
Posted
lisalisa67 tina09089
Posted
Itsjackieeex lisalisa67
Posted
Itsjackieeex tina09089
Posted