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Extreme health anxiety (hypochondria) and in need of help

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Guest
Guest

I have been experiencing debilitating, constant health related anxiety for almost seven years now. I have uncovered after months of self-analyzing that I have developed this problem due to childhood trauma but now I'm unsure of how to help myself or find routines that will help especially now that the coronavirus epidemic has made access to healthcare limited.

It first started with a obsessive fear of parasitic bugs (i.e. lice, fleas, bed bugs) that turned into not being able to leave the house or be around others without washing my clothing and bedding everyday, cleaning the entire house, and using chemicals on my body that left burns and rashes. eventually I was able to go back to school.

That soon developed into a skin issue. Every bump, red spot, itch, or dryness led me to believe I was being bit by a bug, that I was developing a fungal infection that would spread (which only made my anxiety worse), or that I would develop warts, or have an STI, etc, the list goes on. I can't go to bed without socks and I have every skin cream under the sun in fear that I will develop some weird skin condition that will get out of control.

Then I started to worry more about STI's and cancer of the cervix, uterus, ovaries, bladder, etc. It was so bad that every month of the year 2019 I went to see an OBGYN and never felt satisfied with the answers they'd give me even though i'm still experiencing some problems (that might be related to allergies of detergent or a simple yeast infection)

Now I'm having a hard time with not only a fear of developing diabetes, but of having skin cancer–the wild thoughts of having invasive surgery on my face that will leave me scarred and ugly for the rest of my life.

the thoughts spiral and I become obsessive, showing signs of my old OCD behaviors, the google searches non-stop, the constant reaching out to my therapist for extra sessions that i dont know for sure are helping. i feel like im dying and i need some help with figuring out a way to control this so I can go back to living my life w/o the constant panic of dying or never being the same again

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • katie80690
    katie80690 Guest

    Edited

    hello, i think you would benefit from medication and cbt. have you tried either?

    • Guest
      Guest katie80690

      Posted

      I have done cbt for a long time. I used to be on medication in high school, but I have an addictive personality and it didn't work well for me/i couldn't find the right match. i've thought about going on medication again but it's a weird process.

      I guess I wasn't sure if there were specific things or treatment for illness/health anxiety

    • katie80690
      katie80690 Guest

      Posted

      Of course there is there’s many. I think especially the times the way they are now you should speak to your doctor about possible medication

  • david76205
    david76205 Guest

    Edited

    you have PTSD from your childhood trauma and it sounds like you have OCD as well. i am sorry you are not feeling well and i hope i can be helpful.

    besides PTSD and OCD, it sounds like you have quite a bit of anxiety as well. do you see just a therapist, or a therapist and a psychiatrist? therapists are great for venting to and getting advice, but you are at a point where simple therapy alone may not be enough. see if your therapist can put you in touch with a good psychiatrist. when i say good, i dont mean one of those fly by night doctors from the middle east who barely speak english. i mean someone who will listen to you and prescribe meds based upon your needs. meds will enhance your therapy sessions and you will get more out of them. they will also keep you calmer and less obsessive. there are very good anti anxiety meds out there and i think you may want to try to find the right ones for you. i too am a anxiety sufferer with PTSD and ADHD. meds do a great job in my case and i also see a therapist who notices my mood and emotional state and talks with my psychiatrist often. so that really helps. but the world seems like a better place and i feel a lot better on meds to control my anxiety symptoms.

    • Guest
      Guest david76205

      Posted

      I haven't had a psychiatrist in a few years, but as things are progressing I think it might be a good idea although i'm hesitant. thank you for the insight, it's much appreciated

    • david76205
      david76205 Guest

      Posted

      just stay away from the middle east, india doctors. in my experience they dont listen and just give you whatever medication the pharmasutical industry lobbies to them. went to one who gave me Seroquel, which is a tranquilizer. i slept for 3 months. not kidding.

    • david76205
      david76205 lois95799

      Posted

      irregardless, he prescribed the wrong thing and i paid the price for 3 months. thats MY biggest fear

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