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Health Anxiety causing physcial symptoms ... it feels so real!

Posted , 8 users are following.

LittleH
LittleH

Hi everyone, I am a female in my mid-twenties and I have suffered from anxiety since I was a small child. In the past year or so, I have found that I will start to suffer from a particular symptom, only to go to the GP to find out it is nothing. This has included a tight chest and chest pain, excruciating ovary pain, tightness/feeling of lump in my throat, stomach pains and indigestion. Each of these symptoms have occurred on separate occasions and have caused very real pain, sensations and distress. I have now got to the point where I am experiencing symptoms of illness but I don't know what to do for the best ... Do I visit the doctor just in case and be turned away, feeling silly and ashamed or do I just wait until the symptoms finally stop? I started a course of Sertraline recently and I am hoping these will start to help. Otherwise, I am quite active, eat healthily, have low alcohol intake and don't smoke. I know I should be a healthy young woman but health anxiety is wearing me down. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • jay67544
    jay67544 LittleH

    Posted

    Hi

    Yes - i can relate to the very real pain that this condition gives us. Once you rule out any underlying issues - you then just need to get to a place where you know its Anxiety / Panic and have to calm yourself down. I know this sounds easier said then done - as I still struggle with it.

    Never feel silly going to the Doctors if it means you will be ruling out any underlying issues. I would do that right away

  • lillie46665
    lillie46665 LittleH

    Posted

    iF you have been diagnosed with anxiety and you have had test etc done to rule out anything else then it is anxiety and you have to accept it.

    All the symptoms you have described are common anxiety symptoms.

    Anxiety feeds of stress and fear and it loves attention.

    Try to distract yourself,exercise,meditate drink lots of water and eat healthly.

    Learn belly breathing its amazing how breathing properly help anxiety

    If you dont think your meds are working get a review at the doctors

    Lil

  • lee12629
    lee12629 LittleH

    Posted

    Hi,i understabd ive been going to doctors alot the past few years,unfortunately i do have things wrong. Our medical bills are growing as im in the states and have high deductable insurance,if i could id go once a week but with us its getting too expensive.
  • Tori23
    Tori23 LittleH

    Posted

    Health anxiety is soooo real. Currently going through it now. Still a struggle but I am maintaining. Some days are better than others. When you start to have those physical symptoms come stop those negative thoughts dead in their tracks. Your mind has the ability to make us think we are dying from a hang nail if it wanted to. Do your best to stop the negative thoughts and ignore the physical symptoms. Dont let anxiety take over you. Learn to accept it as another emotion but its not the boss. You are.
  • lisalisa67
    lisalisa67 LittleH

    Posted

    Ovary pain? Wait. Has that been checked out with a gynocologist? Thats nit a gp issue.
    • lee12629
      lee12629 lisalisa67

      Posted

      I think gps can evaluate it enough to know if you need a referel.
    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67 lee12629

      Posted

      They arent schooled in the ovaries. Thats horrible. She needs to see a gynocologist if her ovaries hurt. Thats some gate keeping policy if that true. Maybe that why they in the uk  go to hospitals so much its the only way to get any real treatments.
    • lee12629
      lee12629 lisalisa67

      Posted

      Hi,well Docs here especially family doctors and internests are schooled somewhat in all fields,for example my family doc can give gyno exams. I prefer to go to an obgyn.
    • lee12629
      lee12629 lisalisa67

      Posted

      Rarely are we put in hospitals,ins companies make sure of that. Pretty much just child birth,surgery-and even surgerys are usually outpatient and accidents,heart attacks etc. Big emergancies. Child birth is isually one day in hispital barring complications. When i had my kids 30 years ago i got a 4 day hospital stay.
    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67

      Posted

      Soecialist for each thing. Opposite. 
    • lee12629
      lee12629 lisalisa67

      Posted

      Oh we have specialist too. But we dont have to go to different doctors for every thing. We start with our primary doctor. He or she can refer us or if we are lucky we have insurance or money and dont need a referel and can just go to the specialist. Sometimes though a specialist wont see you without a referel. No wonder we get headaches lol.
    • jo57386
      jo57386 lisalisa67

      Posted

      Hey Lisa in Australia you got to your GP for absolutely everything they then refer you to a specialist eg gynaecologist if they deem it necessary. I don't believe you cam just ring a gynaecologist and make an appointment
  • lind45511
    lind45511 LittleH

    Posted

    I agree with Lisa, go to a gynocologist. I had problems for many years and ignored these types of pain.

    After a coloscopy they found I had bad endometriosis and my ovary was stuck to the wall. I also have endo they couldn't get and well... thats a whole different forum discussion! 😊

    It might be nothing but its something you shouldn't ignore. If it ends up nothing and its health anxiety, then at least you know and you can work on that.

  • jo57386
    jo57386 LittleH

    Posted

    Hi with the ovarian pain keep note if when you feel it. Does it coincide with ovulation? Definitely speak to your GP and get a referral for an ultrasound including transvaginal one to check out your ovaries and see if any endometriosis us lurking xx
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