Hi please help

Hi Charlotte. I also have changed drastically since late last fall,winter set in,i was alone often as my kids are grown and husbands job takes him out of town. I am actually having some health issues so being that I pretty much just stayed home most the winter the worry about my health consumed me. I even lost a friend of 30 years as in times when i needed my so called best friend,she never called to even ask how I am. I was very social,dinners out etc. Now i feel trapped by this health issue and my anxiety. I rarely go anywhere,this is not me. My husband doesnt understand either. Just wanted to let you know I understand alot about the fear and anxiety especially about health. You lost someone very important in your life,thats so tramatic,youve been through alot. I hyper focus on my health issues,you probably are doing the same with the physical symptoms of anxiety. I like you want to have tests done so at least maybe i can get over my biggest fears about my health and get on with life. Are you on any medication. I take an anti anxiety med which does give some relief. I think i need a good physical exam. Hopefully you will feel convinced soon that you have nothing to worry about. Stay strong.X

I see you do have a med,why not take a half dose til you get used to it.

Are you on the pill or afraid of becoming pregnant.are you worried about healthcare costs? diseases you're worried about don't usually strike at your young ageask your doctor for low dosages of Medicineare you worried that your partying days are overor have caught up to you

You have had a few traumas in your life by the sound of it and maybe like me you deal with them at the time you plod along then your body says enough is enough we dont realise but it will build up espescially when you have no support i have gone through this for many years and this last time has been my worst but when i look back the last twelve months i have lost two friend to illness (early 50's ) there has been so many youngish people in the town where i live passed away and of course all these celebrities, I am coming to the surface withissues from my past and im going through the menapause. I am 53 and when people your age are dying you wonder and worry about your own mortality. so now in the last couple of months after being on citalopram for about 3 months now im seeing things a lot clearer i have had all the symptons of anxiety depression and stress all rolled into one and at once so my body couldnt cope and this is how it manifests. you believe you are coping but if you are sensitive like we are then bam!!! does it hit you. I had three months of crying every single day I couldnt lift my head out of the black cloud and when people started telling me i wasnt me and looked ill i realised i had to do something. Im really blessed that I have a good family the doctor im seeing now is lovely and understanding and im going to start cbt next month.I use aromatherapy oils such as bergamot lavender or patchoui (they help calm you down are anti depressants and anything with orange or grapefruit in oils are uplifting these are all natural but seek advice on how to use them and check if you have any allergies. I have cut down on coffee and anything with caffeine and i drink chamomile tea. these are just little things that do help also bachs rescue remedy from most shops you can take as many drops as you like and it is quick acting when you are very anxious. medication is good once it kicks in im on citalopram any anti depressant takes usually 2-6 to kick in yes initially they make you feel worse this is because they are renewing/replacing your cells in your brain for the seritonin these are the "feel good cells " in your brain which make you happy when you are sad unhappy or low its because your seritonin levels are low. Im not trained but i get my doctor to explain things and how they work. some of us will live with this for most of our lives when we can acknowledge this we can then think right how can i best manage this so i can be happy and cope better. I also do meditation and breathing exercises this was taught to me by a yogi . I cant tell you what is best for you my love but the things I have mentioned have helped me i will do anything that will help me manage this dreadful illness and learn to cope. sometimes our loved ones dont know how to help for years my husband didnt but I kept a lot to my self but now I couldnt ask for a better husband hes very supportive as is my children and i believe that is a big key factor in supporting anyone going through this. I have explained to my manager and the good thing is she has a sister who suffers a lot worse than i do but she is so supportive as are my small team of collegesI know others arnt so lucky so i do count my blessings. please feel free to pm me if you need someone to talk to sorry its so long but I hope i may have helped you in a little way with a bit of reassurance you are not on your own and this is a really good forum with supportive people

sounds like a health anxiety to me

Hi Charlotte - seems like you're having a very bad time at the moment.

Could you give the medication another try - the side-effects, if you get any, will definitely not kill you. Try to overcome this feeling and take the meds.  Love Tess

Hi Charlotte

Somehow you have to break the circle . What I mean is to get help you need to take the pills which at first you will get side affects . I've been on sertaline now for 2 years and I also used to freak out at the slightest symptom. You need to keep telling yourself every second its a side effect to battle through to let the tablets help. I find diazpam and sertaline work well. I'm at the stage now where I'm just chill out and relax and can see how silly I was . Don't forget your stressing yourself. Give the meds chance so it helps they help . If you can convince yourself theres a problem you can convince yourself theres not ..

Good luck