OCD with Health Anxiety???
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hey all,
I have HA pretty bad but no dx of OCD. Some of you may have seen my posts worrying about MS and ALS in the past few months.
I’m wondering if any of you with HA experience obsessions or compulsions? I find myself consistently and obsessively checking for atrophy and muscle weakness. It’s gotten so bad, family around me have noticed my doing it, sometimes I’m not even aware of it.
Let me know if any of you have these obsessive behaviors related to Health Anxiety. It’s quite frustrating.
1 like, 4 replies
jan34534 Anxiety1995
Posted
yes, health anxiety can occur with obsessions . Anxiety is a component of OCD but you don't necessarily have OCD If you have anxiety and obsessions. If you Had either of those diseases overthe past few months that you've been worrying, you would be very very ill by now. You're not going to find atrophy. That occurs in the later stages of ALS when the muscles have already been severely affected. ALS does not happen in young people. It affects people around age 50 and over . Even very rarely does it affect anyone in their 40s.
you would also know by now if you had MS. An MRI would confirm this.
have you ever considered speaking with a counselor about this? This must be torturing your mind all the time to live like this. The counselor can help you sort this out so you can have peace of mind.
I worried about the same diseases as when I was in my 20s because I had a lot of symptoms. What a waste of my time! Please don't do this to yourself. Fear is worst-case Scenario thinking and the odds of that being true are practically nothing .
Life is too short already. Everyone of those days I spent with worry and fear I can never get back.
Italia06 Anxiety1995
Posted
i developed body wide muscle twitching back in march. it's not as extreme but still ongoing. likewise, i started obsessing over ALS and still do. i look for atrophy daily. i'll do strength checks daily. my left shoulder feels numb and weird and fingers get stiff and crack constantly. i feel my symptoms are bad, but my doctor doesn't seem concerned. he checked for hyperreflexia and did some strength checks on me and so on. blood tests galore and MRIs as well. i was convinced for so long i had it and still have doubts. it's been so much of a drain mentally it's as if i've stopped caring at times. i've had no weight loss either or substantial strength loss.
i also have OCD. i'll listen to the same songs or watch the same shows over and over. i check the garage and front door constantly at night making sure they're locked. also suffer from perfectionism; things must be a certain way. on the outside i appear normal...as if nothing is wrong...friends and family have no clue. i lead what appears to be a normal life with the wife. she has a tough time grasping my notions because appearance is everything and i appear normal to her. but on the inside it's a struggle daily. the constant worry. i've had weird physical symptoms throughout my life due to the generalized anxiety, but this recent bought feels weird.
i agree with you...it IS quite frustrating.
edwina97301 Italia06
Posted
Really understand what you said about looking normal on the outside, feeling like hell inside , a worrying , self conscious, nervous mess. People I have told about my anxiety over the years have often said they never would have guessed as I have had to develop ways of coping and being able to come across ok( knowing though) that I have an excuse to keep things short or leave when stressed. Other people have said they thought I was just a little shy, ( shy? Isn't when your hearts racing, sweating. Shaking , constantly worrying. I do look presentable when I go out, but if I get a complement o think negatively , like are gtjey saying that bacause they have noticed something strange about me. All these things I cope with better after years of learning to live with anxiety but just wanted to say it's such bleeping hard work acting normal when we feel so wrong inside. If anyone relates to this things can get easier, just wanted to say I've had these horrid feelings and if anyone relates hope it helps to know your not alone 😊??
rl90 Anxiety1995
Posted
I do the same. I have rituals where I check my body. Checking for swollen glands, new moles, breast lumps, mentally scanning it for any abnormal pain. It takes over my life. My partner is constantly having to tell me 'stop' because I will be rubbing the glands in my neck mid conversation without even realising I'm doing it because it's become such a habit.