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Severe Health Anxiety- All I need is an assurance that I'm not alone

Posted , 7 users are following.

swa61400
swa61400

All I need is an assurance that I am not alone in this.

I've been suffering from severe health anxiety for some time now.

I constantly check myself for lumps and bumps. I have severe cancer phobia and I've diagnosed myself with throat cancer,lymphoma, leukemia,brain tumors etc.

it's like every headache is brain tumor, chest pain is heart attack, stomach pain is cancer, sore throat is throat cancer and so on.

I suffer with chronic aches and pains, chest pain, nausea, headache,blurry vision and swallowing difficulties.

I was diagnosed with severe Depression and generalised anxiety disorder and I have a lot of trouble differentiating between what is causing what.

Recently, I developed a strong fear that I am going to die so soon and I feel like everything I see or come through is giving me a sign that I am going to die.

i feel that i am going to drop dead suddenly.

i suffer panic attacks and excessive crying on a daily basis.

apart from the health issues caused by depression and anxiety, I am a healthy 19 year old without any preexisting health conditions except vitamin deficiencies.

No amount of reassurance is calming me down.

2 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • KM1990
    KM1990 swa61400

    Posted

    so sorry to hear you are going through this , I to suffer with health anxiety and my fear is always cancer, I have convinced myself I have brain tumor , cervical cancer, breast cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma, skin cancer etc. like you I constantly check my body for lumps of things that dont look right, and ache or pain I completely freak out and think I will die. if i get slightly Ill like have a cold or get sick I convince myself it's the start of something. its such a vicious cycle. I find my anxiety often causes pains linked to what I think is wrong with me , and my anxiety generally causes ache , pains , sweating, tingling etc.

    I found that it for worse one I started my birth control , I have stopped taking it and my anxiety has definitely settled down a little , its still there but I dont find myself googling all day every day like I used to .

    I just want you to know you are not alone with this

    • swa61400
      swa61400 KM1990

      Posted

      I totally understand this feeling and it's really good to know that your anxiety has settled down a little.

      Thanks a lot for replying.

  • KelvinZaw
    KelvinZaw swa61400

    Posted

    Me too constantly checking all my symptoms/pulse/oxygen/bp/blood sugar and need health assurance otherwise something going to happen terribly bad. Presenting with many some symptoms gradually feel uncomfortable. So yes, You are not alone. Anxiety talking badly.

  • kev1982
    kev1982 swa61400

    Edited

    you are not alone i have had this for years and make my self feel ill with worry i check lumps bumps blood pressure pulse nearly every day the anxiety is a very horrible illness in itself which shows very real symptoms

    hope you feel better soon

  • david76205
    david76205 swa61400

    Edited

    you are not alone and you are not going to die. you anxiety and depression are controlling you. you are doing the hypocondraic thing, checking yourself constantly and your brain is making up ghosts symptoms and convincing your body you are sick. the mind is a powerful and wonderous thing. you need to get out of your own head. put your mind elsewhere. do you have a therapist? you may want to get one if you dont. you need to talk this out with a professional who can help you direct your mind off yourself and onto something else. we all want to die when we feel miserable and cant explain why we are miserable. i assure you, you are not going to die and you most definitely are not alone.

    • swa61400
      swa61400 david76205

      Posted

      hi,

      i was prescribed meds for anxiety and depression just after the initial diagnosis by a psychiatrist.

      But i didn't start the course owing to it's side effects.

      I found myself another therapist but couldn't get in touch with her due to the ongoing emergency.

      i look forward to seeing her after things start to settle down once.

    • david76205
      david76205 swa61400

      Posted

      sounds like you made an excellent choice to make a change. i applaud this. the ongoing emergency sucks. but you can still do phone and video sessions with your therapist and/or psychiatrist. at least this option is available to me anyway. but you may want to check to see if this option is available yo you as well. its going to be quite some time before i will be able to do person to person appointments, so this is a good alternative and if the doctor or therapist really cares, this option should be available to you

    • swa61400
      swa61400 david76205

      Posted

      thanks for your suggestions

      But we're still in the initial stages so I prefer face to face conversations to something online.

      i feel more comfortable that way.

      but anything that helps right now.

      I'll check if they are available to me.

    • david76205
      david76205 swa61400

      Edited

      yeah, if you are waiting for a face to face meeting you will be waiting a few months or at least until your state lets you out of lockdown. if you can wait that long, more power to you, but i know i couldnt. just saying. phone or video chat is the only viable option, really.

  • gilbert95386
    gilbert95386 swa61400

    Edited

    thank you for out clean and accept that you have health anxiety.first of all health problems you are experiencing are being cooked inside your brain and the manifested as areal illness.number one is that i know before you start diagnosing yourself is there was something that was unusual in your life. now to come out of that is to stop internet googling.switch of your phone tablets laptops or desktop or any device that connects you to global internet.2 stop watching tv any program that deals with medical issues or health.take time out and keep yourself busy.take your bike and go round the streets.go out with your friends.very important thing is stop stop discussing health issue with anyone that will start to mock you. in the evening stop phones and drinking or smoking if you do.the reason i have written all this is that yes i was there 3 months ago i could no sit or stand or sleep or do anything because of anxiety.i hope to speak and help you if you need. thank in advance Gilbert

    • swa61400
      swa61400 gilbert95386

      Posted

      there is something that happened in my childhood which triggered my fears and i am still dealing with them now.

      it was the natural death of my grandmother when I was eleven. I couldn't process the trauma and the grief by myself and developed these fears thinking I'd die of some heart issue for the next four years.

      recently, I lost my uncle (with potential risk factors) to throat cancer and I happened to clearly witness and hear his struggle with the disease.

      i can't get my mind out of these things no matter how much I convince myself.

      I can't stop myself from googling symptoms as well. everything is linked to cancer in there.

      I've not been stepping out of the house for a while because I was feeling weak and lethargic.

      My friends aren't being understanding though.

      I'll make sure I'll follow your suggestions.

      thanks.

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