Suffering from Health Anxiety for Weeks

Hi Matthew, the same thing has been happening to me for months. I always think I've got cancer or some horrible desease that's gonna kill me soon. I check my body daily and even a new spot or pimple is enough to send me in a blind panic, curling into a ball n crying my eyes out.

My social life is non existent now and thank heavens the job I do I'm alone and it doesn't require me to talk much to anyone.

It keeps getting worse so yesterday I finally gave in and went to a doctor. I will get back my lab results in a few days and I'm already terrified. The doctor referred me to a psychiatrist though without waiting on test reaults. Hopefully the blood test doesn't say I'm dying

You can protect yourself against HIV. If the diseases don't have cures or preventions or the cures are iffy or pretty bad its not very helpful to worry about them. Do what you can to prevent disease or be tested for diseases that have treatments. For instance limiting alcoholic beverages will delay some diseases or stop some

The worst thing about acute anxiety if what your mind tries to tell you. It is one symptom the happens to ALL OF US. I have a brain tumor has been very popular this week. I am dying, I have skin cancer, and on and on. That's what anxiety does best, tries to scare us to death, but THEY ARE ONLY THOUGHTS! A couple of days ago, my mind told me I had a bone disease. I did what I usually do, and have to do often. I said "oh no you don't. You are only a thought, so get lost." Then I changed my focus. That is important. If you just sit there, the thought won't go anywhere but round and round in your mind. Then, I walk the dog, cook, do yoga, clean out a closet, dance to favorite music , or whatever. There is a difference between reacting to a thought and responding to one. Reacting jerks us into fear and freezes us. Response considers what is being said and makes a decision to do something about it, then does it.

Strangely, when something is really wrong, not just a thought, it doesn't come to us with fear and anxiety, just "I need to see a doctor"

It will all be okay. and the more you tell yourself that, the truer it feels. I must tell myself that 40 times a day. It was a good choice to come to this forum. There's a lot of help and caring here. All the very best.

You are very welcome, Matthew, the same back at you.

I am 55 years old and I have had this health anxiety for 11 years I had few years were was ok even went on holiday / I worry all the time I keep getting pins needles so I getting stressed over them I been in and out of work for years I struggle in jobs at present I of again the job I in now been there 2 year and 3 month. And all in all in last year been of 9 months was of 5 month last year now of 4 months this year only managed do 3 month back I got a meeting next week with my HR manager and my manager I don't think I fit for work but may have go back I got my son to think of and rent and bills to pay / I have started taking diazapam 2mg twice a day and citalapram 10mg my mood a little better in the 6 week been on them I have joined I support group 2 hour a week and a mindfulness course which as 2 week left and a art class a 4 week one I am walking for a hour every morning so I really am trying to get better but as today pins needle sensation so worried sick again I sat in my car as can't stay in house any help or advise please x