Health anxiety
Discussion
Anyone on here had this?
Never in my life have I felt real anxiety but the last few months I've had a few superficial symptoms and turned to dr google.
Its all thats been on my mind, constantly checking myself feeling so down I don't even feel like getting up in the morning.
With the current situation not wanting to mither the gp also worrying he'll see me as a hypochondriac.
Anyone else been through this? How did you get over it...
Never in my life have I felt real anxiety but the last few months I've had a few superficial symptoms and turned to dr google.
Its all thats been on my mind, constantly checking myself feeling so down I don't even feel like getting up in the morning.
With the current situation not wanting to mither the gp also worrying he'll see me as a hypochondriac.
Anyone else been through this? How did you get over it...
Yes - didn’t realise what it was for about 6 months and several GPs didn’t pick it up either.
Convinced myself and a consultant I had a horrible rare disease due to some similar symptoms. CT scan, EEG procedure and muscle biopsy later, there was bugger all wrong with me.
Citalopram sorted it out and I no longer consult Dr Google about anything. I let the professionals do it.
Convinced myself and a consultant I had a horrible rare disease due to some similar symptoms. CT scan, EEG procedure and muscle biopsy later, there was bugger all wrong with me.
Citalopram sorted it out and I no longer consult Dr Google about anything. I let the professionals do it.
Yes. About ten years ago, I started worrying about everything, headaches, "is that a lump?", chest pain and so on. Ultimately it turned out to be health anxiety. I was sent for therapy, which I hated. I was prescribed citalopram, but really didn't like what they did. It felt like something bursting in my a brain with a rush over my body, dilated pupils etc. I stopped taking them and managed to pull myself out of it.
All has been fine until this year. The constant barrage of bad news, all about being ill seems to have set me off again. I'm worrying about headaches again, joint pain, tiredness. Can't see a doctor, it's all over the phone. I'm now taking amytripteline for pain relief.
Pretty sure it's all in my head, but then the anxiety side says "what if?".
All has been fine until this year. The constant barrage of bad news, all about being ill seems to have set me off again. I'm worrying about headaches again, joint pain, tiredness. Can't see a doctor, it's all over the phone. I'm now taking amytripteline for pain relief.
Pretty sure it's all in my head, but then the anxiety side says "what if?".
Incredibly common and increasingly so due to the internet. Whilst the www is a hugely useful tool it also amplifies the negative so that people get a very distorted view of illness, medicine and HCPs.
As an experiment I’ve just Googled “severe headache causes” and the second hit (from the Mayo Clinic so a reputable source) comes up with stroke, meningitis and brain tumour as the first three conditions mentioned. The flip side is that in 15 years working in A&E and GP and having consulted substantially more than 50000 people in that time I’ve not seen anybody present with a primary brain tumour (that I know of!) and I’ve seen two cases of bacterial meningitis. Admittedly I’ve seen loads of strokes.
You must speak to your GP. Despite health anxiety being common nobody ever says to me “I think I’ve got health anxiety” so you might be a novel case for your doctor. Also, there are things that can be done for you if anxiety is the issue, so you would not be wasting their time.
As an experiment I’ve just Googled “severe headache causes” and the second hit (from the Mayo Clinic so a reputable source) comes up with stroke, meningitis and brain tumour as the first three conditions mentioned. The flip side is that in 15 years working in A&E and GP and having consulted substantially more than 50000 people in that time I’ve not seen anybody present with a primary brain tumour (that I know of!) and I’ve seen two cases of bacterial meningitis. Admittedly I’ve seen loads of strokes.
You must speak to your GP. Despite health anxiety being common nobody ever says to me “I think I’ve got health anxiety” so you might be a novel case for your doctor. Also, there are things that can be done for you if anxiety is the issue, so you would not be wasting their time.
Edited by DeWar on Sunday 20th September 12:58
Yes
I’ve always been a worrier, but for my partner and kids.
However I lost a year of my life from 17-18 as I was mentally so bad, I did go doctors early on but they recommended at first to read a certain book and to come back if it’s not working ( forgot what it’s called now) I never did read it, I think what set it off was my sister getting the C
I was going down a very dark path if I’m honest at one point, however once I confided in my partner/parents they helped a lot, I did have some hypno therapy which helped a little.
I’m bad to my usual self now, I sometimes have a little flare up but I’ve found if I’m quick to get it looked at and not play dr’s on google I’m
Fine, certainly nothing like that year
I’ve always been a worrier, but for my partner and kids.
However I lost a year of my life from 17-18 as I was mentally so bad, I did go doctors early on but they recommended at first to read a certain book and to come back if it’s not working ( forgot what it’s called now) I never did read it, I think what set it off was my sister getting the C
I was going down a very dark path if I’m honest at one point, however once I confided in my partner/parents they helped a lot, I did have some hypno therapy which helped a little.
I’m bad to my usual self now, I sometimes have a little flare up but I’ve found if I’m quick to get it looked at and not play dr’s on google I’m
Fine, certainly nothing like that year
Edited by usn90 on Sunday 20th September 13:16
Edited by usn90 on Sunday 20th September 13:16
Edited by usn90 on Sunday 20th September 13:17
D1on said:
Anyone on here had this?
Never in my life have I felt real anxiety but the last few months I've had a few superficial symptoms and turned to dr google.
Its all thats been on my mind, constantly checking myself feeling so down I don't even feel like getting up in the morning.
With the current situation not wanting to mither the gp also worrying he'll see me as a hypochondriac.
Anyone else been through this? How did you get over it...
I wouldn't ignore symptoms, even if you think they're superficial.Never in my life have I felt real anxiety but the last few months I've had a few superficial symptoms and turned to dr google.
Its all thats been on my mind, constantly checking myself feeling so down I don't even feel like getting up in the morning.
With the current situation not wanting to mither the gp also worrying he'll see me as a hypochondriac.
Anyone else been through this? How did you get over it...
At least speak to your doctors about them.
I've had two health issues in my lifetime, initial symptoms were slight.
Easier said than done but try not to worry about worrying! I've always been like this too but also have had health issues in the past (high BP in my 20's) due to being overweight and generally poor lifestyle.
Generally for me when I've seen family members or friends get ill and esp those close in age to myself (late 30's) it makes me worry about how vunerable we all are and irrespective of how healthy we "think" we are. Many moons back I was doing regular HIIT training on a treadmill involving sprints... strained the muscles that run over the lungs and thought I was having a heart attack..went to the GP who reassured me it wasn't the heart lol.
Generally for me when I've seen family members or friends get ill and esp those close in age to myself (late 30's) it makes me worry about how vunerable we all are and irrespective of how healthy we "think" we are. Many moons back I was doing regular HIIT training on a treadmill involving sprints... strained the muscles that run over the lungs and thought I was having a heart attack..went to the GP who reassured me it wasn't the heart lol.
Yup, I’ve had this.
Had what can only be described as pins and needles which would start just below my ribs I think he middle, then become slightly painful and radiate round my right hand side down into my groin. Just of gone on for months. Had a couple of scans and blood tests, nothing their.
Dr suggested it could be a physical manifestation of general anxiety, sertraline for 6 weeks and it was gone.
Had what can only be described as pins and needles which would start just below my ribs I think he middle, then become slightly painful and radiate round my right hand side down into my groin. Just of gone on for months. Had a couple of scans and blood tests, nothing their.
Dr suggested it could be a physical manifestation of general anxiety, sertraline for 6 weeks and it was gone.
Have always had it since a child. 41 now, still not over it. Never goes away I don't think. At various times in my life I've been convinced I have CJD/Cancer/Brain Tumour/insert your favourite disease here.
Of course as well at the moment I have a stabbing pain in my left side / stomach area that comes and goes so that's the latest thing I have to worry about. Of course I won't go to the doctors. I'm a man, after all, and also s
t scared of being told that I have the very thing I've always feared.
Worse still I've been a pretty heavy drinker my whole life so I can add that to the list of things that will likely do me in. Yet the nerves in me are one thing that stops me from stopping that.
I don't generally talk about it, as i don't really want people to think I'm a hypochondriac, but deep down, I really do believe I am.
One day though, I will be right! Just like a broken clock is right twice a day...
Of course as well at the moment I have a stabbing pain in my left side / stomach area that comes and goes so that's the latest thing I have to worry about. Of course I won't go to the doctors. I'm a man, after all, and also s
t scared of being told that I have the very thing I've always feared.Worse still I've been a pretty heavy drinker my whole life so I can add that to the list of things that will likely do me in. Yet the nerves in me are one thing that stops me from stopping that.
I don't generally talk about it, as i don't really want people to think I'm a hypochondriac, but deep down, I really do believe I am.
One day though, I will be right! Just like a broken clock is right twice a day...
TameRacingDriver said:
Have always had it since a child. 41 now, still not over it. Never goes away I don't think. At various times in my life I've been convinced I have CJD/Cancer/Brain Tumour/insert your favourite disease here.
Of course as well at the moment I have a stabbing pain in my left side / stomach area that comes and goes so that's the latest thing I have to worry about. Of course I won't go to the doctors. I'm a man, after all, and also st scared of being told that I have the very thing I've always feared.
Worse still I've been a pretty heavy drinker my whole life so I can add that to the list of things that will likely do me in. Yet the nerves in me are one thing that stops me from stopping that.
I don't generally talk about it, as i don't really want people to think I'm a hypochondriac, but deep down, I really do believe I am.
One day though, I will be right! Just like a broken clock is right twice a day...
Have you ever sought help for it?Of course as well at the moment I have a stabbing pain in my left side / stomach area that comes and goes so that's the latest thing I have to worry about. Of course I won't go to the doctors. I'm a man, after all, and also s
t scared of being told that I have the very thing I've always feared.Worse still I've been a pretty heavy drinker my whole life so I can add that to the list of things that will likely do me in. Yet the nerves in me are one thing that stops me from stopping that.
I don't generally talk about it, as i don't really want people to think I'm a hypochondriac, but deep down, I really do believe I am.
One day though, I will be right! Just like a broken clock is right twice a day...
I cured myself of anxiety, it was debilitating when I had it.
1) remember that the worst bit of anxiety is adrenaline with nowhere to go, learn to sigh, drop your shoulders and breath out...relax.
2) healthy living helps, avoid booze completely.
3)use regular guided hypnosis...daily 20 ish mins listening to hypnosis for anxiety
4) notice the negative self talk and worry, do not punish yourself, just recognise it, and steer yourself back to normal thoughts, do not feed the anxiety with more worry, stop following the thought to the worst outcome...95% of things we worry about never ever happen.
5) talk to a doctor about citalopram or sertraline, they start you on high doses, I would try the absolute minimum and give it 6 months to work (you will see results in about 2 weeks). Do not read the instructions and panic, the side effects sound bad but it will be fine and much better than anxiety.
6) you have experienced the worst already, it will not get worse and you will not freak out or lose control. Avoid crutches like taking a bag to breath into or rescue remedy, it gives the anxiety permission. Get up and out of bed, leave the house and force yourself to do what your body is telling you not to do....the minute you don’t let it bully you then you are on the road to recovery.
1) remember that the worst bit of anxiety is adrenaline with nowhere to go, learn to sigh, drop your shoulders and breath out...relax.
2) healthy living helps, avoid booze completely.
3)use regular guided hypnosis...daily 20 ish mins listening to hypnosis for anxiety
4) notice the negative self talk and worry, do not punish yourself, just recognise it, and steer yourself back to normal thoughts, do not feed the anxiety with more worry, stop following the thought to the worst outcome...95% of things we worry about never ever happen.
5) talk to a doctor about citalopram or sertraline, they start you on high doses, I would try the absolute minimum and give it 6 months to work (you will see results in about 2 weeks). Do not read the instructions and panic, the side effects sound bad but it will be fine and much better than anxiety.
6) you have experienced the worst already, it will not get worse and you will not freak out or lose control. Avoid crutches like taking a bag to breath into or rescue remedy, it gives the anxiety permission. Get up and out of bed, leave the house and force yourself to do what your body is telling you not to do....the minute you don’t let it bully you then you are on the road to recovery.
D1on said:
Anyone on here had this?
Never in my life have I felt real anxiety but the last few months I've had a few superficial symptoms and turned to dr google.
Its all thats been on my mind, constantly checking myself feeling so down I don't even feel like getting up in the morning.
With the current situation not wanting to mither the gp also worrying he'll see me as a hypochondriac.
Anyone else been through this? How did you get over it...
Not me, but a good mate from school who was an ex army officer, (quite bright and rationale) had it about 15 years back. It seemed from him picking up a nasty case of something quite common, impertigo whilst he was travelling in Far East and by the time he got home he was a bit of a mess. It properly got a hold of him and made him miserably, run down and he picked up lots of bugs, lots of tonsillitis, every few months for a couple,of years. He had all sorts of tests for immune issues, he ended up at the tropical diseases centre, as he developed some weird symptoms, muscle twitching, even a dropped foot, he has MND tests, mri s looking for Ms. It was crazy, he was like a one man episode of House! He was constantly on Mayo website looking for symptoms, but he did have physical symptoms, I saw them myself. Never in my life have I felt real anxiety but the last few months I've had a few superficial symptoms and turned to dr google.
Its all thats been on my mind, constantly checking myself feeling so down I don't even feel like getting up in the morning.
With the current situation not wanting to mither the gp also worrying he'll see me as a hypochondriac.
Anyone else been through this? How did you get over it...
Long story short, he was eventually diagnosed with this along with some sort of chronic regional pain syndrome that resulted (I think) from his impertigo. He lost his job, he changed dramatically and suffered from depression etc.
But the good news is he is still here, 15 years on, and whilst he still gets the weird muscle twitches in his legs, the best advice he says he ever had was a doc who said,look, ‘you’ve had a rough few years, but please stop looking at the internet for diagnoses! ‘
But it took years, he was convinced he had so,e seriously bad s
t and only believed he didn’t when he was still alive at a point which he’d not be if he had what he thought he had! He’s a good lad and he did have a s
t few years. And it did seem to all stem from his impetigo in 2004. (although it was a bloody nasty case to be fair). . He explains it as being very weird in as much as you get genuine physical symptoms and yet it’s pretty much all you’re brain playing tricks on you!
I wish you well on your management of it.
mcelliott said:
Have you ever sought help for it?
I've had a few trips to the doctor's over the years and they found nothing wrong. Even once had a 'heart attack' that was fixed with a mouthful of gaviscon.Haven't been to the docs now for over a decade. I'm not sure I can be fixed. I just try and ignore things and get on with it now but it's always at the back of my mind.
TameRacingDriver said:
Haven't been to the docs now for over a decade. I'm not sure I can be fixed. I just try and ignore things and get on with it now but it's always at the back of my mind.
Citalopram has given me a relatively worry free life the last 6 years. Even when my partner had breast cancer, I was totally rational and seeing the positives. Before that, I’d have literally worried myself sick that she was going to die. I had health anxiety about her as well as me, which was crippling at times.Side effects - tiredness in the evenings and has given me a bit of a ‘don’t give a f
k attitude’, which are worth it.Worth looking into.
rossub said:
Citalopram has given me a relatively worry free life the last 6 years. Even when my partner had breast cancer, I was totally rational and seeing the positives. Before that, I’d have literally worried myself sick that she was going to die. I had health anxiety about her as well as me, which was crippling at times.
Side effects - tiredness in the evenings and has given me a bit of a ‘don’t give a fk attitude’, which are worth it.
Worth looking into.
The side effects sound ace to me Side effects - tiredness in the evenings and has given me a bit of a ‘don’t give a f
k attitude’, which are worth it.Worth looking into.
Thanks mate, I am trying to get better on my own (including the DGAF attitude!) and am not as bad as I used to be but this is definitely worth bearing in mind if it got out of hand once more, assuming I can find a doctor willing to prescribe it. Funny thing is I have never sought help for this specific issue as I feared just being labelled a hypochondriac and being laughed out of the surgery. I have went for the physical symptoms multiple times only to find they don't know what it is or they can't find anything wrong.
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