does anyone else struggle with health anxiety?

Question

I have TERRIBLE health anxiety (hypochondria), last night I was up until 5am worried sick and totally convinced that I have leukemia! I have an array of symptoms that I know could be caused by so many other things but google tells me it's cancer, of course. It's exhausting. It's been so bad that at one point I was FORCING myself to stay awake because I was afraid if I fell asleep I would for some reason die in my sleep, I ended up setting alarms every few hours to wake me up so I could make sure that I was okay. Does anyone else struggle with this? How do you cope? What helps you?

Answer

stay off Google! it can be so detrimental.

Answer

Oooooooooo I know how ya feel. I can't even Google my symptoms because it makes it so much worse. But I've come to the conclusion that always thinking something is physically wrong can make things actually go wrong. I've come to writing down whatever symptom I'm having and then distracting myself and then if I don't experience it again in a day or two it's all good. But I keep it all written down in case it comes up again and I can compare the two. If that made any sense at all.

Answer

I get it girl! The struggle is real! I've stayed up numerous times way longer than I should because I saw something on Facebook or what ever social media I'm on, about scary things that have happened to other people. It gets so bad sometimes I wake up my poor innocent husband to calm me down, or sometimes I don't try to wake him up, but I can't keep still or get comfortable so I toss and turn and it wakes him up. I also will find myself getting out of bed and turning on the light to check if everything is okay on my body. What I've found that helps is to block the articles that pop up in social media so they stop letting scary stuff pop up while your scrolling through. Also definitely do not look up your symptoms on google. I know easier said than done. What helps me is talking myself down. Example: I know I have anxiety about this, and that's why I'm feeling this way, it's very unlikely that this is true, then I try to just direct my mind to something else. Also take a deep breath and relax your body, and start thinking about something your excited for.

Answer

I know exactly how you feel. Mine started after I had my baby, my calf was bothering me. (I did have a constant charley horse in my leg for 2 and a half hours while pushing in labor) but instead of thinking that's what was causing it I decided to Google postpartum calf pain. Guess what shows up? DVT. Blood clot. Then I begin to read stories of people saying they know someone who died after having their baby from a blood clot. Screw these stories! I immediately have my husband take me to the ER and get an ultrasound done on my leg. No blood clot. I still think I have one. I have been to the ER like 7 times, my primary doctor like 4 or 5 and my OBGYN 2. I have have tests done and I am convinced I still have one and will drop dead any minute because of my lack of trust in doctors and my belief in these darn Google stories. I get so offended when nurses tell me I havr postpartum depression. I don't. I am NOT depressed but I will admit it's postpartum health anxiety. I ask myself what more can these doctors do for me? What is really the chances of getting a blood clot after pregnancy? I don't fall under the category of really being high risk, yet I still think it can happen to me. Actually  only 1 in like 14,000 women actually end up getting a clot after pregnancy. Not only do i believe I am that 1, but also that one person that will have doctors miss it as well! Seriously I need help. All because of a stupid little pain my calf! It's not even swollen, red, hot to the touch or sensitive. It doesn't hurt when it dangles or when I bed my foot upwards. Because of the fact that Google says "some people dont show any symptoms" I am dead set that just because it aches I have one. what an awful way to live. I want my life back. Screw Google. No matter what pain u have according to Google u are going to die. I need to put more faith in my doctors and God.

Answer

if you need to talk message me

Answer

I have epilepsy and didn't know it for a while, and developed health anxiety as a result. was convinced i was going crazy (kept forgetting things and having moments when I'd black out) and that i had multiple sclerosis, because of the shaking at times and the numbness the seizures would cause. seek therapy. you will drive yourself mad and could start having panic attacks, like I did. seriously, seek help before it gets more out of hand. it's already disrupting your sleep. tell your dr. best of luck!!

does anyone else struggle with health anxiety?

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