Health Anxiety, alcohol, guilt, Health Anxiety

Hi,

I joined nmp months ago and have found it useful to see that there are many of us living with these issues.

I am hyper-focused on health. My preoccupation is my liver. I guess because I feel guilty that I drink. I hate the idea of 'giving myself' a disease. But the guilt and the stress probably makes me drink more.

I am always looking at my eyes for signs of jaundice, feeling my liver area, googling etc. And I know that yellow bowel motions are a bad sign.

For the last few days ..... (explicit...) I have diarrhea, which is yellow.
So, I really have to force myself to stop googling for other symptoms.
I am going to wait for a few more days and then go to the dr if nothing changes.

BUT....good news....I am also doing a course on mindfulness, and that is a really positive thing. Also, I have decided to give up alcohol, whether i have an issue or not. I've been off for a month or 2 before, and found it OK.

Finally, thanks for having such a great community here. This is the first time I have ever put my issues across on the web.

Hi K3vin

A huge warm welcome to nmp.

You'll get loads of advice and support here and make some lovely friends along the way.

Best wishes

Howdy....Good on you for giving up the grog,It does make you feel worse when you suffer from anxiety and H/A i hope you will start to feel much better,and try not to worry about your liver,as it will heal itself.Good on you kevin for making that decision :D
Rhonda x

Thanks Rhonda,

I have good news re my worrying. I phoned a friend tonight - and asked her about the 'big picture'; my ongoing HA. She is a psychiatrist. We both agreed I should ask for CBT. And if I cannot get it free, I will go into debt to pay it. The alternative is not good. And do my 'mindfulness' work, which I am finding useful.

Then I mentioned my current worry - GI problems and v pale poo. As it happens she had the same illness for a week, and I HAD STAYED WITH HER FAMILY a week before my illness started. She commented on how her symptoms were the same, and her partner too.

So, I feel very happy with that outcome. What's more, I will stick with my decisions - the ones i made before getting the diagnosis.

1/ Do CBT
2/ Drop alcohol for 6 months, and review if I am any better off
3/ Throw myself into my 'mindfulness' course; CD, book, meditation.

I will keep the community informed. I really value the sharing. It has saved my sanity on some pretty dark days, K3vin

Hi again....I am pleased you are going to try CBT,as I found this really good for me,and hope you do well with it also.Have you read any of Bill's posts on here,they are worth a read as he is very informative and has helped me a lot,I told him that I don't need to see my Psychologist anymore as I just read his posts,he is a wonderfull human being.Keep up with the no drinking,I have been there.Take care and hope all goes well for you
Rhonda x:D

Thanks Ronny,

I will look up Bill's posts

Ta, K