Polly29
23-02-12, 11:27
Hi
I've been suffering from health anxiety for a few years and recently started CBT to help address it.
My biggest fear used to be HIV. After years of internet research and linking every minor ailment to it, I got tested and the results were negative.
I was fine for around 2 weeks and then the HA thoughts and behaviours all started again.
In the past two days I've spent hours online researching lypmhoma, TSS, meningitis and septecemia - all because the glands in my neck are slightly sore. I've been having panic attacks, checking myself for other symptoms and calling my doctor.
I know all this is classic HA behaviour but it's really getting me down and distracting me from all the positive stuff in my life (and causing a lot of strain in my personal relationships). The CBT helps to some extent in the short term, but I have no control over the urge to worry, seek reassurance or investigate illnesses, no matter how hard I try. Every day brings a different concern.
Does anyone have any advice or things that have helped them relieve this? I'm scared that the only way I'm going to get through this is to systematically get tested for every single condition that pops into my head whether I'm ill or not - and I don't want this to spoil my quality of life any more than it already has. My doctor warned me that this could happen (as one condition is eliminated, focus changes) but I feel like the only way to stop worrying about something is to have unequivocal proof it's not there!
Sorry for the ramble!
I've been suffering from health anxiety for a few years and recently started CBT to help address it.
My biggest fear used to be HIV. After years of internet research and linking every minor ailment to it, I got tested and the results were negative.
I was fine for around 2 weeks and then the HA thoughts and behaviours all started again.
In the past two days I've spent hours online researching lypmhoma, TSS, meningitis and septecemia - all because the glands in my neck are slightly sore. I've been having panic attacks, checking myself for other symptoms and calling my doctor.
I know all this is classic HA behaviour but it's really getting me down and distracting me from all the positive stuff in my life (and causing a lot of strain in my personal relationships). The CBT helps to some extent in the short term, but I have no control over the urge to worry, seek reassurance or investigate illnesses, no matter how hard I try. Every day brings a different concern.
Does anyone have any advice or things that have helped them relieve this? I'm scared that the only way I'm going to get through this is to systematically get tested for every single condition that pops into my head whether I'm ill or not - and I don't want this to spoil my quality of life any more than it already has. My doctor warned me that this could happen (as one condition is eliminated, focus changes) but I feel like the only way to stop worrying about something is to have unequivocal proof it's not there!
Sorry for the ramble!