I have pretty bad health anxiety and have never spoken with anyone else with it

[AndyHoward]

Hi everyone.

I'm Andy and I have been suffering pretty badly with health anxiety.

I have had anxiety in the past but it's really the last few years that it has specifically been about health. It started off with cancer and a lot of this I think is triggered partly by media stories. My father had a heart attack just over a year ago and now my anxiety is specifically about heart problems. I have been to the doctors and they have given be the all clear from all big nasties, I do have a slightly high cholesterol count, but my doctor told me because of my age, because I'm a non-smoker and I'm not overweight (that much anyway!) that I'm low risk. That said I still have bad anxiety and this bout has been going on now for just over a month at a fairly intense level. The level does go up and down, but it is always there and sometimes gets to the point where I find it very difficult to do normal everyday functions.

I have recently joined AnxietyUK and am looking in to booking a webcam session with a CBT councillor.

I've never spoken with anyone who has this and I think it would be useful to do so.

My symptoms are generally feeling anxious which does get quite intense, muscle spasms or palpitations and I have to be honest I'm not really sure how to tell the difference between the two! Sometimes I get a twitch in my shoulder like a pulsating, sometimes it's in my chest and near my heart which terrifies me. I think I get IBS as well and often have issues with my stomach, mainly that it feels tied in knots. I get pulsating in my stomach a fair bit. Breathlessness too and I'm not sure if this is anything to do with anxiety, but sometimes I get a feeling like my breath is being sucked out of me for a split second and it stops me in my tracks and is also very scary. Headaches and general aches and pains. Extreme heightened awareness of my heart beat and for the last month I have been waking up around 5am and feeling anxious and I feel I have a fast heart beat and this is mainly when I get the heightened awareness of it, naturally I suppose.

I have been given beta blockers by the doctor but have not taken them yet, in fact I seem to have a fear of taking drugs. My feeling is that I might not have health anxiety it really could be a heart problem and the drugs may trigger a heart attack. I realise I sound a little crazy!

I'm not sure if I am supposed to put all this stuff in my introduction but because I'm new here I thought I'd just let it out.

Thanks,
Andy

[Annie0904]

Hi :welcome:

[AndyHoward]

Hi Annie, thanks for the welcome.

[Arnie365]

Hi Andy

Welcome to NMP. I too have anxiety about my heart as do many people on here.

My best advice is that accepting what the doctors have told you is the key. I'm currently having therapy and cbt has worked rally well for me though I've had a bad week this week but they happen.

[panickyme]

Aww you do not sound crazy at all, as a matter of fact you will find many including me that feel the same way you do. (so we will all be crazy together) I am sorry to hear about your father, and I hope he is doing well. My biggest fear is something happening to my heart, so know that you are not alone. I have had 2 very close friends at a young age that have had heart attacks, and I think that is what triggered mine. (we begin to think if it could happen to them, it could happen to us.) We have to try and think more positive. Hope you feel better. :hugs:

[AndyHoward]

Thanks so much for the replies, it really does help to know I'm not alone in this.

[andrea15]

Welcome Andy.

You'll find lots os support and advice here. I joined 2 weeks ago and its been great to talk to people who understand what you're going through.

I am currently having a bad episode about lung cancer, feel free to read my posts and the lengths I go to to prove and disprove symptoms. My HA badly affects my partner, kids and parents and my brother swears at me a lot, mainly for Googling which I implore you DON'T DO! It makes my anxiety TERRIBLE.

Once again, welcome :)

[AndyHoward]

Thanks very much.
I stay well away from googling symptoms, I know just how much worse it would make me.
Thanks again for your reply.

[andrea15]

I wish I had enough willpower not to do it. Its like an addiction. As soon as I have a symptom I reach for my phone. My partner gets really cross because I take more notice of Google than the doctors.

[mozzi]

Hi Andy!
I haven't been a member on here for long, but I have been a visiter to the forum for a while.

I've posted about painful neck shoulders and back between shouler blades.. thats todays problem due to the HA but I've had all sorts of issues, its hard to know what are real health issues and whats not, I was diagnosed with reflux about 2 years ago and was put on omeprazole, which I still take.

Some of the gps at the surgery I go to say my pains are due to the reflux while others put it down to HA! I should probably stick to one doctor but when you fone for an appointment you just take the next available slot with whichever gp is on. Its funny tho how doctors are so different with diagnoses its no wonder we get confused and don't have much faith in them...:hugs:

[Noddy]

It is good that you are aware of this, many people go through their lives and don't really understand what is happening to them, they get no help.

It definitely sounds like you are having panic attacks, there are plenty of people that can help you deal with stress and learn new behaviors.

If the doctors say your heart is ok, then believe them, try and not think that you will have heart issues. Try meditation, go for walks, if you wake up with anxiety then do something you enjoy, don't just stay in bed and worry! Play some relaxing music.

I recommend getting professional help, don't be afraid to do this. There is nothing wrong with going to see a psychiatrist. You want to live the most of your life!