A Word on What Health Anxiety Is

[Elliott]

I'm starting to truly believe that, for me at least, my hypochondria is a distraction from what is really bothering me deep down. Instead of dealing with life problems that I have left unresolved, I choose to dwell on minor symptoms of my body, which are really just manifesting because of repressed emotions, and the repressed emotions have led to depression, and depression has led to obsessive thoughts that have nothing to do with what is really afflicting me.

Now, there are times when you have a genuine reason to have at least some concern about a physical problem, but most of the time it is just deflection, because what would be worse? realizing there are things in your life that are out of control that frighten you and have nothing to do with your health? Or managing your own body? which is in some ways, far more controllable than your own emotions, events and relationships that you cannot solve or seem to make work. Doctors and tests and checking and reassurance are just a substitute for the fact that the mind/spirit/whatever is honestly broken. Or at least, suffering in a rather distinctive way.

I think it is crucial to remember that it is probably, most likely the mind/emotions that are in turmoil whenever a painful thought related to the body intrudes. It may be helpful to ignore the body and tend to the mind's conflicts instead. I think you will find something in your life that is disorderly enough to make you want to hide from it in health anxiety.

[Catherine S]

Nope. For me it started when I was sitting reading a book one day...in my 20s, and now in my 60s...and my heart started to miss beats, very uncomfortable. Had the first of very many tests which have all been negative and so my journey with health anxiety began. No unresolved mysteries, no depression, just out and out fear of that benign dicky ticker! Through marriage, divorce, pregnancy, remarriage, children, college, their marriages, grandchildren and menopause...it's still happening, bumping and fluttering away and even though I live with it reasonably well now, it can still scare me, and it all started that day in my 20s reading a book when I didn't have a care in the world. Go figure.

[Libra]

My first experience of HA started during menopause transition...hormone related.Dealt with it though it took 8 months.
Second experience, post menopause...but much more prolonged and intense. Hormone fluctuations, erratic.
Many women report anxiety,depression during these stages. Its just harder to deal with the longer it goes on.

[skippy66]

Nope. For me it started when I was sitting reading a book one day...in my 20s, and now in my 60s...and my heart started to miss beats, very uncomfortable. Had the first of very many tests which have all been negative and so my journey with health anxiety began. No unresolved mysteries, no depression, just out and out fear of that benign dicky ticker! Through marriage, divorce, pregnancy, remarriage, children, college, their marriages, grandchildren and menopause...it's still happening, bumping and fluttering away and even though I live with it reasonably well now, it can still scare me, and it all started that day in my 20s reading a book when I didn't have a care in the world. Go figure.

So if you could give your 20-odd year old self some advice now, what would it be?

[Catherine S]

What advice could I give then? I was fine, just sitting reading a book in the sunshine without a care in the world and it came out of nowhere and its been my constant companion ever since. It didn't come from depression and it didn't lead to it fortunately, but it has over the years, limited my life somewhat. However, that's just my story. There are others who will relate completely to yours.

[luc]

For me health anxiety is a manifestation of something - that something being the million dollar question. I have spent so much time thinking about this and I always come back to the word control, that is not being able to control external happenings thus turning to obsessions and compulsions to keep everything in check. It is the need to check and ruminate that gets me down the most. In my case I have always been susceptible . I have memories of being very young and needing to put my dolls and other Emotive objects in their correct place because if I did not then something may happen to my mum. In the last ten years HA along with all my coping strategies has become so embedded in my day to day that it is it's habitual nature that I am now trying to overcome. Reassurance, checking and avoidance are hard to deal with and take work. So if it's one less question to my husband, one less look at my bra or an itch of my boob it's all good. A funny anecdote - I am very scared of spiders. However I once had one crawling about my cleavage that I could not fish out because that would mean touching my boob. It stayed there for quite some time ha:D

[Lana]

To Elliot - You are right.

I have changed 4 psychiatrists and 3 therapist in the past 7 years due to my extreme health anxiety, and ALL of them - ALL - told me what Elliot is saying: it is the manifestation of something deeper and mental. It is not normal state of mind and it has to be treated, but not by going to the doctors and specialists all the time, because it does not solve anything long term. At this point I guess I should believe 7 different mental specialists if they all claim the same.

Regardless, I still keep on going to the doctors: GI, bloodworks, Nose and Throat doctors, OBGYN, Lungs etc etc... So, what gives? What can we do about this horrible, debilitating state of mind? God help us!