erm156
17-06-14, 21:54
Hi - this is my first post on this forum, but I have been visiting over the past few years. I remember watching a short video that discussed things to avoid doing that keep health anxiety going: body checking, symptom googling and reassurance seeking.
My problem is body checking. I have become seemingly hypersensitive to any sensation, mark or other strange feeling/discomfort. I start to think that there is something wrong with me, then I proceed to poke at or examine the area/body part in question, sometimes for hours. I try and avoid the urge to check, but my anxiety skyrockets. Lately, I've been better about not checking EVERY single sensation/mark (e.g. a mole) that bothers me; however, I have noticed that despite the fact that I hardly do any body checking now, my mind seems to have gone into overdrive with lots of 'what if' worries regarding health. I figured stopping the body checking would be beneficial, and, to an extent, I feel less anxious than before, but I never expected my mind to race like it does with so many intrusive thoughts (it seems like, since I stopped checking, my mind alone is now handling double the anxiety). If I can keep avoiding body checking, will my mind eventually calm down? Do the intrusive thoughts ever stop? I also feel like general anxiety I experience in day-to-day life translates itself into worries about my health.
If body checking should be avoided, what do you do about routine checking that doctors recommend? My GP told me years ago that I should examine my testicles monthly to check for any abnormalities, which seems to be standard procedure for most guys. I always dread doing this because it makes me very anxious. In the past, I've sometimes spent hours checking them and become so upset because I thought I discovered something abnormal, which would turn out to be nothing. Now, when the time when I usually check them rolls around (middle of the month), I'm filled with dread and anxiety because 1) I'm scared I might find something abnormal and 2) I've realized that body checking only makes me more anxious. This month I told myself I wasn't going to check them, but not doing so made me miserable/depressed/anxious for days, until I finally broke down and examined them (though I set a timer for 20 minutes and limited my examination period to that time). Since checking them, I feel better, but I'm already dreading having to do it again next month. I can't keep having this monthly dread. This seems so stupid and embarrassing and I do not want to live like this. Is it necessary to do routine examinations like this (especially since I should be avoiding body checking behavior since it only makes my anxiety worse)? Anyone else in a similar situation? Any tips/strategies for managing this?
Sorry for the long-winded post. I'd appreciate any advice or insight. Thanks for your time and consideration.
My problem is body checking. I have become seemingly hypersensitive to any sensation, mark or other strange feeling/discomfort. I start to think that there is something wrong with me, then I proceed to poke at or examine the area/body part in question, sometimes for hours. I try and avoid the urge to check, but my anxiety skyrockets. Lately, I've been better about not checking EVERY single sensation/mark (e.g. a mole) that bothers me; however, I have noticed that despite the fact that I hardly do any body checking now, my mind seems to have gone into overdrive with lots of 'what if' worries regarding health. I figured stopping the body checking would be beneficial, and, to an extent, I feel less anxious than before, but I never expected my mind to race like it does with so many intrusive thoughts (it seems like, since I stopped checking, my mind alone is now handling double the anxiety). If I can keep avoiding body checking, will my mind eventually calm down? Do the intrusive thoughts ever stop? I also feel like general anxiety I experience in day-to-day life translates itself into worries about my health.
If body checking should be avoided, what do you do about routine checking that doctors recommend? My GP told me years ago that I should examine my testicles monthly to check for any abnormalities, which seems to be standard procedure for most guys. I always dread doing this because it makes me very anxious. In the past, I've sometimes spent hours checking them and become so upset because I thought I discovered something abnormal, which would turn out to be nothing. Now, when the time when I usually check them rolls around (middle of the month), I'm filled with dread and anxiety because 1) I'm scared I might find something abnormal and 2) I've realized that body checking only makes me more anxious. This month I told myself I wasn't going to check them, but not doing so made me miserable/depressed/anxious for days, until I finally broke down and examined them (though I set a timer for 20 minutes and limited my examination period to that time). Since checking them, I feel better, but I'm already dreading having to do it again next month. I can't keep having this monthly dread. This seems so stupid and embarrassing and I do not want to live like this. Is it necessary to do routine examinations like this (especially since I should be avoiding body checking behavior since it only makes my anxiety worse)? Anyone else in a similar situation? Any tips/strategies for managing this?
Sorry for the long-winded post. I'd appreciate any advice or insight. Thanks for your time and consideration.