Woody0111
07-08-14, 10:04
Hi everyone,
I'm Ben and for the last year I've had an on again off again battle with health anxiety.
It all started 2 years ago when my eldest daughter was born. There were quite a few complications and, unfortunately, she suffered a brain hemorrhage, on top of that her general condition was getting worst and she was circling the drain and no one could figure out why. After being moved to another childrens hospital it was discovered that she had leukaemia. We had a terrible first year with her. Full of chemotherapy, operations and various appointments but at one years old she was declared in remission. My wife and I were so relieved. She has now grown into a beautiful, bubbly, happy little girl and we couldn't be prouder. She still has issues as the brain hemorrhage has effected development and may well do so for the rest of her life but this is a small price to pay for her being with us.
The problem is that ever since she came home I have developed health anxiety. I am constantly worried about myself, my wife and my little girls getting sick. I have started having panic attacks (though these are less frequent now) and tend to be incredibly intune with any changes that happen in my body and tend to blow everything out of proportion. It can be a real problem and although I try not to let it effect my day to day life it inevitably does. It can cause a bit of a rift between my wife and I which I understand. She has, of course, had a horrible couple of years too.
It isn't every day. I'm sat typing this up in McDonald's and I feel fine. But when it does happen it can be hard to snap out of it. I'm just so afraid of getting ill and leaving my girls.
I'm sorry for the long story but it's a hard thing to tell in a few words. I could go on forever lol.
I don't take any meds and am currently on a waiting list for a CBT lessons.
Let's hope they help. Talking of CBT I'm reading the NHS recommended "overcoming health anxiety" by Rob Willson book and was wondering if anyone knew where I could get the worksheets from. Save me time typing them all up!
For those that managed to get to the end of my rant, thanks for reading. For those that didn't, I can't blame you!
Ben
P.s I should probably mention that 5 months ago my wife had a perfectly healthy baby girl who is wonderful and, I think, has eased some of our worries. We were a bag of nerves during the pregnancy though!
I'm Ben and for the last year I've had an on again off again battle with health anxiety.
It all started 2 years ago when my eldest daughter was born. There were quite a few complications and, unfortunately, she suffered a brain hemorrhage, on top of that her general condition was getting worst and she was circling the drain and no one could figure out why. After being moved to another childrens hospital it was discovered that she had leukaemia. We had a terrible first year with her. Full of chemotherapy, operations and various appointments but at one years old she was declared in remission. My wife and I were so relieved. She has now grown into a beautiful, bubbly, happy little girl and we couldn't be prouder. She still has issues as the brain hemorrhage has effected development and may well do so for the rest of her life but this is a small price to pay for her being with us.
The problem is that ever since she came home I have developed health anxiety. I am constantly worried about myself, my wife and my little girls getting sick. I have started having panic attacks (though these are less frequent now) and tend to be incredibly intune with any changes that happen in my body and tend to blow everything out of proportion. It can be a real problem and although I try not to let it effect my day to day life it inevitably does. It can cause a bit of a rift between my wife and I which I understand. She has, of course, had a horrible couple of years too.
It isn't every day. I'm sat typing this up in McDonald's and I feel fine. But when it does happen it can be hard to snap out of it. I'm just so afraid of getting ill and leaving my girls.
I'm sorry for the long story but it's a hard thing to tell in a few words. I could go on forever lol.
I don't take any meds and am currently on a waiting list for a CBT lessons.
Let's hope they help. Talking of CBT I'm reading the NHS recommended "overcoming health anxiety" by Rob Willson book and was wondering if anyone knew where I could get the worksheets from. Save me time typing them all up!
For those that managed to get to the end of my rant, thanks for reading. For those that didn't, I can't blame you!
Ben
P.s I should probably mention that 5 months ago my wife had a perfectly healthy baby girl who is wonderful and, I think, has eased some of our worries. We were a bag of nerves during the pregnancy though!