mickmck
09-05-15, 14:48
Hi, I'm not expecting any miracle answers to cure me of health anxiety, but after reading many posts, felt compelled to post myself.
I have had anxiety for at least 15 years, well started with panic attacks and has finally developed into severe health anxiety. In the last year, I have diagnosed myself with most types of cancer, even typing the word, distresses me. I can't even read a newspaper now for fear of the seeing the word. Also, if I read that someone young has died suddenly, that panics me too.
I'm father of 5 with a demanding job and my mood with the kids is at best irritable, probably because I go to bed extremely anxious and as soon as I wake up I am extremely anxious. I have Ulcerative Colitis and have to have blood tests every 12 weeks (which have always been OK). I had a routine Colonoscopy in January with biopsies and all was fine. If I hear someone has an illness, I will usually find a symptom that I have got too. I would say that I have severe health anxiety with the added issue of medical phobia. Sometimes I wish I could stay in bed all day as getting out of bed means the anxiety is on its way. I work in IT, and a few months ago, I started working from home full time which means I can google medical problems all day and check my body for issues, means at end of the day, I am an absolute mental wreck. Wondering if anyone else has health anxiety and medical phobia? If so, how do you deal with it?
Michael
I have had anxiety for at least 15 years, well started with panic attacks and has finally developed into severe health anxiety. In the last year, I have diagnosed myself with most types of cancer, even typing the word, distresses me. I can't even read a newspaper now for fear of the seeing the word. Also, if I read that someone young has died suddenly, that panics me too.
I'm father of 5 with a demanding job and my mood with the kids is at best irritable, probably because I go to bed extremely anxious and as soon as I wake up I am extremely anxious. I have Ulcerative Colitis and have to have blood tests every 12 weeks (which have always been OK). I had a routine Colonoscopy in January with biopsies and all was fine. If I hear someone has an illness, I will usually find a symptom that I have got too. I would say that I have severe health anxiety with the added issue of medical phobia. Sometimes I wish I could stay in bed all day as getting out of bed means the anxiety is on its way. I work in IT, and a few months ago, I started working from home full time which means I can google medical problems all day and check my body for issues, means at end of the day, I am an absolute mental wreck. Wondering if anyone else has health anxiety and medical phobia? If so, how do you deal with it?
Michael