Peterthegreatworrier
16-07-15, 10:30
Hi everyone. I just joined and this is my first post, though I have previously viewed the forum multiple times while trying to calm my many hypochondriacal fears.
My obsession this week has been the possibility of developing the - yes, EXTRAORDINARILY RARE disease - Sporadic Fatal Insomnia ( the random variant of Fatal Familial Insomnia, a genetic disorder where the brain's proteins go crazy and destroy one's ability to sleep, eventually leading to CERTAIN DEATH with NO TREATMENT OR CURE). I know that this is virtually a statistical impossibility - only 40 families worldwide have the classical inherited form and the sporadic form has only been documented in 10 cases EVER and usually attacks middle aged people (I am only 18). However, the recent case of some random 13 year old dying of it in South Carolina, has made me lose the security of my existence and approach the prospect of sleep with the fear that tonight I will be unable to :weep:. I find it extremely difficult to block my thoughts relating to this disease, especially actual footage of the ill fated sufferers stuck in their permenant pre sleep limbo, though it's gotten better over the past few days.
I had the exact same fear around 3 years ago, but I don't remember how I managed to move past it. The only consolation I can find at the moment is the extreeme rarity of the disease and the apparent fact that those who get it at a very young age tend to "have something else wrong with them."
Can someone kindly offer me some advice on how to get over this obsession which is extremely affecting my life?
My obsession this week has been the possibility of developing the - yes, EXTRAORDINARILY RARE disease - Sporadic Fatal Insomnia ( the random variant of Fatal Familial Insomnia, a genetic disorder where the brain's proteins go crazy and destroy one's ability to sleep, eventually leading to CERTAIN DEATH with NO TREATMENT OR CURE). I know that this is virtually a statistical impossibility - only 40 families worldwide have the classical inherited form and the sporadic form has only been documented in 10 cases EVER and usually attacks middle aged people (I am only 18). However, the recent case of some random 13 year old dying of it in South Carolina, has made me lose the security of my existence and approach the prospect of sleep with the fear that tonight I will be unable to :weep:. I find it extremely difficult to block my thoughts relating to this disease, especially actual footage of the ill fated sufferers stuck in their permenant pre sleep limbo, though it's gotten better over the past few days.
I had the exact same fear around 3 years ago, but I don't remember how I managed to move past it. The only consolation I can find at the moment is the extreeme rarity of the disease and the apparent fact that those who get it at a very young age tend to "have something else wrong with them."
Can someone kindly offer me some advice on how to get over this obsession which is extremely affecting my life?