Worrywart528
03-10-15, 21:53
I just found this board and am hoping it can help me out.
I have always suffered from health anxiety as far back as I can remember.
Over the last year I have become obsessed about skin cancer and melanoma. I am a healthy 35 year old and have no other conditions.
From the time I was born until about 21 years of age I had normal sun exposure. I played outdoor sports and by the time the summer was over would have a very dark tan. I had about 3 bad sunburns in my life. When I was 22 years old after my fiance dumped me I started getting myself in good shape. It was at that time I started tanning. I would start in March and when the summer rolled around I would stop and get my sun outdoors. During the winter I would go sporadically just to keep some type of tan. I would say I used tanning beds from the time I was 22 until about 25 years old. Over the years I would occasionally use them prior to a vacation or in the dead of winter for a boost. Nothing consistent.
I have dark hair, dark green eyes, and normally get a slight sun burn after a long winter but it quickly turns into a tan. I have no family members with melanoma. My phobia started when I saw a dermatologist last year. I have about 25 moles on my front torso and about 15 on my back. Some of them were dysplastic ( Irregular) Moles. The dermatologist said I had no melanoma but did a biopsy and they came back barely dysplastic.
At that time I started searching the internet and it claims that people with these moles have a 7 times higher rate of melanoma. I also used tanning beds for several years. THis obsession has been consuming me. When I am not working I find myself getting depressed over the thought of getting melanoma and how horrible it will be when I get older.
I have always suffered from health anxiety as far back as I can remember.
Over the last year I have become obsessed about skin cancer and melanoma. I am a healthy 35 year old and have no other conditions.
From the time I was born until about 21 years of age I had normal sun exposure. I played outdoor sports and by the time the summer was over would have a very dark tan. I had about 3 bad sunburns in my life. When I was 22 years old after my fiance dumped me I started getting myself in good shape. It was at that time I started tanning. I would start in March and when the summer rolled around I would stop and get my sun outdoors. During the winter I would go sporadically just to keep some type of tan. I would say I used tanning beds from the time I was 22 until about 25 years old. Over the years I would occasionally use them prior to a vacation or in the dead of winter for a boost. Nothing consistent.
I have dark hair, dark green eyes, and normally get a slight sun burn after a long winter but it quickly turns into a tan. I have no family members with melanoma. My phobia started when I saw a dermatologist last year. I have about 25 moles on my front torso and about 15 on my back. Some of them were dysplastic ( Irregular) Moles. The dermatologist said I had no melanoma but did a biopsy and they came back barely dysplastic.
At that time I started searching the internet and it claims that people with these moles have a 7 times higher rate of melanoma. I also used tanning beds for several years. THis obsession has been consuming me. When I am not working I find myself getting depressed over the thought of getting melanoma and how horrible it will be when I get older.