KnightDay
09-06-16, 11:21
Hi everyone, this is the first post that I am making but have been reading through this forum for quite some time now.
I am 21 years old and a university student. My health anxiety all started last year.
I went to the doctor some time last year June and she was not my primary doctor and quite young. It was just for a check up. She spotted 2 suspicious moles on my skin. At the time I had no health anxiety but would describe myself as an anxious person by nature. However I never had anxiety issues with my health in the past.
I was referred immediately to a dermatologist and the following week I had an appointment. The dermatologist wanted the moles removed and biopsied. This is when I began to freak out because I didn't realise that it was that serious I thought he would just tell me that it's all good and you're too young to be worrying about this.
The waiting for the biopsy results were the worst. My anxiety seemed to amp up to another level to the point where I couldn't eat, sleep and it was during finals so that just made it so difficult for me to cope. I got the results back and they were clear. The dermatologist said go and enjoy life you have nothing to worry about.
That's when it all got worse. I thought that if something as simple as a mole could be something bad then what else is wrong with me that I don't know of.
Google became my worst enemy. Every little symptom I had I ran to the doctor. I'm from South Africa and don't have health insurance so the doctor's bills got quite expensive. I had a few trips to the er and was told its just a panic attack that I'm having and I couldn't believe that. After all that, that's when I decided I need help. I started seeing my psychologist and have been prescribed yelate. Been on it for a couple of months now already.
I've gotten better but still become anxious about my health. I'm having a couple of symptoms now and am trying to convince myself it is nothing sinister.
Is there any advice out there on how you cope with your health anxiety despite receiving help from a psychologist and being on medication?
I do not want to spiral back into the dark place I was before and I cannot say how much I would appreciate some advice. Xx
I am 21 years old and a university student. My health anxiety all started last year.
I went to the doctor some time last year June and she was not my primary doctor and quite young. It was just for a check up. She spotted 2 suspicious moles on my skin. At the time I had no health anxiety but would describe myself as an anxious person by nature. However I never had anxiety issues with my health in the past.
I was referred immediately to a dermatologist and the following week I had an appointment. The dermatologist wanted the moles removed and biopsied. This is when I began to freak out because I didn't realise that it was that serious I thought he would just tell me that it's all good and you're too young to be worrying about this.
The waiting for the biopsy results were the worst. My anxiety seemed to amp up to another level to the point where I couldn't eat, sleep and it was during finals so that just made it so difficult for me to cope. I got the results back and they were clear. The dermatologist said go and enjoy life you have nothing to worry about.
That's when it all got worse. I thought that if something as simple as a mole could be something bad then what else is wrong with me that I don't know of.
Google became my worst enemy. Every little symptom I had I ran to the doctor. I'm from South Africa and don't have health insurance so the doctor's bills got quite expensive. I had a few trips to the er and was told its just a panic attack that I'm having and I couldn't believe that. After all that, that's when I decided I need help. I started seeing my psychologist and have been prescribed yelate. Been on it for a couple of months now already.
I've gotten better but still become anxious about my health. I'm having a couple of symptoms now and am trying to convince myself it is nothing sinister.
Is there any advice out there on how you cope with your health anxiety despite receiving help from a psychologist and being on medication?
I do not want to spiral back into the dark place I was before and I cannot say how much I would appreciate some advice. Xx