Blackstar
26-04-07, 20:38
Hello all,
I don't know if I'm posting this for advice or just to write all the horrid confused thoughts that are in my head down on 'paper' - as if to purge them - so I'll just start writing.
I am a sufferer of Health Anxiety. I always have been, to some degree, and recently it has got a lot worse. So many things set me off but at the moment it's fear of flying as I'm flying to America at the end of May. Firstly, of course, I'm terrified of having a heart attack during the flight. Secondly, of having a massive panic attack I can't stop. Then I'm afraid my eardrum will rupture (I'm just getting over an ear infection that did perforate my eardrum so fear it will happen again), and that I'll go blind. Going blind is my worst fear...and I worry that the cabin pressure will affect my eyes and cause retinal detachment. And don't forget the risk of deep vein thrombosis, or just fainting, or, indeed, anything.
Now, I know all these are unlikely to happen. The (tiny) portion of my mind that is rational tells me that I should be fine. However I can't help worrying myself sick about it. I have thought about getting some tranquillisers from my GP, but - and how typical this is! - I worry that they will affect me badly and I'll die.
This anxiety is ruling my life. I may well get ill, or go blind, or have a heart attack, but I don't want to live in fear of health problems any more...can anyone advise me as to what I can do to help myself?
Thank you for reading. It has been good just to write these things down and know that the good people here won't think I'm crazy or tell me to 'just pull myself together'. :unsure:
Anna. x
I don't know if I'm posting this for advice or just to write all the horrid confused thoughts that are in my head down on 'paper' - as if to purge them - so I'll just start writing.
I am a sufferer of Health Anxiety. I always have been, to some degree, and recently it has got a lot worse. So many things set me off but at the moment it's fear of flying as I'm flying to America at the end of May. Firstly, of course, I'm terrified of having a heart attack during the flight. Secondly, of having a massive panic attack I can't stop. Then I'm afraid my eardrum will rupture (I'm just getting over an ear infection that did perforate my eardrum so fear it will happen again), and that I'll go blind. Going blind is my worst fear...and I worry that the cabin pressure will affect my eyes and cause retinal detachment. And don't forget the risk of deep vein thrombosis, or just fainting, or, indeed, anything.
Now, I know all these are unlikely to happen. The (tiny) portion of my mind that is rational tells me that I should be fine. However I can't help worrying myself sick about it. I have thought about getting some tranquillisers from my GP, but - and how typical this is! - I worry that they will affect me badly and I'll die.
This anxiety is ruling my life. I may well get ill, or go blind, or have a heart attack, but I don't want to live in fear of health problems any more...can anyone advise me as to what I can do to help myself?
Thank you for reading. It has been good just to write these things down and know that the good people here won't think I'm crazy or tell me to 'just pull myself together'. :unsure:
Anna. x