How to strike a balance...

[poppy77]

...between normal/sensible vigilance over health issues and health anxiety.

It's hard.

I want to completely get over my health anxiety issues (sooooooo much better at the moment) but I fear it's always hiding there at the back of my mind waiting to rear it's head at some point if I'm not careful. I've been for four sessions of counselling with the NHS but early this year, when I asked for a few more, the mental health team said no!!! If I needed more help, they said to go back on Sertraline. My doctor agreed with me that I didn't need to at that point and that it was silly that the counselling was denied to me. I used the CBT techniques and luckily got over it quickly myself. I just worry that the HA will come back at some point (I know ridiculous to worry over possible future worrying). I just know that I never, ever want to put my family through what I did in early 2016. I know that, as I've just turned 40, in the future, your risk factors go up as you age for certain things. I don't want to become a basket case worrying.

On the other hand, I don't want my paranoia over HA to stop myself going to the doctor if needed and becoming almost blase over health issues and block them out due to a fear of HA.

Where does the balance lie? How do you achieve it?

Any advice from recovered or almost recovered HA sufferers?

[Weasley123]

I’m def the avoidant type. I do think that screening tests haven’t been shown to be that helpful. I’ve read all the stuff in mammograms and am currently thinking I won’t be getting any. It’s not been shown to prolong survival. I have high bp a the dr which I’m sure as anxiety as it will hd high theb drop 30 pets a minute later. I plan to just go to dr if i have symptoms.

[pulisa]

For me it's about focussing on red flag symptoms. As I'm older than you and a carer I'm aware of the possibilities of ill health so I have all the screenings offered. I'm all in favour of mammograms as my Mother had breast cancer so it's only sensible to be aware but not over aware of the risk factor.

It's not good when the "worried well" clog up the NHS and take appointments from those with a genuine health concern.

I've no doubt that you will strike the right balance, Poppy, as you are an intelligent lady with a lot of insight into the rigours and pitfalls of HA.

[Weasley123]

My reason for not getting screening mammograms is none of the studies have shown that it extends survival time. All of the large studies have not demonstrated that. They have gotten rid of it in Sweden. My aunt had box but I don’t think it raises my rush. However I do f have kids which does and I’ve taken birth controls pill and drunk wine.

[swgrl09]

This is a battle I find myself in a lot. How do I find the balance between normal worrying/noticing health problems and health anxiety? Sometimes I have to ask somebody without health anxiety. I know that can appear like reassurance-seeking, but I'm really not looking for reassurance. I am looking for somebody to say "Yes, I don't have HA but I would go to the doctor for that" or "No, I probably wouldn't go to the doctor over that" so I can develop that judgment for myself. I ask my husband, who will help me decipher.

The other thing I might do if I am not with him is think about what I would tell somebody else. It's so much easier to be rational with somebody else than with ourselves. So if I am able to get into that headspace, I can think "If my friend asked me this, I would say to watch it for a few weeks and see if it gets better/goes away." etc.

It's really tough though. Sometimes I can't get into that headspace. Sometimes I hit a spiral and panic. When that happens, I have to do something to calm down like deep breaths, squeezing ice cubes, etc.

[beasty340]

A good rule of thumb is if it something serious, you would probably know. For example, heart problems might induce chest pain, shortness of breath, that kind of thing should probably warrant a visit to the ER or doctor. Or, if it is something minor, just keep an eye on it for a couple of weeks or month to see what happens with it. Does it grow, does it hurt, does it go away some times, is it associated with any other symptom?

My problem is that I cannot trust myself any longer... I went through probably 10 different illnesses and cancers in the past 4 months. The problem I have is I can't believe if something is a real symptom, is it related to anxiety, or am I just worrying about nothing. I normally try to talk to someone about it before making a call on it.

[Dibbler]

57 years old male here and suffered from very high anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember.

Over the years I must have had cameras in just about every place possible, due to testing.
Fingers and needles as well as scans.

A week ago I had a colonoscopy and today a CT scan with contrast. Tomorrow I'm back to see my specialist.

I would be the least person to help you to know how to find a balance, never managing to do that myself.

My brother is 12 years old with a very serious COPD condition and yet he lives his life very much in control over what he will or will not permit doctor's and specialists to perform.
Earlier in the year he had a higher than normal PSA reading for his prostate and with what they wanted to do next he told them NO in no uncertain terms. He just doesn't give it a second thought.

The right balance had eluded me for ever, is it my very high anxiety, my pain meds for my chronic back condition or my beta blockers side effects.

Or could it just be.......

I need more tests.!

[poppy77]

Some great points made here, thanks xxx

[Dibbler]

Of all the types of counselling that I have had, including drug based therapy, much to my surprise Mindfulness based CBT has offered the most help.

Sadly funding cuts have now ended my follow up sessions, as it did for many others.

[jojo2316]

This is something I wonder about too! A certain amount of worry is sensible but how much?!

[Blonde123]

I'm wondering exactly the same. As a rule I usually give symptoms a few months which might seem ages but I think it might be cyclical or if ta anxiety causing the symptoms I know my anxiety will burn out after a long hard few weeks and usually the symptoms go with it. I'm up and down at the minute but good to know how everyone else thinks. Great post.