Health anxiety making my life hell. So many fears.

[niknakx]

This bout of health anxiety has been so severe that I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. I want to beat it so much but I am having the worst time. I’m currently terrified of having some kind of incurable cancer. I’ve been having pressure and pains all over my abdomen for the last week or so. I’ve worked myself up so much that I am not eating properly, I feel sick and I’m not sleeping. I’ve become a husk of a person.
I’m crying so frequently it’s getting rediclous and my family are getting increasingly annoyed and stressed with me. I can’t stop myself thinking negatively, it’s like I’m trapped in a loop of dread. I’ve been to see doctors and specialists and they have reassured me that I am fine, I am reassured for about an hour and then it all comes flooding back again.
I have a phone interview with the mental health team in 3 weeks! I don’t think I can last 3 weeks. I’m making myself feel so ill and I’m missing work. I just want to get out of this rut so much but I don’t know what to do! I’ve got some antidepressants sitting next to the bed but I’m worried that I’m going to get worse before I get better. Ugggghhhh I’m so frustrated and I don’t know what to do!

[BlueIris]

I know it's tough, but try to drag yourself back to work - the longer you leave it the harder it'll get. The other thing about work is that it provides a reliable source of distraction that can stop you dwelling so much.


One thing I've learned over a lot of years with this nasty disease is that "fake it til you make it" can be a surprisingly effective coping strategy - if you try to keep up a front of normality you can sometimes fool yourself, at least until you're able to speak to mental health services.

[Meriland30]

I understand how you feel, I really....truly do. Don't allow this fear to eat you alive...you have to grab it by the horns and say "hey! this is my life. I am not going to allow you to put this nonsense in my head and make me out to be a buzz killington. This is not me, and I will not let you define me. This stupid cancer worry is completely unfounded and I am done. I am physically, and emotionally just...done with it. I just can not care anymore, I don't have the strength to care anymore.". Sometimes, you really just have to fight with yourself in order to find a way out. You are fine, you are strong, you got this...you just have to believe that this is all in your head. The brain is insanely powerful and can WITHOUT A DOUBT create real symptoms based off of specific worries. I had the same symptoms as you 3 years ago..and guess what. NOTHING. Jack...squat. I had a CT Scan, bloodworks, ultrasound, you name it.. and nothing. The funny thing is, after all of that...the pain suddenly ceased..like THE DAY I came back from the doctor.