Are you convinced you have an illness when worrying?

[pav1984]

I am suffering with health anxiety and am trying to get to the bottom of why my mind seems to gravitate to certain illnesses.

My latest obsession is Melanoma. I have lost count of the panic attacks I have had thinking that a mole or mark on the skin is Melanoma.

I am just wondering what triggers your anxiety and do you actually believe that you have said illness or do you suspect in your mind that it is just anxiety?

I seem to go in circles, one week/month I may obsess over Melanoma, next month it could be something totally different. I am not even sure how I find certain lumps, bumps, marks, sensations etc.

I am hoping once I understand why I think in a certain way, I can prevent it.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[nomorepanic]

Have you tried the HA workbooks we recommend you read in the sticky threads?

[AMomentofClarity]

“Are you convinced you have an illness when worrying”

Please allow me to comment on behalf of all frequenters of the Health Anxiety section here.....

YES!

[BlueIris]

Yes, AND HOW

[Hypomean]

Whenever I get cramp or lower abdominal pain I fear the absolute worst: cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, IUD perforation, Colon obstruction, an aneurysm of some sort, etc... it turns out to be menstrual cramps or gas 😒. Here’s the thing deep down inside we know. I know it’s just anxiety or just gas or just an everyday pain/sensation we felt, and it’s not serious. We just have to trust that little voice.
I sometimes can’t and I start to really believe I’m living with a killer ailment. And also what helps is keeping busy. Distracting those thoughts.

[Mr. Ed]

Yes... right now I am full blown Parkinson's mode. Last month it was prostate cancer. Next month...who knows!

[pav1984]

Whenever I get cramp or lower abdominal pain I fear the absolute worst: cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, IUD perforation, Colon obstruction, an aneurysm of some sort, etc... it turns out to be menstrual cramps or gas 😒. Here’s the thing deep down inside we know. I know it’s just anxiety or just gas or just an everyday pain/sensation we felt, and it’s not serious. We just have to trust that little voice.
I sometimes can’t and I start to really believe I’m living with a killer ailment. And also what helps is keeping busy. Distracting those thoughts.

Thank you everyone. I thought i was going mad as i am convinced i am ill but there is a thought that it is just the anxiety. I am working on it just trying to understand the condition (health anxiety). It does seem to go in circles. Todays fear is forgotten once something new comes along. Thanks once again

[Worrywart1234]

I just came back to this forum after months away for this very thing. For me, I think maybe stress triggers it. I’ve been going through some financial struggles the last few weeks and it’s amazing how I start to worry about my health along with the other worries. I’m starting to notice that when i’m not stressed, I don’t worry about my health, but as soon as i’m stressed I start to think there’s something really wrong with me. My psychologist said that people with HA are like a truck running on 3 cylinders, when things are going well you would never know the truck was running on 3, but if that truck went up a steep road it would be noticeable straight away...just like how the HA (for me anyway) is more noticeable at times of stress. I find it helps to calm my worries to remind myself of it.