scatterbrain
14-04-11, 19:11
Hi,
I've been reading lots of the posts and stories here, and it always makes me feel better. I don't know how I'd sleep at night if it wasn't for the fact that a long dizzying googling spell usually brings me back to this site.
I'm 23, female and just started a PhD. I've always worried about my health. Even as a child I would get down the big old readers' digest health encyclopedia to try and diagnose myself. I once dragged myself to the pharmacists and told them I had an STD before I'd even so much as kissed a boy! :blush: It makes me cringe now, but I still convince myself there's something wrong with me on a frequent basis.
I think in the UK especially its so taboo to be a hypochondriac, especially if you're young and look healthy. If I tell people my age about my many worries about my health, or about pestacides/antibiotics/crap in food or about the bazillion other things that worry me they think I'm some kind of new age health-nut. My parents think I'm self-obsessed because there's nothing terrible wrong with me. Sometimes they say that its (still!) growing pains.
Recently a loved one has been through some scary (but totally manageable) health issues and its sparked off panic and lots and lots of physical symptoms in myself that are really making me SO miserable. I love that this community exists - you can't imagine how much relief its brought me! THANK YOU! :flowers:
I've been reading lots of the posts and stories here, and it always makes me feel better. I don't know how I'd sleep at night if it wasn't for the fact that a long dizzying googling spell usually brings me back to this site.
I'm 23, female and just started a PhD. I've always worried about my health. Even as a child I would get down the big old readers' digest health encyclopedia to try and diagnose myself. I once dragged myself to the pharmacists and told them I had an STD before I'd even so much as kissed a boy! :blush: It makes me cringe now, but I still convince myself there's something wrong with me on a frequent basis.
I think in the UK especially its so taboo to be a hypochondriac, especially if you're young and look healthy. If I tell people my age about my many worries about my health, or about pestacides/antibiotics/crap in food or about the bazillion other things that worry me they think I'm some kind of new age health-nut. My parents think I'm self-obsessed because there's nothing terrible wrong with me. Sometimes they say that its (still!) growing pains.
Recently a loved one has been through some scary (but totally manageable) health issues and its sparked off panic and lots and lots of physical symptoms in myself that are really making me SO miserable. I love that this community exists - you can't imagine how much relief its brought me! THANK YOU! :flowers: