Miss Pink
25-04-06, 14:33
Hi I'm Rachael, I'm 25 and from the Midlands and I've been suffering from anxiety for nearly a year now.
It started with dizziness, faintness, sinking feelings and balance problems and I started to have panic attacks about having a terminal illness etc, which turned into a health anxiety (I was convinced I had a brain tumour)
At my worst I had to take 2 months off work and tormented my Doctor who has always told me it is anxiety and refused to do more than blood tests and a physical as he thinks reassurance will not help (I can see his point ! I was even convinced they had mixed up my blood results etc)
My health phobia is slightly better, no longer thinking about a brain tumour, but it seemed that my brain has got so used to worrying that it swapped to another illness after illness (e.g., mad cow disease, HIV, cancer etc)
Some days are better than others, managaing to keep the panic attacks a bit better under control, but still seem to spend every waking minute (especially when I'm on my own) thinking "what's wrong with me - will I ever feel normal again etc"
Have spent a lot on self-help books, visualisation CD's etc - even bought the Linden Method for £100 in desperation to return to "normal" (I know it's a lot, but I'm still living at home so luckily no mortgage yet ! LOL), but still can't stop the intrusive thoughts. At the minute its ignoring the feeling that I'm in a dreamworld and that I must be mentally ill - schizophrenia terrifies me and somenights I have got myself into a state of panic expecting to hear voices.
My memory is pretty poor, especially short term and sometimes try and test myself (e.g., what did I do this time last week). When I have trouble remembering I also start to panic (I wish I could remember what my memory was like before all this - it could be the same and I just wouldn't realise!)
Anyway, as usual I am rambling! I have really appreciated looking on here to read other people's experiences, its an amazing feeling when you read someone experiencing the same as you (sometimes I truly do feel I'm the only one in the world !) So thanks for all you help so far for sharing your stories on this website.
I hope I can get some/share some advice with you all and will leave by sending you all kind thoughts as I know what you are going through! It sucks !
Take Care
Rachael
‹(•¿•)› Best Wishes To You All ! ‹(•¿•)›
It started with dizziness, faintness, sinking feelings and balance problems and I started to have panic attacks about having a terminal illness etc, which turned into a health anxiety (I was convinced I had a brain tumour)
At my worst I had to take 2 months off work and tormented my Doctor who has always told me it is anxiety and refused to do more than blood tests and a physical as he thinks reassurance will not help (I can see his point ! I was even convinced they had mixed up my blood results etc)
My health phobia is slightly better, no longer thinking about a brain tumour, but it seemed that my brain has got so used to worrying that it swapped to another illness after illness (e.g., mad cow disease, HIV, cancer etc)
Some days are better than others, managaing to keep the panic attacks a bit better under control, but still seem to spend every waking minute (especially when I'm on my own) thinking "what's wrong with me - will I ever feel normal again etc"
Have spent a lot on self-help books, visualisation CD's etc - even bought the Linden Method for £100 in desperation to return to "normal" (I know it's a lot, but I'm still living at home so luckily no mortgage yet ! LOL), but still can't stop the intrusive thoughts. At the minute its ignoring the feeling that I'm in a dreamworld and that I must be mentally ill - schizophrenia terrifies me and somenights I have got myself into a state of panic expecting to hear voices.
My memory is pretty poor, especially short term and sometimes try and test myself (e.g., what did I do this time last week). When I have trouble remembering I also start to panic (I wish I could remember what my memory was like before all this - it could be the same and I just wouldn't realise!)
Anyway, as usual I am rambling! I have really appreciated looking on here to read other people's experiences, its an amazing feeling when you read someone experiencing the same as you (sometimes I truly do feel I'm the only one in the world !) So thanks for all you help so far for sharing your stories on this website.
I hope I can get some/share some advice with you all and will leave by sending you all kind thoughts as I know what you are going through! It sucks !
Take Care
Rachael
‹(•¿•)› Best Wishes To You All ! ‹(•¿•)›