Long term health anxiety

[WiseMonkey]

I'm currently being investigated for a new symptom (abdo pain with some other symptoms) and not once I have I fallen down the rabbit hole.
Most importantly, I turned myself around before I got my diagnosis, not after when then there was nothing to fear.

I keep wondering if I will fall into the hole again, and it feels weird not to be, but once I accepted my situation (no matter how bad it was going to be) the fear left me.

RE fibro: it definitely helps to talk to people who are going through the same thing. It's does me good to have a good old whinge about the state of my bowels (or whatever) but also to see the humour in the situation. As far as I'm concerned humour is the best medicine there is.

Thanks for sharing this Nora, wise words . In retrospect I think my depression had a lot to do with my hip operation, apparently it can strike you a week or two of afterwards, which is just what happened to me. This small fibre neuropathy started late June and I wasn't depressed before I went into hospital, take care Nora

[NoraB]

Thanks for sharing this Nora, wise words . In retrospect I think my depression had a lot to do with my hip operation, apparently it can strike you a week or two of afterwards, which is just what happened to me. This small fibre neuropathy started late June and I wasn't depressed before I went into hospital, take care Nora

I'm having a tango with the Dark one at the moment as it happens. This is how I go - predominantly anxiety but with episodes of depression. Hubs wants us to go out later on and I don't want to go, but I know I have to go. He needs to do something nice before his dad's funeral tomorrow, and I need to get out into nature to fill up my senses a la John Denver style.

At first, the depressive periods are a welcome break from feeling life amplified by a trillion, but then I stop feeling. I stop doing. I become numb, and that's far worse than anxiety because at least I feel alive wit that 'plugged into the mains' sensation...

This is how I go, and I can see the pattern now. I have a massive fibro flare up (and it's always in the autumn and winter) and my mood plummets. This is when I have to put the serious effort in and step up the self-care, and love. I don't like depressive me. Neither does Hubs. It scares him, I think. Mind you, I'm pretty scary when I'm not depressed ha ha!

No matter what the cause is, we have to up the self-care a few gears, and understand that it will pass eventually.

This morning, instead of just opening the door and letting the dog out, I stood there and inhaled the early morning air after the rain, and this is Manchester where it rains a lot..

It's like the smell of cut grass (even though I have hayfever) or walking through our local woods in Spring when all you can see are Bluebells. It's medicinal, and I need more of this - so I will drag my achy body out today and go make some memories.

You take care too lovely X

[pulisa]

I hope you can get some medicinal healing vibes from your day, Nora..You will need all your strength for tomorrow xx

I actually prefer feeling low to feeling horribly agitated and unable to get any respite at all from the treadmill feeling. I've never found any comfort in nature but envy the people who do.

[NoraB]

I hope you can get some medicinal healing vibes from your day, Nora..You will need all your strength for tomorrow xx

I actually prefer feeling low to feeling horribly agitated and unable to get any respite at all from the treadmill feeling. I've never found any comfort in nature but envy the people who do.

I'm not going to the funeral. We're in tier 2 restrictions and there is nobody to be here for our son, so it has to be me. The service is being live-streamed though...

Nothing lifts me more than staring at the sea (The Cure reference there for ya) and I would happily sit there all day if Hubs let me. I try to get to the sea (I sound like a crab) a few times a year, but in-between visits, I watch YouTube videos or my imagination.

[pulisa]

It's all about finding what works for you and different things help at different times, I suppose?

[NoraB]

It's all about finding what works for you and different things help at different times, I suppose?

It is. I'm incredibly sensory and my body generally responds to stimuli in intense ways and I thought was the case for everybody, only it turns out not to be the case. Music is one such example where it affects me through most of my senses-opposed to just auditory with Hubs. He listens to music. I experience music. It must be due to how I'm wired, and it's not exclusive to autism, but it certainly makes up for some of the not-so-nice experiences with a brain that generally functions on a much higher frequency than the 'norm'.

The sea is a very sensory experience for me, but most important is what it does to my heartrate and how the imagery can calm me, even when it's memory recall. This, I believe, works with a lot of people - which is why water is so commonly used as relaxation therapy.

Speaking of which, all this talk of water is making me want to go for a wee.

[Lady Penelope]

Hello flatterycat
interested to read your post. How are you getting on?
I too suffer with health anxiety on and off for the last 10 years. I also take Sertraline.
I am due to start CBT with NHS today so hoping that will help. How are you getting g on with your CBT?

[ScaredCaz]

Hi FlatteryCat

I could have wrote your post myself it describes me and my life to a T

I’m a little younger just turned 48 but I am petrified about my health everyday and everyday I find a new “symptom” to stress over

The Coronavirus isn’t helping either worrying about myself and my husband kids and family it all gets too much sometimes

I’ve already had 4 weeks off work with it a while ago I only work 12 hours a week but couldn’t even manage that

I have had a bit of councelling didn’t really help never tried CBT I would love to get some control

I hope you find some peace sorry you are going through this 😔

ScaredCaz x

[flatterycat]

Hello a Lady P and ScaredCaz

Sorry you are also going through this.

Lady P - I hope you find the NHS CBT sessions helpful. I have found them to help in the past, but lately I feel stuck. I ‘know’ all the rationale behind thoughts and behaviours and how they can negatively impact me, but I just can’t seem to feel any relief. I go through the motions, do the homework and keep as busy as I can, but everyday is still full of fear around my health. Anything can set me off. I am currently looking into CBT with a specialist in HA and OCD.

Scaredcaz - never feel bad about having to take time off work. I used to berate myself for taking time off, but sometimes it’s what’s needed. Have you suffered for a long time?

Has your doctor not referred you for CBT?

X

[ScaredCaz]

Hello a Lady P and ScaredCaz

Sorry you are also going through this.

Lady P - I hope you find the NHS CBT sessions helpful. I have found them to help in the past, but lately I feel stuck. I ‘know’ all the rationale behind thoughts and behaviours and how they can negatively impact me, but I just can’t seem to feel any relief. I go through the motions, do the homework and keep as busy as I can, but everyday is still full of fear around my health. Anything can set me off. I am currently looking into CBT with a specialist in HA and OCD.

Scaredcaz - never feel bad about having to take time off work. I used to berate myself for taking time off, but sometimes it’s what’s needed. Have you suffered for a long time?

Has your doctor not referred you for CBT?

X

Hi

I have suffered for 12 years since mum Mam passed away very suddenly from a heart attack 😔

I also have a underactive thyroid and fibromyalgia

I have a lovely doctor I see when I get bad but she has never suggested I try cbt but maybe it’s because I only see her for reassurance for a new symptom I’ve found I’ve never really sat and said to her I can’t stand living like this even though I feel it sometimes if you know what I mean

At the minute it’s hard to get a face to face appt anyway and if I book a telephone one for this then I feel like I am wasting their time when they could be helping someone with the virus 😔

Stay strong and safe xx