pb's Health anxiety worries thread

[BlueIris]

I honestly think that work would really help you. What sort of experience do you have?

[pulisa]

I’m lonely and with each symptom my anxiety reaches a point where I just can’t cope and look at things rationally.
I do try to take on board the replies I get and they do help x

But they don't really, do they? Really? We do appreciate how lonely you are and it's absolutely fine to come on here and chat about anything..You don't have to communicate with us solely based on your HA. You have a right to talk about anything you want to if it helps to get your thoughts away from your HA and if it helps to make contact with people who truly get it about isolation and anxiety disorders..because it's truly grim to be imprisoned by overwhelming intrusive thoughts xx

Did you watch "Des"?? David Tennant was superb, I thought.

[NoraB]

I’m lonely and with each symptom my anxiety reaches a point where I just can’t cope and look at things rationally.
I do try to take on board the replies I get and they do help x

People are offering rational explanations pb, but you can't possibly be taking them on board if the next day (or even the same day) you are catastrophising about the same symptom.

I don't really comprehend the feeling of loneliness as you probably perceive it because I only ever feel lonely when I'm around lots of people - but humans are generally social beings and anxiety can be lessened in older people simply by socialising, so maybe you need to get out more?

If you do nothing else, try the EFT because I really think you would benefit from it. It will give you something to do with your hands, instead of checking your pulse and it will calm you down. Nobody actually knows why it does; it just does.

I remember constantly symptom dumping to someone (who had recovered from a nervous breakdown due to HA) and they offered me rational explanations and some great tips. I couldn't be arsed with all that, I just wanted them to understand how close to death I was and what a struggle it all was. This person was throwing me lifelines, but I refused to grab on. I wanted to know if they had experienced the same symptoms as me. Did they have constant pains in their side? Did they have this, that or the other? And there was always that symptom which was surely THE one that would prove I was dying? Well, I'm still here - four years later. My body is crumbling faster than a Rich Tea after a dunk in a brew, for sure, but HA is no longer controlling me, and that's despite having a chronic illness and an anomaly on a cervical spine scan in Feb which means I have to be re-scanned. This would have plunged me into oblivion a few years ago, but it's that unimportant to me, I'd forgotten about until this week when the hospital have been trying to contact me to make an appointment for the scan. Health Anxiety 0 - Nora 1.

So, what have you been up to today?

I've done some cleaning. Been up the loft, walked the dog, washed my hair, and now I'm going to watch All Creatures Great and Small while I plough through a massive pile of ironing!

[BlueIris]

Well done, Nora! I've been struggling to stay out of the rabbit hole this week (I freak when my periods go funny) but aside from one 20-minute Google dive I'm still okay.

I've done the day job (urgh), done some beadwork (yay) helped write lore for a website where I'm a moderator (yay) and pissed off one of the cats because I said hello to his friend before him. Tonight I'm going to watch something very violent but quite amusing.

[pb]

Today I’ve been to park twice and had a piece of lemon drizzle cake.
Ive also put on some eBay stuff and been to the post office.
Ive managed to not take my pulse.
I will look into the eft.
A lady who I say hello to, has said she goes to Pilates in the park and had invited me to join. It’s not on next week , but is on the week after.
The school has also contacted me about some work starting in October, it’s not a lot , just a few shifts, but I’m not sure because of covid.
Im still worried about symptoms, but really trying not to post about them.

[pulisa]

What does feeling lonely mean to you though? Wanting to have social contact with people or feeling alone and isolated? If you had social contact with people would you just want to talk about your symptoms or would you talk about other things and not bombard them with your HA fears?

[Jadex9]

Man can I relate to this! Im in a relationship, but I feel like my Health Anxiety has pushed everyone away and I feel lonely, and crazy. Hang in there PB, if nothing else, us other " crazies " are in this same boat with you!

[NoraB]

Well done, Nora! I've been struggling to stay out of the rabbit hole this week (I freak when my periods go funny) but aside from one 20-minute Google dive I'm still okay.

I've done the day job (urgh), done some beadwork (yay) helped write lore for a website where I'm a moderator (yay) and pissed off one of the cats because I said hello to his friend before him. Tonight I'm going to watch something very violent but quite amusing.

Cats are hilarious. I like to cheer myself up watching cat videos.

Something violent, but amusing?

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels?

[NoraB]

A lady who I say hello to, has said she goes to Pilates in the park and had invited me to join. It’s not on next week , but is on the week after.
The school has also contacted me about some work starting in October, it’s not a lot , just a few shifts

Great stuff!

Pilates will help to diffuse some of that nervous energy, there's the opportunity to make a friend or two, and the few shifts will do you good.

[pulisa]

Are you going to consider the Pilates? It would be in a safe environment and it would mean a change of scenery both mentally and logistically. Pilates would also help you with any physical aches and pains and would strengthen your muscles..It's a good option, weather-permitting. I really hope you decide to give it a go, pb xx