Constant health worries - Anxiety Message Board

Jordie · 03-10-2004, 04:28 AM

Just looking for some advice on how to cope with constantly obsessing that something dreadful is wrong with me.
Currently, I have the flu, which has turned into bronchitis. I have had bronchitis a few times before, but not for a few years. I also have been feeling short of breath, like I can't get enough air into my lungs. So of course I'm terrified I have lung cancer (I am a light smoker, and trying to stop). I remember about 1 1/2 yrs ago I had the same short of breath problem, and I had a lung xray, a breathing test and heart tests, and all were fine. I just can't stop obsessing because it's happening again. I don't want to get more tests again.

There's also other things that I obsess about too. I have a very tiny hard lump in my right breast, and I have had this checked twice. Apparently it's a tiny cyst, no danger there. But the doc gave me a slip to get checked again in 1 year. Well, the year is nearly up soon, and I'm obsessing about them finding breast cancer. - even though it's a cyst! Arghhhh!!!

Also, the muscles in my backside (I think it's the glut muscles) are very sore and have been for a few months. I refuse to get a scan (I've had many before) but if I'm not thinking about other problems, this pops into my head and I think I could have a serious drama going on.

I used to feel invincible, I guess it doesn't help that the older you get, the more people you know that get sick.

I really want to stop obsessing. It's ridiculous to go through life thinking of all these terrible things.

I'm not on meds, is there any methods to stop this thinking (besides CBT).

amym · 03-10-2004, 04:49 AM

I am familiar with the out of breath feeling, I currently have it! Its very annoying but I know its due to anxiety. I also started obsessing about illnesses when I came down with a mumps deriavtive virus which then developed into a chronic fatigue like illness. That was when I was 15 and I developed panic attacks when it all started, for ages after the virus I obsessed about loads of ilnesses and stopped when I developed chronic panic atacks about a year and a half ago (I'm 22 now) but over the last three days I've had really painful glands everywhere and I'm starting to worry about things again.

The only real thing that helps me is keeping a positive attitude, I go throught periods of thinking, theres nothing wrong with me and I can find reasons for all my ailments, but then I go through periods of thinking I'm going to die tomorrow. I find my paul mckenna cd eliminate stress is marvelous at keeping up a postive attitude, I've just done it a minute ago and it calms me down and I find straight after I fel better and each time I do it the feeling lasts longer.

hry33 · 03-10-2004, 08:27 AM

to jordie
look up hypochondria on the net
if you can find a doc capable of reassuring you on your health worries, this should help a lot

needless to say, worry about your health can cause many actual anxiety related health problems

chigs489 · 03-10-2004, 09:40 AM

Hi Jordie,

you're not alone. I've always had obsessions over my health. If I get a minor illness, I immediately think it is a symptom of a much more serious illness.

I recently came down with a bad sinus infection. I was convinced it had spread to the brain, was going to destroy my eyesight, was a tumor, etc. I was just a sinus infection.

My dermatologist found a spot on my face that might be a common form of skin cancer (I won't know for a few weeks). I almost had a mental break right then and there.

A couple years ago, I had heart palpitations -probably from stress & anxiety.

I've never seen anyone for this, and I'm not sure if medication would help.

Jordie · 03-11-2004, 03:47 AM

It's kind of reassuring to know I'm not the only one with these thoughts. I hate being like this, and I don't want to be labelled a hypochondriac, because I'm not.

This breathing thing is getting to me though. I came home from work today, and felt really good, then within 1/2 hour I was back to trying to suck more air in. So I went to the supermarket, wandered around feeling very dizzy and spacey. I didn't let it affect me though, kept saying to myself that it wasn't going to make me leave. then I had an inward laugh, as I imagined myself with fist in the air yelling, 'HA, I laugh in the face of dizzyness and spacey feelings'. Hmmm, perhaps I really do need help!!! just kidding.

I may go for another session with my councellor and talk about this problem.