Hello - I am hoping someone can help me with this one. Someone in my town recently died of Cancer. She was only 30. I'm 29. Ever since I heard about this I've been freakin' out over my own health. Constant panic attacks - the whole bit. Do any of you ever see anything on TV or hear about anything when a person dies of a disease and it totally freaks you out? Is this normal? I can't get it off my mind and I'm starting to convince myself that I too am dying of something. Does anyone else do this? I would appreciate the feedback!! Thanks!!! :rolleyes:
Emily

Hi Emily,
You're not alone with this feeling. Mine is so bad that I cannot watch medical shows like ER on television. If I heard of something that made someone sick or die, I immediately researched symptoms to see if I had them. Most of the time I "had" them all. Its terrible how our minds can play tricks on us.
I use a lot of distractions to keep my mind preoccupied. Sorry I cannot offer more advice but just wanted to let you know that you're not alone with the health anxiety. There are lots of us that deal with it too.
Take care,
anxiouslady

Hi emily
too much worry about health problems is called hypochondria and is a real problem that sadly the doctors often dont take seriously
try to find a good doc and let him do all the worring about your health for you

ask at your local library for self help books about overcoming worry, they have useful advice or try a large bookshop, you can say you are trying to help a friend :jester:

If I heard of something that made someone sick or die, I immediately researched symptoms to see if I had them. Most of the time I "had" them all. Its terrible how our minds can play tricks on us.

I'm exactly the same way. I was o bad at one point that I would research, and then after convincing myself I had it - I would just go and lay in my bed having an anxiety attack and crying.

No, you're definitely not alone...I have a bad case of health anxiety too...sometimes you feel like it runs your life. I don't believe it's called hypochondira...I've always heard that is a person who is constantly going to the doctor with symptoms...someone with health anxiety just worries alot about their health and are scared to go to the doctor. That's me for sure. Take care!
amber

I'm the same way, but I keep going to the doctor with apparent symptoms, just to be sent home. I even had a bilateral breast lipo/reduction just to rule out cancer (and to lose some breast mass---I'm a guy.) Then after the surgery I get this lump of scar tissue in my left breast, and now I REALLY think I have cancer, but I prayed and asked the Lord to reveal to me through the plastic surgeon what the truth is, and He seems to have told the doctor to tell me the lump is JUST scar tissue and we can remove it in a few months if it doesn't go away.

Every time I hear about someone dying young, especially of cancer, I freak and can almost find legit symptoms myself.