Every time that I hear of anyone having some illness I suddenly get thrown into this phase of pure fear that I have whatever it is! I mean, I get so scared I sit up not being able to go to sleep and feel a sense of doom. Especially cancer. That one terrifies me. I can not stand to hear about anyone being sick from this. I suddenly think that I have it. Last year after having my baby I started feeling like I couldn't breath. I of course thought that I was having a heart attack or dyeing from something else just as bad. They ran all kinds of tests. I had a hernia causing me to feel the chest pressure. A prescription for Protonix got rid of this. while they were doing these tests they found a problem though. My symptoms were from the hernia and I was not having a heart attack, but I did have a mild case of peripartum cardiomyopathy! Something I never even suspected! It's not even related to chest pains! They found it by accident. If any of you know what cardiomyopathy from pregnancy is, you can imagine the anxiety i felt when they told me this! I still have these spells where I have these same fears, but am on meds to control it. I just wanted to share my story of being a hypochondriac! When I was sick, I didn't even see it coming!

I have had anxiety and depression for over 20 years. For the first ten years I had every disease known to man. Anything I saw on TV or read in the paper.. I had it!! I had one read mark on my face one day and was sure I had small pox. That's how far out I was. It's really a terible feeling.

For the last ten years, I have found a little bit of relief. When I hurt in some place, I ask my husband what he thinks it is. When I think I have a disease, I ask him if he thinks it's cancer. Somehow, when he assures me it's nothing and will probably be gone the next day, I'm ok and don't worry for a little while. :rolleyes:

Much like you, I wasn't worrying about cancer when they found a 5 inch tumor in my left upper arm. It was cancer, but the bone was removed and I'm fine now. (well, fine as far as cancer goes)

Hang in there. I think a lot of people feel like this. It comes with the territory.
Take Care.........Connie

It feels good to know that someone else goes through that too... I feel like my family thinks im crazy. I thought I was having a heart attack, but it was just anxiety. Sometimes I think I am having a stroke, sometimes I am even convinced that I am dying... its so stupid, but i think it happens to a lot of people with anxiety problems. Well, hope this helped
Shannon

I have been this way off and on with anxiety for 13 years the ups and downs no longer effect any one but myself they used to effect my husband too now he figures 9 times out of 10 its the anxiety and if I am worrying he will blow it off or change the subject so I have found out all I can do if I am scared and worried is get myself checked out at the doctor and post on boards like this and if its that bad like I cant control it at all then I take medication.GAD is no fun and I dont forsee me ever being GAD free I have thought I was before I went 5 years with no symptoms ,not that I noticed,and back it came worse then before.I hear stories of people being "cured" and not taking any medication or nothing I wish this could be me but so far its not so I do my best to divert the anxiety and worries as I can its all I can do

I have been this way off and on with anxiety for 13 years the ups and downs no longer effect any one but myself they used to effect my husband too now he figures 9 times out of 10 its the anxiety and if I am worrying he will blow it off or change the subject so I have found out all I can do if I am scared and worried is get myself checked out at the doctor and post on boards like this and if its that bad like I cant control it at all then I take medication.GAD is no fun and I dont forsee me ever being GAD free I have thought I was before I went 5 years with no symptoms ,not that I noticed,and back it came worse then before.I hear stories of people being "cured" and not taking any medication or nothing I wish this could be me but so far its not so I do my best to divert the anxiety and worries as I can its all I can do

This is me too. I just think after all this time, I've just learned better ways to cope with my anxiety...but it's still there. I wish more people would talk openly about these things. I think there are more people around us suffering like we are, but they are embarrassed to talk about it.