I'm a 19 year old student. I took a really heavy courseload this past semester and during finals week I did absolutely nothing but study constantly and stress about an exam.

During that period of time, I began getting headaches every afternoon. These continued for a week or so after school was done, so I was left with nothing to blame them on. I immediately assumed the worse and thought that I had a tumor or something equally bad.

I am a complete hypochondriac and CONSTANTLY have some health issue that I'm freaking out about. When one thing goes away, the worry and dwelling is transferred to something else.

Now that the headaches have gone away after I began exercising to try to release some tension, I've had muscle twitching all over. I don't know if it is a result from constant (heightened over the past month or so) anxiety, or something worse. Naturally, I went online (including these boards) and see that the twitching could be related to such things as ALS or MS, and am terrified.

Has anyone else experienced this? Do you have advice to stop worrying about things, such as health issues, so much? I'd appreciate any advice.

Also, are MS and ALS common among younger people, and is twitching a very common symptom, or just one of many? I'm hoping somebody knows something on here. I know that if I go on other boards and read things, I'll diagnose myself in an instant.

Thanks.

ALS and MS are not very common in young people..I feel for you because i am a hypochondriac also..I also got lots of muscle twitching when i was 29 years old and of course i became very stressed out thinking i had ALS also...But stress can cause lots of muscle twitching and once you start dwelling on the twitching, you will notice more and more twitching.. I still have twitching every once in awhile now but i know it is nothing serious...I think you are just stressed out and i don't think you have to worry about ALS or MS...Take care.

Thanks a lot. It's good to have some assurance in knowing there are others who experience the same.

Anyone else?

I have had the twitches on n off with my anxiety diagnosis since i was 19. I am 37 now. I dont really obscess over health issues as much but I do notice my left eye twitches almost every day. WOrse if I have had a stressful day and I also used to have the "bug crawling' sensation down my face. That FINALLy went away after I calmed down. Now, I try not to LOOK UP every ailment. And sometimes the internet can be your friend or your worst enemy. I had to face my biggest fear a year ago with the diagnosis of melanoma. I didn't want to hear it but I had to face it. The internet scared me to death. I had to find resources that were very similiarto my own and not look at every worse case scenario. Ok...Hope this helped some. It always helps knowing someone else has been in your shoes. Lord knows I've walked in them, sold books and signed autographs over this topic.~ LOL~ Lots of prayers going your way and God Bless~ Remember Fear means=False Evidence Appearing Real

I know exactly what you mean about "as soon as one thing goes away, I transfer the anxiety to another." I'm almost afraid to get rid of one fear, because I worry that my next obsession will be MORE scary.

The twitching is very common in people with anxiety. My grandma died of ALS, so that has always been a big worry for me. I've had the twitching several times in my life and it is definately anxiety related. The last time I had it, about a year and a half ago, my anxiety was at an all time peak due to infertility and miscarriages. I had the twitches for weeks, but they finally stopped after I started taking Zoloft, which helped with the anxiety. I've been off the Zoloft for a few months now. My health anxiety isn't gone though. My good friend's mother just died of pancreatic cancer and that is my new worry. Of course I am getting stomach pains and nausea and swear I have some internal cancer. Yes, your brain can do those things, and I know that intuitively, but I wish I didn't worry so much . . .

Michelle

OMG!! Talk about hypochondriac! One of my biggest fears is tetanus. I was poked with a bit of metal from my dryer lint catcher. I considered the fact that I could get tetanus, but my anxiety was under control. Then yesterday the glands in my neck swelled (I have fibromyalgia and they do this often) causing my jaw to become stiff and painful. I began to get scared. I read everything I could find about tetanus trying to convince myself that I didn't have it and at the same time still be aware of my symptoms. After all, tetanus is pretty nasty and I REALLY don't want to get it. I got so scared that my other muscles began cramping up. I broke down and cried for 1/2 an hour before my partner came home from work to calm me down. I hate it when that happens. It's so embarassing. Deep down I knew that it was so unlikely, but I couldn't shake the fear.

Muscle spasms and tremmors are so normal. Try to stay logical about it. Another one of my fears is a brain tumor. I console myself with the fact that brain tumors just aren't that comon and since I havn't been living in a microwave I'm probably fine.

I hear ya. Haven't you been vaccinated against tetanus in the past? If not, you should do so and it should make you feel a little better if similar instances occur.