This is starting to drive my crazy. I feel like any tiny lump is cancer. I feel like I'm going to lose all of my teeth because of perceived tooth problems (to put things in perspective, it took me months to find out that my molar wasn't actually loose - it just felt that way because of the way my fingers were sliding around on it). I've actually gone to the ER for what was probably an anxiety attack (thought I had trouble breathing...go worse...went in and was told that nothing was wrong and it was probably anxiety). I wouldn't be surprised if all of this stress is causing some of the problems that lead to more stress.

So...any tips on dealing with this? It causes me to lose sleep and I really don't want to go running to the doctor for every perceived problem just to ease my mind. While doctor visits do generally help, as I said, I don't want to have to do that. Anyone have any ideas so to how I could convince myself that I'm fine?

hey, you sound like my twin. i've also freaked about my teeth (thinking that my gums were rotting and i was dying of some sort of disease etc etc). have serious breathing issues (don't know if it's something freaky like pulmonary hypertension or just freaking gas)

im not on any other meds but a benzo. which i have noticed lately that i've been upping my dose quite a bit. a little too much perhaps. horrible health anxiety. not sure what the cure is. been reading about how people learn to 'ride the wave' and let themselves get anxious. i think that is fine and well if you are anxious about a specific thing that cant' specifically hurt you at that moment (like being freaked about a phobia). but when you are having a serious panic attack thinking you might be actually dying (im terrified to faint so i always think im fainting) it's really hard to just 'ride the wave' into your impending death. at least that's how i see it. each and ever anxiety attack could be THE TIME!

if you find any info let me know. it's getting so tiring and depressing.

Hi,

I have hypochondria also and it is a terrible way to live. :(

I don't know if it's an option for you, but I'm on an anti-depressant/anti anxiety meds (celexa) and it is really great. I can get on with my life, and since i've been freaking out with a zillion health problems for months, it is quite wonderful to be normal.;)

best,

c

It's not quite that bad for me. I'm usually feeling fine...it just seems to strike randomly. One day I feel some pain and I ignore it, then next I feel like it's cancer. Bleh...

With my health anxiety i am having a heart attack everyday. I have pains everyday that i think are related to my heart. I have been like this for about a year and a half, im sick of living like this but it never stops. I am taking ativan as needed and it helps some but just for a short time.

I'm sorry to hear that, confused. I guess I'm blessed to be placated once the doctor says I'm fine, but I can definately imagine what it would be like to live like that (just imagining what it would be like for my attacks to continue all the time).

When I have an attack, I can't sleep, can't find joy in anything, and completely lose my apetite. It doesn't help that I'm only 19 and really don't want to have a serious problem now (well...I never do, but I feel like it would be easier to accept in 60 years or so).

I have health anxiety too. And like the person below, while I was on an anti depressant I noticed a huge improvement.

I haven't been on the anti depressant for a while though, and mine has gotten really bad lately. Ever since I had to go to the ER with a gallbladder attack.

I just don't think mine is serious enough to warrant drugs. I have about 30 mins of panic then fall asleep (it always happens at night)...then usually feel fine in the morning.

There are low dosage options for sleep. Ativan works nicely for the health worries, especially to get a good nights sleep. Taken only once in a while it will take a long time for you to become resistant.
I am still running to MD quite a bit but the knowledge I have gained allows me to intercept a lot of crazy worries ahead of time. I know now that i have an anxiety disorder which converts mildly stressful work situations into chest and jaw pain. Ultimately you need to learn what is setting it off so you have a chance to determine the legitimacy of the symptoms. When I am distracted, the symptoms suddenly diminish, but when I realize this and pay attention again they are back. Odd but thankfully somewhat predictable now.
I had to spend a night in emergency to find out the symptoms were not heart attack related, but knowing that has reduced my anxiety over that, and any future pain as a touch of Angina at worst, or more likely 100% stress born anxiety.
Even knowing this doesn't stop the pain when i go back to focusing on it and I rely on the Ativan then, but my disease has only recently been outed, and I aim to prove to myself that it is all in my mind and bull through lifes stressors again like I used to. Until I find the right lower stress occupation that is;) I have made some headway and expect to make more but I am prepared for the idea of not beating it all the way. I just want to make it better, and in the end be less reliant on Meds.