Hypochondria...always thinking about health (new member)
First off, I'm a new member. I graduated from high school this june and turned 18 this summer.
Anyway, at the end of this September I had gone up in my attic and then I was not feeling well. I remembered hearing about Hantavirus a long time ago, and since I live in an old house, I immediately thought I had Hantavirus because of shortness of breath and a few flu-like symptoms; ended up being an upper respiratory infection. Not too long after I started getting headaches (and I still am) that are short and somewhat sharp, but don't stop me from doing daily activities. I'm also feeling kind of weak and I've been having random pains. I keep "googling" my symptoms and I can't help I have things like a brain tumor, brain aneurysm, I thought I had meningitis for a while (which I didn't), etc.... Now I am stuck on it being either lupus or ALS because of my symptoms. I made a doctors appt. that I'm going to in a week, and I should have no reason to be concerned since I'm perfectly healthy every time I go in, but I can't help but think every little thing is a sign of some serious disease or disorder.
Anyone have suggestions on how to help myself get through this?
Just as a side note, my dad was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this summer and I had a classmate die in a motor cycle accident 2 months after graduation..hit everyone pretty hard. I never thought these two things would have such a huge impact on me, but could my hypochondria/anxiety be caused by these things? (Since I've had never gone through this until after these things happened.)
Re: Hypochondria...always thinking about health (new member)
Anxiety usually begins from things like that..mine started after my dads heart attack. It is hard to lose someone so young and then ur dad...reminds us that we are not immortal and that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Try to state calm and yes I know its hard to do. Stop Googling (I do it to) because that makes things worse...cyberchondria they call it. Most anxiety and hypochondria is all in our head even tho physically it doesn't feel that way. Go to ur doc appt..sounds to me like allergies tho. Good luck.
Re: Hypochondria...always thinking about health (new member)
Quote:
Originally Posted by mers7479
Anxiety usually begins from things like that..mine started after my dads heart attack. It is hard to lose someone so young and then ur dad...reminds us that we are not immortal and that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Try to state calm and yes I know its hard to do. Stop Googling (I do it to) because that makes things worse...cyberchondria they call it. Most anxiety and hypochondria is all in our head even tho physically it doesn't feel that way. Go to ur doc appt..sounds to me like allergies tho. Good luck.
I know what you mean about google making it worse. I keep reading stories where people go in for small things and find out they have stage IV kidney cancer or something like that. Just gotta keep telling myself that it's an extremely small percentage of the U.S. population that has that happen.
Re: Hypochondria...always thinking about health (new member)
And don't forget, the stories you read about people going in for check ups and coming out with some horrid diagnoses are rare. I'm still working over constantly worrying about my health, but whenever I get a headache or am just excessively tired, I don't worry. I used to cause I saw all the things it could be, but in the end lack of sleep and stress at work can cause the same thing. Try not to always assume its the worst possible outcome. When you do that you just work yourself into a frenzy that's almost impossible to get out of.
Re: Hypochondria...always thinking about health (new member)
I am the biggest worrywart ever! Right now I am dealing with some health issues that are in the GERD board area. I am so worried and anxious I do not know what to do with myself. I wish I could turn my brain off but that is next to impossible. My heart goes out to you as I know what it's like to always worry about your health, as well as everything really!
