I've been stressing over symptoms.. - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

freaked out · 08-17-2004, 01:41 PM

.....about HIV and I've been told that I'm making myself sick. Could this be OCD? Everytime I read a symptom of HIV I start to think "Hey is that happening to me?" Then I freak out and get all nervous and I start to check the internet. I find that even when I'm feeling better and not thinking about HIV i'll log on to check and then it hits me again and I start to freak out. Thanks for your positive feedback.

susieq0726 · 08-17-2004, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freaked out

.....about HIV and I've been told that I'm making myself sick. Could this be OCD? Everytime I read a symptom of HIV I start to think "Hey is that happening to me?" Then I freak out and get all nervous and I start to check the internet. I find that even when I'm feeling better and not thinking about HIV i'll log on to check and then it hits me again and I start to freak out. Thanks for your positive feedback.

Yes it could be OCD and I would suggest staying away from the internet until you get a grip on how your feeling. Maybe some counseling would help.

bm28 · 08-17-2004, 02:14 PM

Freaked Out-This is exactly what happened to me before I started to get help. HIV and cancer! I convinced myself I had one or the other. No symptoms or anything; it's just how OCD works. I'm still struggling with it. That is what my OCD stems from though; fear of death. Good Luck and let me know if you have any questions. Beth

wishyouwerehere · 08-17-2004, 04:53 PM

Uhg, I know how you feel on that one. I always freak myself out that I have something, even though I know for a fact I don't. Last week I threw up 3 mornings, and I thought I was pregnant...even though the nausea was probably/hopefully due to my new medication (Tetracycline for ance, plus I started taking my Prozac at night..)

I'm interested in health-related issues because I'm thinking about aiming for a career in the medical field, but whenever I read about a disease I question myself if I have the symtoms for it or not - cancer, aids, bipolar, stds, rosacea, ANYTHING. It's so frustrating, I can never stop thinking about it!

The only thing that I found to kinda help, is if you think you might have something (like for you, freaked out - hiv) go get tested for it! I thought I had an std (which is almost impossible, because my ex was a virgin and my bf's ex was also, and she tested negative for all std's after she was raped, and my bf and i have been together and faithfull for over a year) so after freaking out for weeks that "I somehow could have gotten one" I went to the gyno and got tested. To my relief, everything came back negative. I can still hear about a disease and get scared that I have it, but then I think to myself "No, you can't. You tested negative, and nothing's changed since then." For some reason *lol. this is kinda random* but I'm terrified to use toilet paper in public bathrooms. You never know what someone's done to it!

Good luck with everything...If you find anything that helps, PLEASE let me know! Thanks

freaked out · 08-17-2004, 08:07 PM

I actually tested for HIV at the six week period and my results came back negative. I'm still feeling stressed about it. I'm making myself feel like i have symptoms and I'm always saying "geez I wonder what that twitch is?" or "gosh I feel good today I wonder why?". I know that I most likely don't have HIV but I think I'm trying to not take it for granted, but it's almost hurting me to think this way. Thanks for all the positive feedback.