Anyone successfully eased or overcame your health anxiety?

[Anonymous]

I am 61 and have had health anxiety in varying degrees since about 5th grade. Years of nearly having panic attacks waiting for mammogram and test results, etc. I don’t go from specialist to specialist looking for a diagnosis, but when I do have symptoms I Google and catastrophize, see a doctor and am anxious until the uncertainty is over. Rinse, repeat. It is miserable way to live as fellow ruminants will understand. I have tried practicing mindfulness, meditation, exercise and the lowest dose of Xanax at night; all of which help to varying degrees. I actually have some health issues like hypertension and substantial arthritis in hip which don’t worry me at all- it is the prospect of truly awful diseases which I perseverate about. Can anyone commiserate or give suggestions about what helped you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am 61 and have had health anxiety in varying degrees since about 5th grade. Years of nearly having panic attacks waiting for mammogram and test results, etc. I don’t go from specialist to specialist looking for a diagnosis, but when I do have symptoms I Google and catastrophize, see a doctor and am anxious until the uncertainty is over. Rinse, repeat. It is miserable way to live as fellow ruminants will understand. I have tried practicing mindfulness, meditation, exercise and the lowest dose of Xanax at night; all of which help to varying degrees. I actually have some health issues like hypertension and substantial arthritis in hip which don’t worry me at all- it is the prospect of truly awful diseases which I perseverate about. Can anyone commiserate or give suggestions about what helped you?

And off topic, but title seems like it should read “overcome” but overcame is past tense, so which is the correct usage?

[Anonymous]

You sound like my mother and she’s going on anti anxiety meds. Not an occasional Xanex, a daily med.

[Anonymous]

I’m you but a little longer - very similar way it affects me. I’ve done the therapy, ssri, books, workbooks

Nothing has helped very much

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m you but a little longer - very similar way it affects me. I’ve done the therapy, ssri, books, workbooks

Nothing has helped very much

That should have said a little younger, and it didn’t start until I was in my 30s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m you but a little longer - very similar way it affects me. I’ve done the therapy, ssri, books, workbooks

Nothing has helped very much

That should have said a little younger, and it didn’t start until I was in my 30s

In your case, do you know what triggered the anxiety, e.g. giving birth or witnessing illness in a loved one?

[Anonymous]

Current thinking is to treat it like OCD, essentially. There are a number of erp-based books on Amazon. In short, the name of the game is escalating exposures to the distressing thoughts. 💭rather than trying to reassure yourself/seek professional reassurance that you don’t have cancer/rabies/etc you need to acclimate to the idea that it is indeed possible albeit unlikely that you have the dreaded problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like my mother and she’s going on anti anxiety meds. Not an occasional Xanex, a daily med.

Well, the awful part is that the cure may be worse than the disease- long term use of benzodiazepines (like Xanax) is associated with the development of dementia.

[Anonymous]

SSRI meds have helped a lot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound like my mother and she’s going on anti anxiety meds. Not an occasional Xanex, a daily med.

Well, the awful part is that the cure may be worse than the disease- long term use of benzodiazepines (like Xanax) is associated with the development of dementia.

Not taking Xanex daily, taking a daily med. one intended for daily use.

[Anonymous]

it sucks.

[Anonymous]

Having kids. My health anxiety, which was debilitating, disappeared and mutated into anxiety about my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having kids. My health anxiety, which was debilitating, disappeared and mutated into anxiety about my family.

Seems sort of six of one and half dozen of another. Still quite difficult to truly relax and be optimistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m you but a little longer - very similar way it affects me. I’ve done the therapy, ssri, books, workbooks

Nothing has helped very much

That should have said a little younger, and it didn’t start until I was in my 30s

In your case, do you know what triggered the anxiety, e.g. giving birth or witnessing illness in a loved one?

Not exactly, it was probably the first time I had a health “issue” although it turned out to be nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am 61 and have had health anxiety in varying degrees since about 5th grade. Years of nearly having panic attacks waiting for mammogram and test results, etc. I don’t go from specialist to specialist looking for a diagnosis, but when I do have symptoms I Google and catastrophize, see a doctor and am anxious until the uncertainty is over. Rinse, repeat. It is miserable way to live as fellow ruminants will understand. I have tried practicing mindfulness, meditation, exercise and the lowest dose of Xanax at night; all of which help to varying degrees. I actually have some health issues like hypertension and substantial arthritis in hip which don’t worry me at all- it is the prospect of truly awful diseases which I perseverate about. Can anyone commiserate or give suggestions about what helped you?

And off topic, but title seems like it should read “overcome” but overcame is past tense, so which is the correct usage?

It should be "overcome" because it's a past participle. Has anyone successfully overcome . . . ?