Medical anxiety

[Anonymous]

i am the same.
for me, after i was dx with cancer in my early 40s with zero risk factors, after an incidental scan, I struggle with understanding why ppl DONT have health anxiety.
sucks though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m anxious in general but afraid of taking medicine. I don’t want any side effects.

The old catch 22. Anxious people too anxious to take meds. You can always stop them if they don’t help or side effects are too much.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, I'm sorry, I can relate. I've had post nasal drip issues since I had covid about a year ago and this week I became convinced that it's there because there is a cancerous tumor in my sinuses. I can feel it, heavy on top of my soft palate, even though I know it isn't there.

I've been the the ED twice thinking I was having a heart attack when I wasn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People talk a lot about health anxiety on here and I don't think people realize you don't have to live this way. Health anxiety is OCD. SSRIs can be incredibly effective, along with therapy with a practitioner who specializes in health anxiety. Most regular therapists do not.

At least for me, I don't want to take a daily medicine for something that is only a problem in one area of my life. I stress out a lot about a possible medical issue until it's resolved, at which point I'm fine. A year later it starts up again with something else. Since it's not a daily issue, don't want to be medicated.

I think hesitation to take SSRIs is a good thing. People refer to them as if they are just a Tylenol or something. They aren't -- there are a lot of side effects, and they really aren't that effective for many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People talk a lot about health anxiety on here and I don't think people realize you don't have to live this way. Health anxiety is OCD. SSRIs can be incredibly effective, along with therapy with a practitioner who specializes in health anxiety. Most regular therapists do not.

At least for me, I don't want to take a daily medicine for something that is only a problem in one area of my life. I stress out a lot about a possible medical issue until it's resolved, at which point I'm fine. A year later it starts up again with something else. Since it's not a daily issue, don't want to be medicated.

I think hesitation to take SSRIs is a good thing. People refer to them as if they are just a Tylenol or something. They aren't -- there are a lot of side effects, and they really aren't that effective for many people.

what i find so weird is when people suggest them as a solution for situational depression. eg rather than change your job or deal with whatever thing, take SSRI.
I mean - i guess? but sometimes a situational depression is telling us something important!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m generally not anxious- I manage a high stress job and household just fine. But I have terrible medical anxiety. Chest pain means I think I’m having a heart attack (and I’ve been to the cardiologist and my heart is fine). Back pain and heartburn- is it pancreatic cancer? Kid scraped their knee at the gym and I make her put soap and water on it immediately so she doesn’t get sepsis.
I don’t want to medicate myself when I’m fine in the rest of my life. But…am I alone in this or is this kind of thing common?

This is me right now! constant googling and focusing on worst possible situation. However I have past history of cancer so I think I am doomed ..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m generally not anxious- I manage a high stress job and household just fine. But I have terrible medical anxiety. Chest pain means I think I’m having a heart attack (and I’ve been to the cardiologist and my heart is fine). Back pain and heartburn- is it pancreatic cancer? Kid scraped their knee at the gym and I make her put soap and water on it immediately so she doesn’t get sepsis.
I don’t want to medicate myself when I’m fine in the rest of my life. But…am I alone in this or is this kind of thing common?

This is me right now! constant googling and focusing on worst possible situation. However I have past history of cancer so I think I am doomed ..

I was just thinking about this as someone who has a history also. Once you have cancer you will never again not have medical anxiety. Not just bc of your existing history but bc you know that it ‘can’ happen to you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have health anxiety. It comes and goes- I’ll be fine for months, then I feel something in my body and focus on it and it gets worse bc I’m focusing on it and I think im dying….its exhausting. I may do CBT but haven’t bit the bullet.

I am literally reading about myself here. I was always healthy conscious, but never to the level of panic. Until 2019, my lower legs were itching, winter,dry air.. and I went to dr google. Gosh, there it started. My brain picked "lymphoma can cause itchy skin", you cannot imagine in what black hole I dropped for 6-7 months, how many doctors I saw , I had every single symptom ( stomachache, itchy skin, heart racing, inability to breath, cannot swallow, nausea, headaches and on and on). I was able to climb out of it through CBT online, but for the past years every little symptom make me think of the worst, and I lose life until I see a doctor. Literally right now I cannot wait to see ENT ( next week) as I think I feel something in the throat...

I am seeing myself here too. My vitamin level is very high when I checked portal, and before calling and checking with doctor tomorrow, I am rushing to a diagnosis after checking with Dr.Google too. Before Google, it used to be health magazines when I was younger. And every little symptom makes me think the worst too. I have high blood pressure and this is just not a good way to live. I go see all the doctors, then take a break for a year, don't follow up on anything for a year, then think I have all the diseases if one test is off after that year and the cycle starts again. Last Feb I had my mammo and colonoscopy, took a long break, no blood work and here I am after the annual blood work, imagining the worst. I am stressing over my upcoming tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP are you on TikTok a lot? Social media does a terrific bang up job of convincing people that they're dying of a horrible disease because their stomach hurts.

This website does quite a good job too.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it sucks. I don't know what to say other than doing what you can to stay healthy (sleep, diet, exercise, annuals). Some bad things are simply out of control, and any minute spent worrying about it is a minute you give up feeling happy.

But at least you're not a narcissist. They tend to think nothing bad can happen to them, including cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m generally not anxious- I manage a high stress job and household just fine. But I have terrible medical anxiety. Chest pain means I think I’m having a heart attack (and I’ve been to the cardiologist and my heart is fine). Back pain and heartburn- is it pancreatic cancer? Kid scraped their knee at the gym and I make her put soap and water on it immediately so she doesn’t get sepsis.
I don’t want to medicate myself when I’m fine in the rest of my life. But…am I alone in this or is this kind of thing common?

This is me right now! constant googling and focusing on worst possible situation. However I have past history of cancer so I think I am doomed ..

I was just thinking about this as someone who has a history also. Once you have cancer you will never again not have medical anxiety. Not just bc of your existing history but bc you know that it ‘can’ happen to you

Some people say the opposite—that getting a scary dx cures them. People respond differently to different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m generally not anxious- I manage a high stress job and household just fine. But I have terrible medical anxiety. Chest pain means I think I’m having a heart attack (and I’ve been to the cardiologist and my heart is fine). Back pain and heartburn- is it pancreatic cancer? Kid scraped their knee at the gym and I make her put soap and water on it immediately so she doesn’t get sepsis.
I don’t want to medicate myself when I’m fine in the rest of my life. But…am I alone in this or is this kind of thing common?

This is me right now! constant googling and focusing on worst possible situation. However I have past history of cancer so I think I am doomed ..

I was just thinking about this as someone who has a history also. Once you have cancer you will never again not have medical anxiety. Not just bc of your existing history but bc you know that it ‘can’ happen to you

Some people say the opposite—that getting a scary dx cures them. People respond differently to different things.

This is me. Stage three triple negative breast cancer sure my medical anxiety. I realized the worst happened, and I got through it, so now not much worries me. Talk about finding a bright side in a crap situation!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m generally not anxious- I manage a high stress job and household just fine. But I have terrible medical anxiety. Chest pain means I think I’m having a heart attack (and I’ve been to the cardiologist and my heart is fine). Back pain and heartburn- is it pancreatic cancer? Kid scraped their knee at the gym and I make her put soap and water on it immediately so she doesn’t get sepsis.
I don’t want to medicate myself when I’m fine in the rest of my life. But…am I alone in this or is this kind of thing common?

This is me right now! constant googling and focusing on worst possible situation. However I have past history of cancer so I think I am doomed ..

I was just thinking about this as someone who has a history also. Once you have cancer you will never again not have medical anxiety. Not just bc of your existing history but bc you know that it ‘can’ happen to you

Some people say the opposite—that getting a scary dx cures them. People respond differently to different things.

This is me. Stage three triple negative breast cancer sure my medical anxiety. I realized the worst happened, and I got through it, so now not much worries me. Talk about finding a bright side in a crap situation!

^cured my

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People talk a lot about health anxiety on here and I don't think people realize you don't have to live this way. Health anxiety is OCD. SSRIs can be incredibly effective, along with therapy with a practitioner who specializes in health anxiety. Most regular therapists do not.

At least for me, I don't want to take a daily medicine for something that is only a problem in one area of my life. I stress out a lot about a possible medical issue until it's resolved, at which point I'm fine. A year later it starts up again with something else. Since it's not a daily issue, don't want to be medicated.

I think hesitation to take SSRIs is a good thing. People refer to them as if they are just a Tylenol or something. They aren't -- there are a lot of side effects, and they really aren't that effective for many people.

.

I’ve been on and off SSRIs. Sure there are side effects, but if they are deal breakers, you can just stop taking the medication, and they go away.

For me, the scary stigma of these meds is now gone. It’s really not that different from taking Tylenol. You can take it—see if it works. Stop. Try something else. Not such a big deal.

We are so hard on ourselves, and so judgmental of others. Nobody would bat an eye if you tried Prozac for a dog to ease his situational thunderstorm anxiety. But if it’s us, we must try everything first and suffer for many years and then if we take meds we are weak and harming ourselves with dangerous pharmaceuticals.

[Anonymous]

I have this too. It is a form of OCD. I am switching from my old SSRI to Prozac which is indicated for it - maybe that will help you? It stinks. I know!