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

I think there’s a difference between concerns occurring to you and making you feel a temporary wave of anxiety (normal) versus perseverating on these concerns to the point that they’re interfering with your ability to function normally. If the anxiety is fleeting, that’s normal. If it’s impacting your quality of life, you should treat it.

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.

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.

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...

Anonymous wrote:It’s affecting your child. Please get help.

I grew up with a parent like this and I am still trying to learn to regulate my nervous system.

It’s affecting your child. Please get help.

Why don’t you want to medicate? If it’s affecting your life you deserve to feel better. I had horrible health anxiety and Zoloft is a godsend. You don’t have to live like this. SSRIs are safe and effective.

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 think of stress and anxiety as two different things. I handle stressful situations quite well and have very good coping skills. I also have anxiety which, despite my coping skills, still gets the best of me sometimes. Mostly related to health/medical stuff, like you. That said, the two often go hand in hand because when I’m under a lot of stress, it sometimes manifests in increased anxiety. Staying off the internet, as simple as it sounds, works wonders. CBT works well too. I’d consider a therapist for that or a book or app.

Def think it’s something to get a handle on, because as you get older you’re subjected to a lot more health uncertainty.

Try CBT, but also don’t hesitate to try meds if you need them.

Get a trusted doctor to be your healthcare beacon, and stay off the internet. It is not your friend.

Try medication, it doesn’t matter that you’re functioning well in other areas, your health anxiety is not normal and does not have to be that way. Or at least try therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy.

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.

Me too. I don't want to medicate either but it's hard living with such extreme fear in these situations.

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?