Health Anxiety -- Control Issues

[x1angelx]

Hello there everyone,

I am new to this section and its 2am and once again I can't sleep due to my anxiety. A little over a year ago I moved to the big apple and after a few months, I developed panic attacks after I thought my throat was closng up from an allergic reaction which was really a panic attack/blood sugar issue. It was never really confirmed. Ever since then I have terrible anxiety over health issues, but my fears change every few months.

I've gone from throat closing up, to feeling like my heart stops beating, to brain tumors, heart attacks, etc. Some thoughts get so ridiculous which I know I am being ridiculous, but I just can't stop it. I conquer one fear but move onto another. I recently moved from NYC to another big city where I was doing great for weeks. No panic, no anxiety, and I didn't even think about much until one night. Then my panic attacks came back in full force. My new thing is blood clots. A friend of a friend died from a blood clot (she was in a car accident and she was fine, but they didn't catch this blood clot after her leg was broken, in surgery, etc). She was 23 yr olds and I have adopted that anxiety even though I haven't had any injuries or surgeries, but I am on birth control. I didn't even know this girl, but I adopt her and other people's horror stories just from hearing about them. I also started to get scared to go outside when there were bees (allergic?), ride in elevators, fly, ride/drive in car, but I've dealt with a lot of that on my own. All my fear surrounds a lot of what I can't control. I can't control my health issues and what goes on inside my body so gaining control over my own imagination is really hard and I can't ever seem to make myself feel better. I'm constantly waiting for something bad to happen and my mind races.

All my fears are obscure and rare health issues for someone my age and in my good health, but I just keep thinking I could be in that rare group. I've gone to the doctor's to get different tests to make sure things are okay and so far they are. However, if feel so bad so often that it makes me think there actually HAS to be something wrong and it's not just my anxiety. I can't find anyone else who feels like this. Anyone? Anyone? I try and talk to my friends, but they just think I'm crazy and need to get over it. I called an anxiety clinic but can't get in for a few weeks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[kaialian]

Hi there!

I also have some issues with health worries, though they tend to only come when I am actually sick (When I have a cold I think it's menengitis)

Right now I am trying a new technique. It involves thinking "What is the worst thing that can happen?" In some cases the answer is I'll die. Then I tell myself that if I am going to die, I want to be doing something I like, not sitting here and worrying. Sometimes it helps, but I have just started this.

I'd also like to recommend a book to you:
It's Not All in Your Head: How Worrying about Your Health Could Be Making You Sick--and What You Can Do about It

By: Gordon J. G. Asmundson and Steven Taylor

Take care!

[Leemarie]

Hey there I am new to this too and I know exactly how you are feeling and coming to this forum and reading stories from so many different people IN MY HEART let me know yes its just anxiety but then IN MY MIND its telling me know they have anxiety but you dont and you are in that rare group YOU need to go and get yourself checked out for a brain tumor so I know exactly how you feel im about to get a ct scan and some bloods done and if they all come back clear which they probably will then I will accept I have anxiety I think what would help a lot of people and put thier minds to rest would be to get all scans and all bloods done and if they all come back clear and the doctor says you have anxiety to let it go and let that be your answer so im gonna have to do that cause then that can help me move on from the worry and as for the blood clot thing trust me you dont have it I was diagnosed with 2 blood clots IN MY BRAIN when I was only 10 and I should not have recovered I was told I should have died but I completely healed without any medical assistants basically so I know the symptoms and trust me if you had it you would not be typing right now thats for sure you wouldnt even be able to see everything would be double and much much more so please forget that one off your list I hope this helps