Constant worry

Hello,

Never been on something like this before but I want to use it as a way to get out what I'm feeling as it's a constant struggle. I was diagnosed with health anxiety at the start of covid, it's kind of always been there but when covid hit it took over my life, to the point where I'd cry, wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep and it's still the same now at times when I'm alone, like now. Before I go to bed, that's when it's the worst.

I have had 2 moles looked at twice at the doctors on my scalp where they have told me that they are benign, so I leave the doctors any happier ? At first I do. Then in the evening I think, what if they are lying? What if they've missed something? You hear it all the time about how people get pushed aside etc by the doctors and that is my constant thought, that I'm one of those people.

 

ivr lost a lot of people to cancer and I guess that's where my fears have started due to me being such a young age when i lost my grandad, a very important man in my life. 

  • Hi hannah 

    I totally understand you.

    Health anxiety is debilitating.. I suffer from it too. 

    It's off the scale. 

    I know you shouldn't worry till you know etc etc etc. But it doesn't help. Your mind is constantly whirring,  thinking, imagining. 

    Everytime the phone rings with Private number  or Unknown number,  I get hot, I shake, my stomach has millions of butterflies.  Its horrendous. 

    I have to take propranolol now, it helps somewhat  

    I've had counselling. 

    I just don't see this ever going. I could cry now about how it affects me.

    Sorry for going on,  I just wanted to say your not on your own in this x

     

  • It means alot to hear i am not the only one having these thoughts.

    I really hope you're ok. 
    I do try and distract myself and the new thing I am taking up in the new year is netball again, it's on a Tuesday 7-9 and I figured that's one day of the week I'm not sat in, in the evenings worrying. If I can fill my time, I'm hoping it'll help x

  • Yes I'm looking at yoga. Really basic yoga.

    I need to push myself out there more.

    And by you saying about netball, its made me think.i have to do this.

    So I'm hoping by meeting people it will help me.

    I don't have friends as such where I am now. 

    I'm ok thankyou for asking.

    Take care of yourself x

  • I'm so sorry you are going through this. Health anxiety is frightening and you are always on high alert with your own body waiting for something to break.

    I had health anxiety for years after loss when I was a child and I think it stemmed from that. What eventually helped was going on sertraline, counselling and CBT. Journal your fears as just putting pen to paper helps. One key thing I was told in CBT was that your brain builds up evidence throughout life to justify your health fears, so if you've lost someone your brain uses that as evidence to confirm your worst fears about your own health. There's a lot more to it but worth looking in to. 


     

     

  • Hello and thank you for posting.

    I'm sorry you are going through the stress of health anxiety. I wonder if you have been to the GP and discussed this with them. 

    It might help to look at what the NHS website says about health anxiety and how to treat and cope with it. 

    And here is advice from the mental health charity MIND.

    Losing someone we love can have a long lasting affect. I've posted here information on coping with grief in case useful.

    I see you have also had some good support from other forum users too which is great, but do remember as this is a cancer forum being on here will help to keep cancer at the front of your mind rather than focusing on helping your anxiety.

    Take care Hannah, and I hope you get the support you need soon.

    Sarah