Health anxiety

Hello, my names Keenan and I'm 20 years old.

ive suffered with health anxiety for over a year now, it started when I use to drink energy drinks daily and it caused me to have heart palpitations which convinced me I had heart problems and then I went on my first holiday which  I was worried about because I'd never done it before and it was with friends, i had panick attacks Nearly everyday I was there to the point I nearly went to the hospital in Cyprus. Now I obsess over every little pain my body has, any aches, headaches and just any feeling I get in my body I am convinced I'm ill. Last year I saw my dad Quit his job, lose his house, his friends and become a heroin addict which sadly he's still doing so thought this could maybe be a cause. I found a lump on my testicle over 6 year ago and just left it but since I've suffered with anxiety out of the blue I had problems with it (which it turned out to be a cyst) so after I got the good scan results back I was good for a few days before I found something else to obsess about. I have recently just spent 2 week in Tenerife and was convinced I had skin cancer even tho I've used sunbeds for years and never had problems, then all of a sudden I became unwell with a migraine which I was questioning whether it was the heat or an underlying problem. After that passed for the rest of the holiday I was convinced I was poorly and I've been having pain where my appendix is, I've been so convinced I have appendicitis I'm still getting pain a week later, no nausea and no fever literally just a pain on my right abdomen that I've had for over a week and it comes and goes. I don't know if it's just me convincing myself that I've got it or there is something, my health anxiety is ruining everything I do because I'm always worried I'm ill. I've been so sure for a year that I've had problems to the point I've convinced myself I had an underlying condition such as cancer, or kidney problems even to the point I have a cut I'm worried about it getting infected and causing problems. When I speak about what it's doing I read it and think 'I'm just being stupid' but in the moment when I'm panicking and having anxiety attacks I'm convinced I'm ill, I really can't change the way I'm thinking the only person that makes me feel better when I speak to them is my uncle because he's been through the same to the point he didn't want to be here anymore, he is now better but when I speak to him my symptoms of everything just disappear untill I find something else. I'm wondering if anyone could suggest any councelling or any hypnotherapy or anything that could help. 

  • Welcome to the forum Keenan although I'm sorry for the reason you've joined us.

    I'm not sure from your post whether you have spoken to your doctor about your health anxiety but if you haven't, do be sure to sit down with them and let them know how much this is impacting on your life as they will be able to help you. Anxiety UK is full of helpful information, advice and support for anxiety sufferers so do be sure to have a look on there when you can as well.

    In regards to your dad, I hope this advice the NHS has for family members of drug users will be useful but you can also get in touch with FRANK on 0300 1236600 or addictionhelper on 0800 044 8268 if you want to talk to someone about what you have/are going through.

    I really do hope these resources are helpful Keenan and you're able to get the help and support you're seeking at this time.

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator