Health Anxiety and OCD is breaking me!

hi im a male in my 20s and have had health anxiety for a number of years to which it controls my life. I am generally house bound now due to the panic attacks and stuff I have daily in fear of catching or already having coronavirus! Every day is a nightmare for me and just wondered if theres anyone else in my situation.

  • Hi

    How agonising it is for you.

    Plesae do not worry about corona, the world would come to a halt if doctors stopped treating other illness due to it.

    If it helps, I am also anxious, but attended a biopsy with half a dozen medical staff in the room, and i am not in the slightest bit worried about corona.

    There is a lot of panic merchants on mainstream news, try to keep from watching anxiety provoking material.

    It's haertbreaking to see a male in his 20s house bound, you have the rest of your life in front of you, and believe me, at 53, I remember my 20's like it was 5 mins ago, time goes so quick.

    There is a lot of good anxiety treatment around, I found some really helpful CBT courses which were free, and some of the techniques really helped.

    Corona does not make me anxious even though I was in hospital yesterday but many other things do, and anxiety makes me housebound, depressing on sunny days for a 50 odd year old, so I can imagine how bad it must be for you.

  • thanks for your reply! I have a fear of all illness in general I feel the symptoms sometimes real sometimes not to the point I have no idea anymore. Mentally broken. Even this moment im convinced I have corona which is about to turn to pneumonia and im going to die.. struggle is alot for me 

  • It's amazing how anxiety can magnify our fears of illness, especially with this mass panic going around.

    It balances me to see that most people are ok.

    Can you phone your GP and tell them exactly what you told us, you should be able to be referred to primary care for anxiety treatment. Also, there is a lot of help for anxiety online in the meantime while you are waiting for an appointment. I would not use prescription drugs, there is plenty of non drug treatment for anxiety. They still do the free courses in our area I think, CBT is cheap, so used a lot by NHS.

    One of the techniques helps me when I wake up gasping for air.

  • Thanks but I have hypochondria, somatic symptom disorder and ocd also. Its not that easy

  • Hello La_Quica_x

    I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with health anxiety related issues. Many of our members here are also finding things particularly hard at the momen due to the Covid-19 situation. 

    Unfortunately, health anxiety and OCD is not something that we can help you with on Cancer Chat.
    You might find it helpful to visit Anxiety UK or if you'd like to talk to someone then the Samaritans are available 24/7. You can find more information o ntheir website here

    I hope you are able to get the help you are looking for elsewhere. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator

  • Exactly how I feel. Isolated at home terrified. Worried about going out. Worried I'm wrecking my health and mental health by staying in. I hope things become more manageable for you. You aren't alone in your feelings.

  • Hello my friend i am also a sufferer of pure ocd and health anxiety. 

    I was diagnosed at 22 I am now 41 years old and still every now and then I suffer with those horrific thoughts. 

    I too was all consumed I would sit on my bed at night and cry myself to sleep convinced I had a terrible condition ...mainly it was HIV and cancer.I couldn't work i couldn't mix or socialise as all I thought is I was gravely ill. This would cause panic attacks...hand rubbing...skin picking...walking in circles ...back and forth! I have nothing but understanding for you.

    The doctors gave me evidence to say I was clear of any illness ...I branded them liars ...I lost my job I became reclusive and I lost most of my friends. 

    NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT I MEAN... I used to repeat those words 500 times a day ! 

    A doctor told me I may have ptsd for which i would not know why,  however this could have triggered pure ocd... he prescribed me sertraline..these did nothing for 3 to 4 weeks then one morning ...it wasn't so bad ...then a little less bad again and now I function normally ..ish...and sure I have a lil wobble every now and then but help is out there ....6 MILLION PEOPLE worldwide suffer our condition so you are so very far from alone in your fight !! Hope this helps ...good luck 

  • Please try to get some help for your anxiety. It can be overcome and you do not need to live like this. 

    I speak as a cancer survivor and a health anxiety survivor. Mindfulness and CBT have helped me grestly

  • Hi, I suffer ocd badly I have done for 10 years it use to be about me or my kids catching hiv now it's about cancer since I started working as a home care worker. I think I'm going to have to leave my job as ocd is taking over my life yet again! How are you doing?