Severe Healthy Anxiety

Hello!

Im Rebecca and im 23 and for as long as I can remember I have been a hypochnodriac. It started after I first discovered what cancer was after a class mate in primary school had a brain tumour. However, in the past 2 years this has become so sever it completely consumes my life! I’m aware this is a cancer forum but the reason I’m posting this here is because the word cancer takes over my whole life and mental state on a daily basis. 

For around 3 years now I have not felt right within myself. I’ve had god knows how many on and off symptoms I’ve lost track.   I’m constantly under the impression I have cancer and it takes over my whole life. 

New symptoms seem to appear all of the time and whenever I wake up in the morning I dread that I’m going to feel sick, not feel right, have pains or aches or something in ny body will have changed! And pretty much everyday this happens. Whenever I notice a physical change that’s when I start to panic and google and research things. This comes in spells where I’ll feel under the weather for a while then start to feel okay and my mind will rest, then all of sudden it’s back.

in recent weeks I haven’t been feeling well. A couple of lymph nodes keep flaring up (the ones beneath my ears) and I keep feeling sick and dizzy at various times throughout the day and have a general feeling of been unwell. This is made incredibly worse by overthinking and been paranoid about what it could be. It feels as though I have some kind of recurrent infection that comes frequently as these symptoms have persisted on and off for over a year.

ive had a full blood count which raised no concern and which did in fact put my mind at ease for a while, but it doesn’t last as symptoms return.

i suffer with GERD which I was told was caused by my chronic anxiety so take lanzapeozple tablets daily. I also have a frequent bout of infections in my right ear which I use a spray for as and when and I think this has returned. 

For some reason I feel as though my body is against me and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m now worrying that My symptoms are pointing to leukaemia and it’s droving me crazy. 

 

Could any one offer some words words of reassurance? 

 

  • Hi Rebecca, 

    Seeking out answers and reassurance online can actually do more harm than good because as you've found out, it can only give temporary relief from your worries. Due to the impact this is having on your life at the moment it may be worth going back to your doctor to discuss this and see how they can help you manage it. There is a lot of useful information and advice on the Anxiety UK website that may prove useful at this time as well.

    It can be worrying if you feel that your problems are not being diagnosed properly but unfortunately, we cannot help you get a diagnosis. Only a doctor can diagnose you. If you are unhappy with the way you are being looked after by your current doctor you may want to consider getting a second opinion

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator