Thread Topic: health anxiety
|
lauz23
Joined: Aug 16, '09
Status: New User |
2009-08-16 09:56:54 |
| i'm 22 and i'm suffering from health anxiety. it all started when i had a termination last november. Then i had bleeding between my periods about the time when all the info about jade goody came out. i immediately thought i had cervical cancer and started having panic attacks, This in turn led to me feeling like i constantly needed to empty my bowels so thought i had bowel cancer. meanwhile my periods returned to normal. for a while around my wedding my anxiety faded as i had something to focus on. now about 6 weeks ago it came back in the form of needing to urinate all the time.even though i am not conciously panicking (however am constantly thinking about weeing!) i now think i have ovarian cancer because it comes and goesand i read somewhere that you have to watch if the symptoms come back more than 12 times in a month. I know how stupid it sounds but can not get it out of my head i'm waiting to see a coucillor but is taking ages and is affecting my relationship with my husband and little boy! as i can't seem to enjoy things with them and that also gets me down! just wondering if any one else has this problem? | |
|
Unanswered Thread: Nothing wrong with paranoia. posted by IntroduckToni 2 days ago |
|
|
BalancedSnake
Joined: Aug 16, '09
Status: New User |
2009-08-16 12:54:39 |
|
have u seen a dokter? one that examed ur suspions of cancer? u could be depressed. depressions make u lose intrest in things but also make u lose happyness in ur activities. a dokter will help u, just stay calm till u see on. |
|
|
2rlyblssd
Joined: Jun 8, '09
Status: Junior User |
2009-08-18 07:13:07 |
|
As for your urine frequency fluctuations, I would be inclined to think that it has a lot to do with your anxiety level. When I get nervous, I have to vacate more often. The same goes for bowels or abdominal cramping. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) symptoms are exceptionally common amongst anxiety sufferers. Which, by the way, I applaud you for making that connection between your fear of illness and anxiety in your life. I recently suffered from transient hypochondria, which is hypochondria lasting less than a year, and is usually triggered by an event in your life. I'm proud to say that I am over it - I am still aware of things my body does, but I am no longer frightened by it. I can actually FEEL the difference in my psyche -- I no longer overreact. It's truly amazing when you get there. I now have no fear of going to doctors, and I have no desire to see them any more than necessary (the flip side of hypochondria). Whenever your urine frequency or bowel habits change, take a good look at yourself and even your diet. Sometimes when we get nervous, we breathe more heavily. That leads to feeling parched, or thirsty. You drink more water or other fluids to satisfy it. Before you know it, you're hitting the bathroom more often and are only THEN noticing, and wondering what may be wrong. Just a theory -- I don't know how aware you are of your own habits. |
|
|
lauz23
Joined: Aug 16, '09
Status: New User |
2009-08-26 07:24:44 |
| Thank you so much for your comment. i think i am slowly starting to get there. i'm still obsessed about my weeing but i don't drink that much, also a friend told me that urination is also a way of ridding excess salt from your body. Which recently i have been eating more salt, also am wondering if caffeine is the trigger. other things which may be causing it is that i'm well over weight and work 40 hours a week of which about 36 of those i am standing.so also could just be may weight is too much for my bladder. i am actively trying to stop myself thinking about it and it is very hard. but hopefully with some help i'll get there. by the way how did you over come your anxiety? | |
|
2rlyblssd
Joined: Jun 8, '09
Status: Junior User |
2009-08-26 11:05:52 |
|
Much of my recovery is due to changing my thoughts and outlook . There's a saying, "Life is 10% what happens to you; 90% how you react to it". Truer words were never spoken! The catalyst, though, was when I read this book about hypochondria. The title is Phantom Illness: Shattering the Myth of Hypochondria, by Carla Cantor (who suffered herself with the disorder) with Bryan A. Fallon, M.D. I would recommend giving it a try. It covers all aspects of it and gives you a better understanding of what may be making you tick. Another book is "Stop Being Your Symptoms and Start Being Yourself". I do not know the author's name, and I have not read it, but it sounds like a good choice to me. I wish you nothing but the best of luck! The best is yet to come... |
|
|
Unanswered Thread: My results posted by lucky13 3 days ago |
|
|
Need to see a psychologist? Find reviews on the best doctors in your area at Angie's List
(Get access to thousands of reviews for a small charge) |
|
