- What is it?
- What are the symptoms?
- DIY self diagnosis
- How we can help
- Want to know more?
- Personal experiences
What is it?
Health anxiety is an anxiety disorder that is often housed within the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) spectrum of disorders. Those affected by health anxiety have an obsessional preoccupation with the idea or the thought that they are currently (or will be) experiencing a physical illness. The most common health anxieties tend to centre on conditions such as cancer, HIV, AIDs, etc. However, the person experiencing health anxiety or illness phobia may fixate on any type of illness. This condition is known as health anxiety, illness phobia/illness anxiety or hypochondriasis.
Those who are affected by health anxiety/illness phobia are convinced that harmless physical symptoms are indicators of serious disease or severe medical conditions. For example, if a person experiencing health anxiety or illness phobia feels that their chest is getting tight, they may believe that they are having a heart attack. Those with health anxiety frequently misinterpret physical symptoms of anxiety as a sign of an impending physical health problem.
What are the symptoms?
One of the main symptoms of health anxiety is that the individual may scan their body for signs that they are developing a physical illness. For example, a person experiencing health anxiety may interpret their headache as a brain tumour. Some people affected by this disorder may also link non physical problems to having a serious illness. An example of this is may be someone who forgets where they have put their phone or their house keys believing that this means that they have Alzheimer’s disease.
Some individuals who experience this type of anxiety disorder are so convinced that they have a certain physical illness, that all of their focus will be placed on obtaining a diagnosis. They will go to as many doctors as they can and if they do not receive confirmation of a diagnosis, they may continue to seek second, third and fourth opinions from other doctors. In such instances, many different tests (such as MRI, echocardiograms and in some cases even exploratory surgery) are requested by the person experiencing the health anxiety or illness phobia. Unfortunately, these tests are often not enough to convince them that they are not physically ill and can therefore be taken time and time again. Often, a lack of diagnosis is attributed to poor medical care or an under qualified doctor. It is important to remember that repeated visits and consultations with health care professionals are due to the fact the sufferer fully believes that they are experiencing a physical illness, rather than due to attention seeking behaviours. The medical profession often refer to the symptoms experienced by sufferers of health anxiety as “medically unexplained symptoms”.
Many people experiencing health anxiety or illness phobia will spend a large amount of their time carrying out excessive checking behaviours where they will look for marks, lumps, sores and rashes on their body which may indicate the onset of a physical illness. These checking behaviours also include asking friends and family members to assist them in checking. The anxiety experienced around the possibility that they may find something to indicate illness or around the idea that they may catch a particular illness can lead to high levels of anxiety. This in turn can increase physical symptoms of anxiety (such as an increased heart rate, chest pain or tightness in the chest, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, dry mouth or sweating). Upon noticing this increase in physical symptoms, the sufferer’s idea that they are experiencing a physical illness is reinforced.
Media campaigns on specific physical illnesses can also cause problems for people experiencing health and illness anxiety. Often, watching programmes relating to physical illness or reading about specific conditions may lead those affected to feel that they have experienced symptoms of that specific condition.
An individual can exhibit symptoms of health anxiety or illness phobia for long periods of time or may be symptom free for equal amounts of time. Conversely, people affected by health and illness anxiety may refuse to go to the doctor or any other medical practitioners for fear that they will get the worst possible news (i.e. that their suspicion of having a physical medical disorder will be confirmed). Therefore, instead of becoming overly focused on the feared illness, they will avoid any reminders relating to symptoms of the illness and will stay away from people who may be ill. Additionally, they may try to avoid any places where there are likely to be people who are ill (such as hospitals and doctors surgeries). They may fear that any contact with people experiencing physical illness will cause them to catch that illness (regardless of whether or not the illness that they are focusing on is contagious).
Some individuals who are affected by health anxiety may not tell anyone about their fears as they are convinced that they will not be taken seriously.
Health anxiety and illness phobia is found to occur equally in both men and women and can develop at any age.
Although the causes of health and illness anxiety are not always easily identified, there are certain factors which may trigger the disorder:
- Having a serious illness as a child.
- Having a close family member or friend with a serious illness.
- The death of a close relative/friend.
- Being affected by an anxiety disorder.
- Having a belief that being “healthy” means that you do not experience any physical symptoms or sensations.
- Having close family members who themselves have health anxiety.
Health Anxiety fact sheet
To find out more information about health anxiety, click here to download a copy of our fact sheet.
DIY self diagnosis
If you can answer YES to most of the questions it is likely that you are affected by health anxiety.
During the past 6 months:
- Have you experienced a preoccupation with having a serious illness due to bodily symptoms that has been ongoing for at least six months?
- Have you felt distressed due to this preoccupation?
- Have you found that this preoccupation impacts negatively on all areas of life including, family life, social life and work?
- Have you felt that you have needed to carry out constant self examination and self diagnosis?
- Have you experienced disbelief over a diagnosis from a doctor or felt that you are unconvinced by your doctor’s reassurances that you are fine?
- Do you constantly need reassurance from doctors, family and friends that you are fine, even if you don’t really believe what you are being told?
Anxiety UK strongly advises that people seek further information and guidance from their GP who will be able to make a formal diagnosis.
How we can help
Anxiety UK is a user-led charity with more than forty years experience in supporting those living with anxiety. By becoming a member of Anxiety UK, you will have access to a range of benefits, including:
- Access to reduced cost therapy within two weeks of submitting your therapy request
- Access to our helpline (available Monday-Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm) staffed by volunteers with personal experience of anxiety
- Receipt of four issues of Anxious Times, our quarterly members” magazine
- Access to the members only section of our website, featuring regular support surgeries facilitated by anxiety experts
- Access to specialist helplines, including the psychiatric pharmacy helpline and the psychology information helpline
And many, many other benefits that will help you manage your anxiety long term. To become a member of Anxiety UK click here or ring 08444 775 774 today.
Want to know more?
The Anxiety UK site has information on a range of resources to provide more detailed information and help.
Recommended reading
“Overcoming Health Anxiety” is an excellent self help resource based on cognitive behavioural therapy. It provides information on a range of techniques to look at the thoughts and behaviours that keep health anxiety going. You can purchase this book from the Anxiety UK shop by clicking here.
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Personal experience
Do you suffer from health anxiety and want to share your experience with other people? Post your personal experience in the comments box below where it will be sent to our moderator for approval. Many people find this part of the site very useful when trying to understand their disorder so your comments really do make a difference. Please note, all comments submitted to the Anxiety UK website may be used by Anxiety UK for (but not limited to) publicity and promotional material.
If you would like to make contact with others who are living with similar experiences, you can do so via the Anxiety UK pen pals scheme which is a service available to all Anxiety UK members (in both electronic and hard copy format).
I have had panic attacks all my life.
It is five o’clock in the morning. I am so glad I found this site. I have had panic attacks all my life.I have all the symptoms of anxiety, but I believe I have some sort of cancer or incurable disease. I am a hypochondriac. The problem is I also have a phobia of doctors. I continue living with a morbid fear of a disease, but even more fear of going to the doctor. I am taking medication, because for some reason I am not afraid of counseling. People don’t understand. They think I would be running to doctor’s tests. I am so jealous of those people who are able to take all those tests to rule anything serious out. On the weekends I just dwell on my stomach problems and am sure I have colon or stomach cancer. I am so depressed because I want to go to the doctor, but I am terrified to go.I wish I could know the answer or find a magic pill. I am 58 and dealt with this panic and fear all my life.
Eva
sending...
Hypochondria after death of my Mum.
My beautiful Mum died of cancer in August 2008. Since her diagnosis in December 2007, I have become obsessed with cancer. I have a different cancer practically every day – it consumes me. I totally believe I have the disease. I often look at my two amazing sons and think they have it too. I have gone to the GPs lots of times looking for reassurance for myself and my children. I rope my poor husband into the self checking, prodding and poking – and I live on the internet diagnosing myself with every type of malignancy out there. It is destroying this wonderful life. I have asked for counselling in the hope that I can start to ignore this beast and live my life. Good luck to everyone. x
Cathryn
I lost my dad to cancer in 2010 – i was on my way in the plane when he died and i never got to say goodbye. i watched him suffer in his last few months of life and i cared for him. Unfortunately he hated me. he left me out of his will. I had to contest so the NHS would not treat me. i have been struggling with health anxiety since his death. i wish i had never seen his body. I have convinced myself he is going to give me cancer because i stole his money. yesterday i got paid my share of the inheritance and i totally lost it, convinced i have throat cancer. i know i need help i just dont know what to do.
Hi Anonymous,
It sounds like you have had some difficult issues to deal with recently. We would advise that you go to see your doctor about your health anxiety and perhaps see a therapist. There is more information about health anxiety here http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/about-anxiety/anxiety-disorders/health-anxiety/ There are also a number of products in our shop which may help you through your health anxiety here http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/products/health-anxiety/ It’s important that you try not to look up symptoms online or seek reassurance from others as this will only increase your anxiety and will continue the cycle. If you feel that you need someone to talk to for further advice or support, please call our helpline on 08444 775 774.
All the best,
Chris, Anxiety UK volunteer.
I have always been an “anxious” type
worrying about my health and fearing a serious illness which would result in death. Silly really when you consider I am now 63 – I have wasted so many years in fear. What is so sad is that I am now worrying even more, my current obsession is that I have “heart problem” and am about to die. No matter how much I reason with myself the fear always wins. My GP is a good doctor and I feel guilty each time I visit him. He has accurately diagnosed previous medical problems and resolved them but at the moment I leave his surgery feeling that “something serious” has been missed He says he would refer me for CBT if it was available on the NHS in my area – but it”s not . I just wish I could put things into perspective and not panic every time I get a small chest pain. I get so annoyed with myself not being able to control my negative thoughts. I tell myself that I don”t have heart failure and I am not about the have a heart attack and for a few moments I convince myself and feel euphoric with relief. Then I get a twinge and I\m back to where I started. Knowing there are a lot of people out there just like me doesn”t help when it”s the early hours of the morning and I feel so alone with my fear. If I get a chest pain I run up and downstairs thinking it will bring on a heart attack and then I”ll know I was right – it hasn”t happened yet though. My husband is going away for two days on a golfing trip tomorrow and I”m terrified of being on my own in case “something awful” happens to me. If only someone could discover how to get commonsense to prevail people like me wouldn”t be like me any more.
Ann
hi i am experiencing this exact same thing.. i hve been like this for about 2 years now… i am 20 and have been back and to to my docstors nearly everyday for 2 years. its getting ridiculous. some days i wil go to my docs and then a&e and then to the out of hours doctors. my doc just keeps saying to me that its health anxiety which i cannot believe for 1 minute. i always get really bad headcahes and feel really dizzy. its wrecking my life. i have a 3 yr old daughter a gorgeous fiance and a baby on the way. i always think i am goin g to die and now i have got it in my head that when i give birth i am going to die. its really bad and like you i dont want to be wasting years of my life thinking i am goin to die if thats not actually whats going to happen. because hten it wil be just a waste all these years worrying for nothing and getting myself all worked up about it for nothing but its hard to think like that.. i am constanatly thinking i have an illness which is going ot kill me.. and no matter what i go to my doctors with they just say its anxiety
hi christine,
iv just stumbled across this website..oh my im so glad its not just me!
i no how you feel completely…im 37 and had anxiety for a long while but about 2-3 years ago i started getting the doom that comes with health anxiety…im constantly feeling as though im dieing,its so bad that the other day i just wanted to drop in to the hospital and tell them to sedate me for a while just so i dont have to think about it anymore:(
im currently seeing someone about this anxiety but in the back of my head im always thinking about dieing even when we are having our chats its awful…
i no its easier said than done but chin up huni you are more than welcome to chat if you need to xx
ive came across this website and am astounded at the ppl who have the same illnesses as me my have had anxiety for about 10 yrs now always checking me body for things always going to doctors but still no cure my family say its all in my head and only me can sort that out every chest pain think im taking heart attack every headache think ive a tumor etc etc etc will it ever end
CBT is the way to go. I start next week.
Hi guys,
im the same huni,iv often thought of walking into my local hospital and asking them to put me to sleep for a while!!its awfull isnt it?iv got that bad that when my cat comes for a cuddle im thinking that she knows im ill…and also a friends nan passed away a while back and i convinced myself that she was going to visit me and tell me that im right!! iv been taking meds for a while and has counciling but i couldnt stand talking about it so didnt go back after about 4 sessions :0( im so glad that its not just me…but i do wish that something could just stop it..i feel for you all
love donna xx
OMG you sound so like me although I have had it since I was 22 and am now 33!!! No one can ever begin to understand what it feels like.
Good luck
x
have had bad anxiety for about 11 yrs myself been 2 docs 99 times told me 99 times im not gonna die thought i had ms cancer heart attacks rare nervous system and everything that goes with bad illnesses my mind still gets carried away but i have 2 deal with it just outta shower checking my body for lumps again lol nothing there will it ever end dont think so not when its in your mind u think ur gonna die young but i laugh when i read some of theses coz i had all them symptons i know its no laugh keep head up keep smiling and enjoy life
i am so glad i have found this site!!! i have a gorgeous finance, plans for a wedding and children next year and a gorgeous step son and it has to be said everything is more perfect than it ever has been for me! However, all i ever hear at work in magazines and on every television program i watch is about cancer and i cant stand it – i have become fixated that i have cancer or am just waiting to be told i have it! its ruining my life so much so i can be watching tv and see an advert about cancer and just burst into tears! i hate it! and hate myself for it too! what shall i do can i get over it myself it has been happening for about a year now – I’m 22 and my worries are not based on anything particular i have no family history of cancer or anything else!!!
I was amazed when I read this because I could have written it about myself. I am the same age and have worried every day all my life since I was late teens about having a fatal disease. Tonight I am panicking because something will cause collapse as my family are going away for a few days and I will be on my own. I have realised that my problem is down to over anxious parents who taught me from early childhood that I must look after myself because they couldn’t cope if anything happened to me. Since my older sister had died as a baby I understand their fears and I know they did not intend to make me so anxious. However no therapy has healed me but I have found mindfulness meditation has started to take the edge off the anxiety. I hope that this will continue to help because I feel that everyone, doctors, health professionals, friends and family are as sick of my anxieties as I am. I recommend mindfulness meditation to anyone who feels like me
Hi
Sorry to sorry your story. I want you to know that there is help and support for like yourself as long as you are looking for it. Health anxiety is very common and is thres result of irrational thoughts/beliefs/fears we have in our minds. These thoughts trigger our bodies to react and change our behaviours. Thinking you’re going to die soon uses the same thinking process as thinking you’re going to live forever. Managing your anxiety is all about distracting yourself from all these negative and irrational thinking, and to stay more positive and have faith in yourself. I would recommend the “Overcoming Health Anxiety by David Veale and Robert Willson” to you. Understanding for yourself how anxiety works and why it becomes a problem will help you a great deal, and these books provide excellent explanations and self help techniques.
Andy
Hi, I am so so happy I found this page. Omg!! I am 31 years old I have 2 kids and a fiance. This Friday was my first experience of anxiety. I was cooling with my fiance smoking and drinking, laughing and talking and out of nowhere my chest tightened up, I was short of breath, I was feeling faintish, there was a pull like muscle behind my my neck and head, my head and eyes were very heavy, I was seeing black floaters in my eyes and I was experiencing hot and cold flashes, my heart was racing extremely fast like I was going to have an heart attack. Omg immediately I thought I was about to die. Weeks before this I noticed I couldn’t sleep and always worrying about someone breaking in. My kids ride bikes to school and I’m paranoid because its so much going on and I’m constantly worrying about them being safe so I call the school to make sure they checked in after watching them get there, I’m in school and Ill be the first to be a successful college graduate in my moms family but with so much going on I focus hard in school and sometimes its tiresome and overwhelming. I lost my mom August 27, 2010 and that took a whole lot from me. She was also very ill and I took care of her. This is my first real relationship since 2007 and I have to put a lot into it because he isn’t use to such an honest, faithful, loyal woman and this is taking a lot of emotion. I watched very close family die from hiv, and some living with it, and that’s my worst fear right now. Though my partner has been tested over and over again and he is negative I am still living in a worrying state. I have had plenty plenty plenty of test done at the hospital and all came backed negative, I went to the Dr. Monday 1-30-2012 and had more test thyroid and some other one done but I got no call from my Dr yet so I guess that’s good right? I constantly check for marks, scars, bruises and on my body in my mouth and lumps in my breast but so far nothing. I’m not having no discharge or other physical illnesses but this worry is tearing me apart. I have been prayed for and over constantly the last week of this anxiety believing the devil is trying to attack me and kill me because I have a godly spirit but these worries and questions are still here. I went back to work today and I honestly felt so much better because Im forced to talk to customers and take orders I’m a telemarketer. But as soon as I got in the car to come home the worries started all over again. I was sent to a heart Dr. He assured me I was ok and I have what may be a very small murmur maybe due to a lil stress but nothing to worry abt, and he made an appt to get a holter to monitor my heart for 24hrs on the 7th just to be sure I don’t have irregular heartbeats and a cardiologist appt on the 21st for a sonogram for my assurance and to be more on the safe side. Through all of this I also have asthma which I kinda grew out of but since now I have been pumping at least twice a day bc I feel like something is happening when my chest tighten. Everybody like almost every person I meet depend on me for my advice on some situationa and I hate seeing others do bad so I always try and help everyone I possibly can. I think this may have been in the process of happening since my mom’s diagnosis and high blood pressure. I have been uneasy ever since. Now I think of this I’m going through and all I do is cry and wonder why me? I’m so scared, like really I can’t go to the restroom alone in my home. I can’t shower without my kids r fiance in the bathroom with me. When my fiance go to work from 6pm to 2am my friend girl stay over every night. I am a great person and I try hard to take care of my body. But why am I so scared I may have a major disease. I’m crying as I type right now. My family is in Louisiana and I’m here in Arizona and I just want to pack up and leave because I don’t know whats going to happen to me. Please please please someone help me!!!!
I have had health anxiety worries for most of my adult life.
They started in my early 20″s with a fear of catching AIDS or HIV and in recent years I have developed a fear and obsession with developing cancer. The thoughts and fears of missing a symptom and not getting treatment in time plague my thoughts throughout the day. At the tender age of 31 I have a real fear that I”m going die within months and leave my young son without a mummy. I have got to the stage that I”m exhausted with being like this and the countless doctor appointments are getting out of hand. I have finally asked for some help and I”m currently waiting for counselling which I”m hoping will help as I just cannot go on like this. At times I feel so alone and isolated – it”s almost as if my life is on hold until I get the reassurance that my current worry is nothing, then before I know it I”ve found another symptom and on it goes…
Jackie
Hi Jackie,
I have exactly the same problem as you. I also in my early 20′s thought I had contracted HIV. Now years later I found a lump in my armpit, convinced myself it was breast cancer, it turned out to be a swollen gland due to shaving after two visits to the doc!
I am pregnant as therefore have lumpy breast tissue, but became convinced it was breast cancer. I went to the doctor and she said she could not feel anything and that it was because I was pregnant. I then starting thinking what if she missed something, I refused to believe anything she said to be. All I could think and still do think that I am going to leave my children without a mum.
I find myself checking and checking daily that a breast lump has appeared and it is awful. I am having CBT. (Just started) But I am already feeling a little more positive.
My councellor made me Realise that whilst we are worrying about dying, we are not actually living. I found that quite powerful.
I hope you have CBT soon and I hope you find a way out of your situation!
Hi Mariama, How do you get cbt, is it in nhs and how much does it cost and is it effective.please let me know
HI Sam,
You can get it through your GP, or even though Anxiety UK. We have no waiting list currently and it is very low cost. Call our helpline on 08444 775 774 for more details.
Best wishes
Cat (Anxiety UK)
Hi Cat, how low cost? CBT In the CITY fleece you at a £110 a session and £125 for the original consultation.
Hi
Anxiety UK offers significantly reduced therapy rate. Costs are between £10 and £50 per session and all our therapists have expericne in helping people with anxiety. Please visit our Get Help session or speak to one of our helpline volunteers on 08444 775 774 for more information on the help and support available to you.
Andy
Hi, after being diagnosed with depression many years ago after losing my dad and mum close together, and the break up off my marriage, also a few other bits and pieces. I have come to realise my main anxiety is about my health. The reason being that after binge drinking and getting diabetes, i thought other than diabetes i had not got away with having anything seriously wrong with me.I was using drink as a crutch and put on a serious amount of weight. Seeing many drs over the years i still believe im going to have a heart attack. I have had cbt been in the priory a few times and i am trying to get my life back on track .But still i have these anxieties. And the crutch i use is comfort eating ?. I did up to a few months ago use weights. healthy eating.,and biking to bring my weight down. The break up of my marriage i feel was my fault so therefore i seem to chastise myself and therefore punish myself for it. I also have a fear of the dying process that eventually we are all have to succumb to. To cap it all im just one big worry wart and i know that people must get sick of me including drs. As i said earlier i do have a few health issues that have come my way gallstones, fatty liver, diabetes and at the moment having treatment for duodenitis and eosophagitis. I also had about of labrinthitis of which when had 1st symptoms wasnt a very pleasant experience. I really hate being me and just want to enjoy life and be happy. But instead just constantly worry. Ok rant over sorry folks but felt i needed to get this of my chest.
hi jackie i totally understand where your coming from i suffered with health anxiety for a while off&on but it has flared up again now&i have experienced some different symptoms which has made me bad again as i think the worse,i have a 5year old and all u think about is them&something bad is going to happen,u go to the docs and u feel better for around 10mins after but then you start over thinking once your out of the docs,it is awful and people dont understand tell u to stop being silly&get a grip things u dont want to hear ive not taken any meds off doc apart from a anti depressant which made me feel dreadful so stopped taking it doc said i didnt give it a chance,i did have counselling back in 2009 cognititve therapy which really helped,your just like me just want to feel right again and enjoy doin stuff with the little one!!!!!!!!!
my god lisa i am not alone and neither are you i am exactily the same as you my fear started the day i had my little boy 2 and a half years ago i lost a baby in 2008 and had to give birth to him and he was just so perfect and i think tht having my pther son 2 years later triggerd my health anxiety i focus all my time on checking him and wen i not panicing about him its usually me i am panicing about usually blood clots or heart attack in me and cancer or meningitus in my little one i have ten kids and only seem to panic about my youngest i hate been like this i at the docs every otherday with myself or my son if i get really bad i get given diazapan but they are highly addictive so i cant have them all the time i cant remember a time wen i felt normal it seems so long ago so you are not on your own i feel like no one understands me and that only i am going through this i am waiting for councilling coming through but dont see how this will help even now typing this i feel like i am alone and i feel like somet bad is going to happen to me i am 45 but feel like a 90 yearold with all the stress i am under so please understand you are not alone here if you ever need to talk xxx
hello, ive just read your post, and im the same has you, im convinsed that i have caught hiv, even though my partner had negitive results, now im getting symptoms , can i ask when you thought you had hiv, did you get any symptoms has well, its driving me mad and making me ill ..
im concerend i have hiv i swear i have had every symptom of hiv i have been tested 4 times all negative but my white blood count is high gp said i have an infection in the nutrophilis can hiv really go undetected i also have had oral thrush and my mouth doesnt feel right im also on medhelp i find the site usefull
Hi Jackie,
I can totally relate to your post. Since losing my mum to cancer last February, I am completely paranoid that I will get cancer and die young, leaving my little boy without a parent. My mum had no symptoms and was diagnosed and passed away all in the space of 3 weeks which was extremely traumatic for me. I suffer from joint hypermobility and ibs and as a result – get a lot of lower back pain and stomach pain. I am continually worrying that these symptoms are nothing to do with joint hypermobility and IBS but that they are in fact something else. Writing it actuallt makes me feel silly as I know deep down I am bering overly paranoid. I have started counselling now and hope that I will be able to get over this fear as it is ruining my life and I too, feel so alone and isolated. Good luck with everything, I hope you manage to get some help and are able to overcome some of your fears. Mx
Thank goodness I am not alone! Your account made me cry with relief as is so similar to what I am experiencing. I’m 39. A colleague in our small team at work died of gullet cancer aged 42, with no obvious symptoms and he was gone in a few weeks. I am constantly panicking about indigestion, back pain etc and can’t stop trying to diagnose on the internet (which really frightens me). We also lost another team colleague recently (there are only 6 of us in our team) to mnd and the wife of a friend of ours died suddenly of a seconday infection aged 37 a few weeks ago. I think this has set me off again as I’m now constantly anxious and desperately worried I’m going to die of cancer (the other things don’t seem to bother me so much). The doctor has put me on tablets for indigestion and didn’t seem unduly worried but I get so scared about what they might tell me I just don’t ever want to go to the doctors.
Am so pleased I have found this forum and think this might just be the push I need to start counselling having tried so many books, dvd’s etc but think I need something specific to me.
Thanks for sharing, it has made me feel slightly more normal again!
I am currently having CBT because I have worried for over 10 years about my breasts after having a cyst, I was constantly checking. I am not too bad with that at the moment but have suddenly started worrying about finding any blood when I go to the toilet, sorry if this is a bit too much detail, don’t mean to be gross but I have to look when I clean myself and wonder if I can see any red. I find this very scary. I don’t where this worry has come from but I find i am very preoccupied with it. Is any one else like this?
Yup!
One of my ‘favourite’ worries!
I know exactly how you feel it brings a tear to my eye just reading what you wrote. I’m 27 and have 2 young daughters and im petrified im not going to see them grow up.I am absolutely convinced that I’ve got a serious condition and the doctors are just missing it. At the moment I can’t get the thought out of my head that I’ve got cancer I’ve become so aware of my body that I notice any small change and then I’m convinced it’s because I’m dying. For months now I’ve had symptom after symptom that just convinces me more that the inevitable is going to happen. It’s horrible to hear that you are all experiencing this and I wish you all lots of health and happiness in the future :)
Hi Jackie
I feel just the same I am convinced I have something wrong all the time, there isn’t a day go by where I am constantly checking myself, my tummy, breasts I have a real fear of Cancer. I must be driving everyone made. I am always at the doctors getting something checked if it’s not my moles it’s pains and even though I have test after test I feel fine for a day then I move onto something else it’s so knackering. I have stopped watching certain program’s or read certain articles in magazines as I know if I see any story about Cancer I will convince myself I have it too. I have just been to the doctors again last week fourth time in the last two months and had my breast checked she said I’m fine and I felt so relieved then after 15mins of being home I panicked because after she checked me she asked if I was going away and what I was doing for the weekend automatically I thought she must of found something but didn’t want me to get any more destressed than I was and will send me for a referral after I’m back from my holiday even though I know that’s more than her jobs worth its the way I think and I really have to stop, 3 times she told me I was ok but it doesn’t sink in. I’m afraid I take after my dads side and my aunt is just the same. There is not one person at work who have not checked my moles on my back or had me crying on their shoulder. I am now taking a low dose of antidepressant and I am starting to feel a little more positive I sadly lost my dad two years ago very tragically and i miss him very much and it’s been a horrible two years but I have to remind myself I’m very lucky to be here my poor lovely dad isn’t and I’m not being fair to my family or myself.
Nina