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Eleny
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Default Mar 22, 2019 at 09:02 PM
  #1
I’ve suffered with health anxiety for a good few years, it was quite severe and I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. I went on medication which helped so much, came off it and luckily my HA had seemingly cleared up. It’s back now though, and I’m really struggling. I am obsessively worried about having a certain illness and the worry is overwhelming and very distressing. I am afraid to see my doctor in case she confirms the worst, and even though there are times when my rational mind is telling me it’s anxiety unfortunately the anxiety itself is much more dominant. I wondered if anyone has had HA and if they found CBT any help? Any tips at all would be great.
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Default Mar 23, 2019 at 01:38 PM
  #2
I have generalized anxiety and worrying about my health can be part of it. I also have a pattern of avoiding doctors and it is the worse strategy as not knowing just exacerbates the anxiety. I have not done CBT with a therapist but used some of the techniques on my own and they can indeed help. What helps me best to clear my worries though is keeping up with regular health checks. Not overdoing it and running to the doctor every time I feel something is off without obvious symptoms, but doing the recommended periodic visits and being health-conscious in my lifestyle choices (instead of avoidant). This works for me because, outside of anxiety, I am generally quite a rational person and value evidence over momentary, chaotic feelings and imagination. Something else that tends to help me is tracking the perceived symptoms in a journal format or even score for myself and make graphs - see what patterns show up. A lot of the times it becomes very clear that my periods of apparent health symptoms and highest anxiety match quite well with hormonal changes, for example. Or with periods of everyday life high stress and overwhelm.

What kind of meds were useful for the HA, if you would like to share? I have never taken psych meds yet but would consider if I found something that is not habit-forming (I have a history of addiction) and has a relatively low side-effect profile.
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Default Mar 23, 2019 at 09:30 PM
  #3
yea, i have general anxiety but i worry about my health a bunch. Whenever I get an ache/pain or odd sensation I automatically go into "what if" mode. What if its serious, what if I'm dying, etc. Years ago when I first started going through my anxiety struggle, I went to hospitals and doctors like crazy. Of course nothing was majorly wrong with me. My therapist recommends and I do also to combat that "what if" thinking. Think more rationally instead. I know I've been checked out multiple times by plenty of doctors and nothing is seriously wrong with me. You have to talk yourself down before you throw yourself into a viscous cycle of panic. Hope this helps
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Default Mar 24, 2019 at 08:13 AM
  #4
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eleny View Post
I’ve suffered with health anxiety for a good few years, it was quite severe and I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. I went on medication which helped so much, came off it and luckily my HA had seemingly cleared up. It’s back now though, and I’m really struggling. I am obsessively worried about having a certain illness and the worry is overwhelming and very distressing. I am afraid to see my doctor in case she confirms the worst, and even though there are times when my rational mind is telling me it’s anxiety unfortunately the anxiety itself is much more dominant. I wondered if anyone has had HA and if they found CBT any help? Any tips at all would be great.
Oh gosh every pain I get or feel I automatically think that something is wrong being agoraphobic I am to afraid to go out and see my doctor.SO I usually wait it out.
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