Health Anxiety

[Jon10]

Hi

I would like to talk to someone/people who suffer from Health Anxiety. My health Anxiety has been hitting new heights over the last week or so and i`m finding it hard to bare. Right now i have a back ache, keep flushing, cold sweats, dizzy, and everytine i stand up i feel asthough something is pushing me down(vertigo).
I`m writing from an office in London when i should be doing work, but i just cant. I had a terrible experience yesterday where i went to hospital with chest pains and dizziness, i was very hungover due to a big drink on the Saturday night. Doctor told me to go home as he is getting tired of me turning up wasting peoples time. There isn`t a day that goes by that i don`t think i`m going to die. It goes up and down, sometimes i can go a week without any problems then i have three days of disabilataing symptoms. I find it so hard to accept that this is anxiety and not something serious. This has been going on for Seven months now and it manifests in different ways. The doctor has perscribed me anti-anxiety drugs but i wont take them as my dad reckons they are a slippery slope and i need to tackle this myself. How can i have such a bad pain in the side of my back caused by anxiety, could it be all the vomiting i do? I make myself vomit to try and make me feel better alot. Could this cause chest and back pains?
Is there anybody who is similar to me? Someone who i could talk to now would be great.


Thanks

[Roxi_92]

I have had anxiety for a while now I found out that my thyroid might be the one causing my anxiety and pains and the fact that I'm also low on vitamin d. All that causes anxiety and depression and muscle aches and joint pain and swelling and all that. I've had all types of pain and people thought I was crazy but I felt it, I'm still trying to figure out if it my thyroid that's been causing all these problems tell your doctor to give u a physical that way u can find out

[pdllprv]

Well I have always been a worrier but recently I found some lumps on my lower thigh and I have to get a biopsy and that has made me very anxious and constantly worrying and checking how I feel. Yesterday I had a stomache ache with the runs and I automatically got anxious even got slightly dizzy which scared me more. How do we get rid of health anxiety grrrrrr.

[Topher7]

I understand where you all are coming from. In 2000 I had a real health scare..I almost died of a fluke heart virus. I recovered and am doing great but over the last 7 years have had panic attacks regarding my heart going out of rhythm..it has happened but isn't dangerous in my case. I am now married and have my first child on the way. I'm so excited. About 3 months ago I started getting tension headaches....not really headaches but vice like grip on my temples and back of head...side of head too. It was right after being told my heart was great and I could go off some meds. I guess the idea of no safety net scared me. I was put back on them or a smaller dose and things went back to normal. Lately I got them again and I was lightheaded and my eyes felt weird. All of a sudden it was a brain tumor and I wouldn't see my kid. 2 docs have dobne simple nearological exams and think I'm just stressed and that is why my bp is back up. I know 95% of the time it is stress. The minute I read these boards the tightness on the skull starts but for 30 minutes I start freaking. I'm going to kick it..it is a matter of seeing it and stopping it. I did it for my fear of flying and am great now.

[suzi-q]

Yes, it is possible to feel like you are at death's door and be completely healthy at the same time.  How do I know this?  Because I was there at one time...the weakness, nausea, headaches, chest pains, crying all the time, heart palpitations,shakiness,  total feelings of fear and doom.....yes, it was depression with anxiety.  

Many people (especially the older generation) see seeking help as a form of weakness and that stigma remains attached to this day.  However, I see it as a sign of strength to see a problem and being pro-active about it.

If I did not seek help, I would not be where I am today...that is a basically happy functioning, respected individual.  Please take that first step.  It is not fair to YOU to have to live your life this way.

[Jon10]

Thanks very much for your detailed post Ryan, it was very helpful to read.
Its interesting to hear your thoughts on citalopram, i had my doubts. With regard to my fathers attitude towards all this, he suffered from panic attacks and anxiety for a while but a lot later on in his life. He was in his forties. He completely overcame it himself without any help from phyciatrists or medication. He wants me to do the same. The thing is Ryan, i still haven`t even accepted that all this is anxiety. I still believe that i have a terminal illness. The sympoms i had yesterday and this morning (chest pain, severs dizziness, neasua, and back pain) were far to real and severe to be anxiety. Infact i dont know what i am writing on the anxiety board for i should go to a terminal illness forum. I have been going through this for about seven months and have had blood and heart tests all come back fine. But i`m sure they have missed something. Is it possible to feel this ill and be completely well biologically? I feel the end is near.

[Jon10]

My doctor has given me citalopram? Does anyone know about this? I really don`t want to take it because i dont like the idea of not being in control of my feelings. I dont want to feel ok artificially. I want to feel ok all the time. My dad wont let me take them anyway. How can i tackle this without meds. Phyciatry doesnt work for me.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

yes plz try the meds whjat did he give you , i take ativan when needed and if i didnt have it i would end up in the er a lot last two weeks, try the meds you will see how much better you feel.

[suzi-q]

I know that you truly feel that you are dying...I have been there, and there is nothing I can say or do to convince you otherwise.  I am making one request..TRY THE MEDICATION!  IT WILL WORK!  I PROMISE!

And if by chance, which I doubt immensely, it doesn't work...IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE DYING!  There are many simple things that it can be.

but lets cross one bridge at a time....TRY THE MEDICINE!!!

[TonnaB]

i take the citowhatever, generic for celexa. I break it up and only take 5mg, going up yo ten tomorrow. It helped for a bit, but now am feeling like i have swollen glands again and connot stop obsessing(crazy fear of cancer), so I am bumping it up to ten. The dr said 20mg, but i had night sweats and that fueled my fear, so i went from 10 to 5. Try it, take ten, it really does help. I think anyway.

[Jon10]

I see what your saying but, if i decide to take the meds and they dont make me feel any better then i will think "oh sh*t, maybe this isn`t anxiety and that will be even worst. Atleast at the moment i have the possibility of it being anxiety. I know i`m going to die soon, without a doubt. My body is shutting down as we speak.

[suzi-q]

TAKE THE ANTI-ANXIETY MEDS THAT THE DOCTOR GAVE YOU!!!  If your symptoms subside, then you know it is all due to anxiety...I suffer also with Health anxiety too.  I can talk myself into any disease imanginable!  I know how terrible it can be!  Yes, your symptoms can definitely be from anxiety and the drinking doesn't help...it is great at the moment, but expect worse anxiety and depression the next day or two....if you have anxieties, take the MEDICATION and get off the sauce!!!!!  Feel better....just take deep breaths!!!!

[bip]

Oh ya I feel I those symptons Im always thinking Im having a disease you name it. It's terrible. My worst fear is heartattack and I smoke. (LOL) that makes sense. shouldn't but I do.  Take care....

[Jon10]

Thanks bip, you are very kind. What symptoms do you get bip? Do you ever feel sharp pains in your chest? do you feel dizziness when you stand up? Sometimes i feel my balance is affected. I stand up and i sway from side to side. The things i fear the most is sudden cardiac death, heart attack, stroke and brain haemorrhage. But my dad rightly points out that all these things happen suddenly and dont take time and build up, you either have them or you don`t, Despite this logical outlook my dad has given me it doesnt stop me fearin the worst.

[bip]

Anxiety can do so much to you. It will make you sick believe me I have anxiety for years now and you just don't feel good. I get dizzy, chestpains, shortness of breath, you name it. You sound like you have a postive attitude that is good cause me I don't I always think Im going to die. Im here for you cause I been going through anxiety for years and others to. this forum is awesome....