Health anxiety over Hiv

[ds41980]

Hello. I have posted a few times regarding my health anxiety and right now my health anxiety issue is currently HIV. First I will tell you that I did get the courage to get tested yesterday 9 months after exposure and it came out negative. It was so scary I thought my heart would stop while I was waiting for the results. Also my ex BF got tested and sent me the results which are also negative. I was told that because this is 9 months past my test results are conclusive no HIV.  So now the thoughts are going through my head. What if the lancet that was used to test me was contaminated? What if I am a late seroconverter? Are there people who don't produce antibodies until after months and months but people don't believe them when they say they haven't had an exposure? I feel like a complete failure because I can't even be happy about my negative result and am constantly looking for symptoms that are telling me I have HIV or am getting it despite all the massive evidence to the contrary. Most people don't get as much evidence as I have gotten and they accept and trust their results happily and move on with their lives confident that they are not sick. Not me...no I have to wallow in doubt and anxiety. Before any of you say I have to see a mental health professional...I know...I have an appointment on 04/28. I just started getting anxious again today with the what if thoughts and felt the need to write. Does anyone else feel like this or take it to this extreme? I feel like such a failure with this health anxiety. Thanks.

[Paxiled]

You only have one problem, and it isn't HIV.  It's the fact you're worrying yourself to death about it.  Follow the advice above to seek therapy.  You can't make life risk free, but you can hopefully learn not to ruin your life worrying about it.

[bluegreenleaf]

Stay strong. I had a scare where a phone call from my doctor was misinterpreted as a false positive and I have tremors when I think about it. It helps to keep your mind occupied reading books, working on a project or spending time on hobbies. I wish you the best, my thoughts are with you. Anxiety can destroy you, fight back when you can. Give yourself the time to feel but realize the evidence you have in front of you. I also have an appointment coming up, I can't wait to get help overcoming my own fears.

[TMinDC]

Fear of HIV is very real, and you are not alone.  Many men and women are paralyzed with fear about the possibility of contracting HIV.  My suspicion is that your anxiety extends to other areas of your life, not just a fear of HIV infection.  A good therapist will help you work through your anxiety, which will take time to unpack and resolve.  

[AnxiousNoMore]

Late seroconversion is an old myth which you can verify on the HIV forum by either posting the question or searching other threads since it is an often posted question.
if you are afraid of a lancet you will never be able to get any blood tests done, so your comments revolving around why you can't accept what others do accept identifies the problem. Again that issue is a weekly new thread on the HIV forum so you can see responses or ask on your own thread.

I believe your post a few weeks ago said you were a nurse, so it seems therapy would be a potential aid in dealing with these 2 phobias, HIV and nurses infecting you. I listed it as 2 because it seems to be more than one problem.
Perhaps writing all the issues down beforehand to take to the 4/28 so you don't forget anything will help the 4/28 appointment get to the heart of the issue quicker, which will obviously provide quicker relief. Sometimes the first session of therapy is so emotional that the patient is overwhelmed and uses up all their time trying to settle down, ergo the usefulness of notes.