Aa
Please Help
Hello, I am really thinking I have a severe case of hypochondria, could you please enlight me if this is actually it. I have been terrified of the HIV since my teen years, currently 34 years old. I developes geographic tongue since I was like 18 yrs old, inmediately panicked thinking it had to do with HIV, always terrified and could not find the courage to take a test, and decided that it was better not to know so I can live my life without that worry.
Several years later fell in love with a girl, and again thought about the disease and panicked, so eventually got the courage and got tested, result HIV negative thank God, so my fears subsided, at that moment Iknew that anything in my body was not due to that disease.Got engaged, was together with the same girl for 10 years without fooling around with anyone else. Then she decided to study abroad for a year, story short, things did not go well, so I met this girl I had met many years back, she was also in a relationship having trouble. We started seeing each other quite often, till one night with a couple of drinks, had sex, a minute or two at the moest unprotected, then I put on a condom, everything was ok, before this, I had in my life taken 2 HIV tests, both negative, the last one was for insurance policy. I did not get sick nor anything at the moment, everything was fine. Then, my gf told me was coming home to try and solve things, everything started panikcing, I began thinking about HIV due to my exposure and such. contacted the other girl who was at that moment living outside the country, asked her about her status, she said she was fine, even begged her to take a test, which according to her, she did, and the result was negative. till the day, this was 2 years ago, I ask her once in a while being always the answer, that she did take the test and it indeed come out negative, but I just sometimes do not believe it, currently she lines in another country and says is in love with a guy over there, which I consider somebody with that diesease would not be doing.
Things with gf got better, got bacvk together, but she left again, so we had problems once more, broke up and I began seeing a girl. I always used a condom for protection, especially becasue I am so afraid of that diease, the last time we had sex she got her period, did not alert or panicked me at all, since I knew I had a condom and id did not break, My ex said was coming back home so we coul ddiscussour relationship, she came here, a week after her arrival she got sick from the stomach, diarreah, cramps, runny nose and coughing, inmediately I thought again HIV, this was the worst, I was feeling so bad, incredibly anxious, depressed, could not eat weel, had skin burning sensations in my upper back, it was terrible. Just the thought that I could have gotten something bad and passed it to her was devastating for me. especially because 3 and a half weeks after the incident with the girl, I had what I think a cold (sore throat 2 days, stuffy runny nose and cough), so I thought ARS.
i have asked in the HIv forums and narrated my story several times, asked about the ARS symptoms and my risk of the unprotected minute sex, all the responses are encouraging, even some saying that my symptoms are not ARS related, and such, buit having trouble believing it. Even sombedoy told me i really had to have my anxieyt cheked out, cause this was my problem, not HIV. I want to test myself but am so afraid, my only encounters arte thiose, since the rest have been with condom from begining to end, just 2 unrotected sex for like a minute each, and the menstraul period with condom with the other one.
Couls this be caused becasue at teh moment I felt guilty since I had not been with another womanbesides my gf for such a long time? this I think because when I was not with her I was doing fine, just when I knew she was coming is that i got all panicky and anxious and only thouhg tabout that? Some say I am a hypochondriac, can this really be it?
Please, somebody help me cause this is driving me crazy, not letting me work properly nor enjoy life.
Thank you in advance.
Several years later fell in love with a girl, and again thought about the disease and panicked, so eventually got the courage and got tested, result HIV negative thank God, so my fears subsided, at that moment Iknew that anything in my body was not due to that disease.Got engaged, was together with the same girl for 10 years without fooling around with anyone else. Then she decided to study abroad for a year, story short, things did not go well, so I met this girl I had met many years back, she was also in a relationship having trouble. We started seeing each other quite often, till one night with a couple of drinks, had sex, a minute or two at the moest unprotected, then I put on a condom, everything was ok, before this, I had in my life taken 2 HIV tests, both negative, the last one was for insurance policy. I did not get sick nor anything at the moment, everything was fine. Then, my gf told me was coming home to try and solve things, everything started panikcing, I began thinking about HIV due to my exposure and such. contacted the other girl who was at that moment living outside the country, asked her about her status, she said she was fine, even begged her to take a test, which according to her, she did, and the result was negative. till the day, this was 2 years ago, I ask her once in a while being always the answer, that she did take the test and it indeed come out negative, but I just sometimes do not believe it, currently she lines in another country and says is in love with a guy over there, which I consider somebody with that diesease would not be doing.
Things with gf got better, got bacvk together, but she left again, so we had problems once more, broke up and I began seeing a girl. I always used a condom for protection, especially becasue I am so afraid of that diease, the last time we had sex she got her period, did not alert or panicked me at all, since I knew I had a condom and id did not break, My ex said was coming back home so we coul ddiscussour relationship, she came here, a week after her arrival she got sick from the stomach, diarreah, cramps, runny nose and coughing, inmediately I thought again HIV, this was the worst, I was feeling so bad, incredibly anxious, depressed, could not eat weel, had skin burning sensations in my upper back, it was terrible. Just the thought that I could have gotten something bad and passed it to her was devastating for me. especially because 3 and a half weeks after the incident with the girl, I had what I think a cold (sore throat 2 days, stuffy runny nose and cough), so I thought ARS.
i have asked in the HIv forums and narrated my story several times, asked about the ARS symptoms and my risk of the unprotected minute sex, all the responses are encouraging, even some saying that my symptoms are not ARS related, and such, buit having trouble believing it. Even sombedoy told me i really had to have my anxieyt cheked out, cause this was my problem, not HIV. I want to test myself but am so afraid, my only encounters arte thiose, since the rest have been with condom from begining to end, just 2 unrotected sex for like a minute each, and the menstraul period with condom with the other one.
Couls this be caused becasue at teh moment I felt guilty since I had not been with another womanbesides my gf for such a long time? this I think because when I was not with her I was doing fine, just when I knew she was coming is that i got all panicky and anxious and only thouhg tabout that? Some say I am a hypochondriac, can this really be it?
Please, somebody help me cause this is driving me crazy, not letting me work properly nor enjoy life.
Thank you in advance.
Nursegirl, thank you so muchfor your patience and with sticking with me during these past days that my anxiety was sky rocket. Now at days I feel much better, thanks to you and to multiple people who have responded to me in the different forums, including doctors.
Just wondering one thing, everyone says that really my encounters were low risk, just to be completely sure to take a test, it will come out negative, that my symptoms are not consistent with ars nor indicative of HIV infection. Would you agree with this?
Just a sore throat for 2 days then gone, and a dry cough for 5 days, these sympotoms are not ARS related? I ask, becasue since I did not have a runny or congested nose, I could think it was not a common cold, so that freaks me out.
thank you so much, you have no idea how thankful I am and wish you all the best. Please just answer me those questions.
Just wondering one thing, everyone says that really my encounters were low risk, just to be completely sure to take a test, it will come out negative, that my symptoms are not consistent with ars nor indicative of HIV infection. Would you agree with this?
Just a sore throat for 2 days then gone, and a dry cough for 5 days, these sympotoms are not ARS related? I ask, becasue since I did not have a runny or congested nose, I could think it was not a common cold, so that freaks me out.
thank you so much, you have no idea how thankful I am and wish you all the best. Please just answer me those questions.
Thanks, will do what you say, nad yes it is affecting my life,. It is wearing me down, everyday I think I am coming down with something, my neck is so pressed, not stiff, but kind of hard, feel weak some times, and sometimes think I will get sick
"Even my freidns tell me, that I am not the same person, I always look like I am thinking or worried, very quiet, when I usually talk a lot."
That right there is a big red flag, telling you that the anxiety is becoming a big problem, and it is affecting your life. When the people AROUND you are noticing it, then it's significant. A certain amount of anxiety is a necessity in our lives, but when it becomes overwhelming, or the fears are somewhat irrational,or it is affecting your life negatively, then it's time to do something about it.
Of course anxiety can affect your weight. Some people lose weight due to losing their appetite and having frequent diarrhea, others gain weight, as they "comfort eat". Losing weight seems to be more commonly reported.
Why do I say you have nothing to worry about? Reread my post above explaining why HIV is a VERY hard virus to transmit. Tjose are biological, scientific FACTS. The vast majority of new HIV infections are a result of male/male anal sex, or sharing IV drugs. While heterosexual infections are more common than they were in the beginning of the disease, they still remain on the lower end of the risk spectrum. To further decrease your risk, female to male transmission is lower yet. Honestly, the chances that you got HIV from your encounters is VERY VERY low. I understand that testing is an anxiety producing event for you, because you've convinced yourself that you were at risk,but think of the sense of relief that you would have getting that negative result? Plus, it's just the right thing to do, and I think you know that. NOT knowing isn't the answer. The saying "What you don't know won't hurt you" is 100% wrong.
Please, take that first step, and make a doctor's appointment to start addressing this anxiety. It's only going to get worse if you continue to ignore it.
That right there is a big red flag, telling you that the anxiety is becoming a big problem, and it is affecting your life. When the people AROUND you are noticing it, then it's significant. A certain amount of anxiety is a necessity in our lives, but when it becomes overwhelming, or the fears are somewhat irrational,or it is affecting your life negatively, then it's time to do something about it.
Of course anxiety can affect your weight. Some people lose weight due to losing their appetite and having frequent diarrhea, others gain weight, as they "comfort eat". Losing weight seems to be more commonly reported.
Why do I say you have nothing to worry about? Reread my post above explaining why HIV is a VERY hard virus to transmit. Tjose are biological, scientific FACTS. The vast majority of new HIV infections are a result of male/male anal sex, or sharing IV drugs. While heterosexual infections are more common than they were in the beginning of the disease, they still remain on the lower end of the risk spectrum. To further decrease your risk, female to male transmission is lower yet. Honestly, the chances that you got HIV from your encounters is VERY VERY low. I understand that testing is an anxiety producing event for you, because you've convinced yourself that you were at risk,but think of the sense of relief that you would have getting that negative result? Plus, it's just the right thing to do, and I think you know that. NOT knowing isn't the answer. The saying "What you don't know won't hurt you" is 100% wrong.
Please, take that first step, and make a doctor's appointment to start addressing this anxiety. It's only going to get worse if you continue to ignore it.
Yes, I think you are right. Can overly worrying make you go down in weight? I used to run quite a bit and have lost a lot of my muscles, you think that as well can make me lose weight? I know I have a big problem here. You say that I really have nothing to worry about HIV, why you say this? I am in the verge of a nervous breakdown as well, since I suffer from geo tongue, I am now constantly looking at my tongue and saw on one border a white area, pale white really, inmediately I was, oh my god, ORal Hairy Leukoplakia.
You honestly think I have nothing to worry about HIV according to my brief unprotected sex and also the sore thraot and cough?
I really want to thank you, you have posted in other forums form my posts as well, and truly, you have been a blessing for me, it is just that I am so afraid of testing cause I think it will not be a good result for me, and rthink what I would do if this happens. Even my freidns tell me, that I am not the same person, I always look like I am thinking or worried, very quiet, when I usually talk a lot.
Do not know why this happens to me,
You honestly think I have nothing to worry about HIV according to my brief unprotected sex and also the sore thraot and cough?
I really want to thank you, you have posted in other forums form my posts as well, and truly, you have been a blessing for me, it is just that I am so afraid of testing cause I think it will not be a good result for me, and rthink what I would do if this happens. Even my freidns tell me, that I am not the same person, I always look like I am thinking or worried, very quiet, when I usually talk a lot.
Do not know why this happens to me,
Everything you write is a clear indication that your anxiety about this has become out of control, maybe even irrational. Some of the things you describe are also OCD-like in your thinking.
I strongly urge you to get some help. I can tell you all day long that you have no worries when it comes to HIV, but your mind will come up with SOME way you were at risk.
I strongly urge you to get some help. I can tell you all day long that you have no worries when it comes to HIV, but your mind will come up with SOME way you were at risk.
Thank you very much for such a through explanation and for posting on my worriness. I must admit that I am a pretty fearful guy when it comes to this disease.
You mention that very brief unprotected intercourse poses a very low risk of infection, this brief moments could be 1 or 2 minutes? I am so afraid of STD`s, that is why I always try to be careful, in my life there had been bdfore thses episodes only 2 girls I had unprotected sex with, both of them were girlfriends of mine, and the last one was my fiancee, while being with her I had 2 tests taken, both of them came out negative, or a t least I think the secon done did as well, this was for an insurance I wanted to get, so they sent me to take tons of exams, incluidng cancer and HIV, I never saw the results, but since they gave me the insurance without any obstacles and such, I would think it came out very well, and a negative HIV result, otherwise they wouldn`t have insured me. SOmetimes I even think that what if I ust blinded myself and saw negative results becasue of all my fear, know that sounds stupid but I have even doubted the exams some of these days.
What really triggered my fears, the last 2 times, this were on different years, my fiancee and I had broken up both times, then she came back and try wor things out, got so nervous, and inmedaitely began thinking HIV, and before I saw her or knew she was coming, the thought never crossed my mind, why can this be? Also, both times, exactly in the 3 week mark, I got sore throat for 2 days, runny nose one time, and coughing, inmedaitely suspecting ARS.
So, this is basically my worries. Also, I have lost 7 pounds in teh last 3 weeks, have not been dieting, but constantly the whole day just looking up hiv and thinking about it. Last night, I was watching TV and the add of the film Philadelphia came on, got so scared, and thought, that must be a sign, and started crying.
So devastated
You mention that very brief unprotected intercourse poses a very low risk of infection, this brief moments could be 1 or 2 minutes? I am so afraid of STD`s, that is why I always try to be careful, in my life there had been bdfore thses episodes only 2 girls I had unprotected sex with, both of them were girlfriends of mine, and the last one was my fiancee, while being with her I had 2 tests taken, both of them came out negative, or a t least I think the secon done did as well, this was for an insurance I wanted to get, so they sent me to take tons of exams, incluidng cancer and HIV, I never saw the results, but since they gave me the insurance without any obstacles and such, I would think it came out very well, and a negative HIV result, otherwise they wouldn`t have insured me. SOmetimes I even think that what if I ust blinded myself and saw negative results becasue of all my fear, know that sounds stupid but I have even doubted the exams some of these days.
What really triggered my fears, the last 2 times, this were on different years, my fiancee and I had broken up both times, then she came back and try wor things out, got so nervous, and inmedaitely began thinking HIV, and before I saw her or knew she was coming, the thought never crossed my mind, why can this be? Also, both times, exactly in the 3 week mark, I got sore throat for 2 days, runny nose one time, and coughing, inmedaitely suspecting ARS.
So, this is basically my worries. Also, I have lost 7 pounds in teh last 3 weeks, have not been dieting, but constantly the whole day just looking up hiv and thinking about it. Last night, I was watching TV and the add of the film Philadelphia came on, got so scared, and thought, that must be a sign, and started crying.
So devastated
I can tell you that a LOT of people have a very overinflated view of HIV, and a lot of that is due to the way kids were and are educated about it. The approach was more fear based than fact based, with educators stressing how serious and "deadly" the disease is. They never tell kids how hard HIV is to transmit. There's good reason for that...their goal is to prevent kids from placing themselves at risk. If they emphasized how hard it is indeed to GET HIV, most likely, people would be more careless about protecting themselves. Still, that kind of fear based education leads people to fear HIV, even when they have never been at risk.
It takes a set of near PERFECT circumstances to transmit HIV. For one, there has to be an infected partner. MOST people, especially heterosexuals (and even more especially hetero females) are NOT infected. Then, there has to be an exposure of infectious fluids to a vulnerable target source. That would be the mucous membranes in the anus, and urethra for a man. You cannot get HIV from being exposed to infectious fluids on ANY part of the body except those areas. Even if there were cuts present. There also has to be a sufficient amount of infectiouis fluids to pose a risk. This is why very brief unprotected encounters don't usually result in infection. Lastly, the virus has to remain preserved, and not exposed to the elements. When it is, it quickly bedcomes inactive and unable to infect. This is why activities such as oral sex, kissing, mutual masturbation with an exchange of fluids does NOT pose a risk at all. The virus, if present, does not remain viable. There has to be unprotected anal or vaginal sex for a person to be at risk. To make you feel even better, it is harder yet for a man to get HIV from an infected woman.
Condoms are 100% effective if they do not break. Only the HEAD of your penis needs to be covered during the duration of intercourse to prevent HIV, again, because the only susceptible tissue would be the mucous membrane that comprises the lining of the urethra. And no, before you ask, you cannot have a risk by fluids travelling up the condom from the base of your penis to your urethra.
All that being said, you obviously have struggled with this for far too long. HIV related anxiety is very common. The thing is, when it comes to a point where it is affecting your life with worry, or lasting this long, just like ANY kind of anxiety, it's time to see a professional about it. If you could have "shook it off", you would have done so by now. I would tell you to take an HIV test to put your mind at rest, but my suspicion is, even a negative result would not totally convince you.
There is just no reason to continue suffering, not with all the help out there. Take that first step, and make yourself an appt with your doctor, and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist, who can properly evaluate you, and offer some treatment approaches to address the anxiety.
It takes a set of near PERFECT circumstances to transmit HIV. For one, there has to be an infected partner. MOST people, especially heterosexuals (and even more especially hetero females) are NOT infected. Then, there has to be an exposure of infectious fluids to a vulnerable target source. That would be the mucous membranes in the anus, and urethra for a man. You cannot get HIV from being exposed to infectious fluids on ANY part of the body except those areas. Even if there were cuts present. There also has to be a sufficient amount of infectiouis fluids to pose a risk. This is why very brief unprotected encounters don't usually result in infection. Lastly, the virus has to remain preserved, and not exposed to the elements. When it is, it quickly bedcomes inactive and unable to infect. This is why activities such as oral sex, kissing, mutual masturbation with an exchange of fluids does NOT pose a risk at all. The virus, if present, does not remain viable. There has to be unprotected anal or vaginal sex for a person to be at risk. To make you feel even better, it is harder yet for a man to get HIV from an infected woman.
Condoms are 100% effective if they do not break. Only the HEAD of your penis needs to be covered during the duration of intercourse to prevent HIV, again, because the only susceptible tissue would be the mucous membrane that comprises the lining of the urethra. And no, before you ask, you cannot have a risk by fluids travelling up the condom from the base of your penis to your urethra.
All that being said, you obviously have struggled with this for far too long. HIV related anxiety is very common. The thing is, when it comes to a point where it is affecting your life with worry, or lasting this long, just like ANY kind of anxiety, it's time to see a professional about it. If you could have "shook it off", you would have done so by now. I would tell you to take an HIV test to put your mind at rest, but my suspicion is, even a negative result would not totally convince you.
There is just no reason to continue suffering, not with all the help out there. Take that first step, and make yourself an appt with your doctor, and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist, who can properly evaluate you, and offer some treatment approaches to address the anxiety.
Thank you sou much for your replies, it really helps. In regards of having multiple partners, well, I gotta tell you that honestly I am not into that, was in a relationship for 10 years, being completely faithful to her, got engaged, but unfortunately we both wanted different things out of life, I wanted a home and family, she wanted adventure and world traveling, so we grew apart and eventually finished the relationship. It was after this that I began fooling around a bit, not much really, 4 girls in almost 3 years.
I have always been afraid of that disease, took me the first time like 8 years to finally get the gutts to get tested, resultng in a negative result, which really calmed all my fears. A year later after this, got my medical and life insurance, for that they test you for everything inclduing HIV, so I was calm.
Now that I have had these partners, 2 of them with whom I had unprotected sex for a minute only, then put on a condom, are the ones that brought my worries back. It got so bad that I actually began doubting about the negative results I got on the first test, and then doubting also about the insurance, even toalked to the broker, she told me, that if I had something bad, they would have never given me the insurance, or would have sent me to take further tests, this did not happen, they gave it right away, so my thoughts is that HIV test came out negative, should be so.
Have posted in HIV forums, even the paid forums, all advised me that symptoms I had were not consistent with HIV (sore throat for a couple of days, runny nose, cough) are not ARS symptoms, but got afraid since it happened in both times 3 weeks after those exposures. Be this as it is, happened both times in the month of july, then not again during the year, so I am guessing it is that during this month we have upper respiratory infections in my country. This last time, I got sick, and then several friends even got bacterial diseases, mine subsided 5 days after it began.
A doctor in one of this forums even told me, he could see I wa a hypochondriac, due to the extent of my posts and also, due to the fact, that they cannot be any clearer about their responses.
Hope all is well.
I have always been afraid of that disease, took me the first time like 8 years to finally get the gutts to get tested, resultng in a negative result, which really calmed all my fears. A year later after this, got my medical and life insurance, for that they test you for everything inclduing HIV, so I was calm.
Now that I have had these partners, 2 of them with whom I had unprotected sex for a minute only, then put on a condom, are the ones that brought my worries back. It got so bad that I actually began doubting about the negative results I got on the first test, and then doubting also about the insurance, even toalked to the broker, she told me, that if I had something bad, they would have never given me the insurance, or would have sent me to take further tests, this did not happen, they gave it right away, so my thoughts is that HIV test came out negative, should be so.
Have posted in HIV forums, even the paid forums, all advised me that symptoms I had were not consistent with HIV (sore throat for a couple of days, runny nose, cough) are not ARS symptoms, but got afraid since it happened in both times 3 weeks after those exposures. Be this as it is, happened both times in the month of july, then not again during the year, so I am guessing it is that during this month we have upper respiratory infections in my country. This last time, I got sick, and then several friends even got bacterial diseases, mine subsided 5 days after it began.
A doctor in one of this forums even told me, he could see I wa a hypochondriac, due to the extent of my posts and also, due to the fact, that they cannot be any clearer about their responses.
Hope all is well.
I think you first need to do what you need to do and get tested ONE LAST TIME. The test will come out 100% CLEAN OF ANY DISEASE. :)
THEN... Get into therapy possibly.
To me this seems like an easy way to quit worrying... is to abstain with sex with so many people. Not saying that in a negative way.
But having sex with multiple partners I think is scaring you.
One day you'll find a girl, fall in love, make her your wife... and know both of you are free/clean of HIV... and you'll never have to worry about getting HIV.
Don't mean to get religious... but I believe that is why God intended us to save ourselves til marriage. So we don't sleep around a lot and spread disease etc.
Youre gonna be just fine. Just get the help you need. =)
I think you can unlearn this fear pretty easily with the right therapy and lifestyle changes. Take care!
THEN... Get into therapy possibly.
To me this seems like an easy way to quit worrying... is to abstain with sex with so many people. Not saying that in a negative way.
But having sex with multiple partners I think is scaring you.
One day you'll find a girl, fall in love, make her your wife... and know both of you are free/clean of HIV... and you'll never have to worry about getting HIV.
Don't mean to get religious... but I believe that is why God intended us to save ourselves til marriage. So we don't sleep around a lot and spread disease etc.
Youre gonna be just fine. Just get the help you need. =)
I think you can unlearn this fear pretty easily with the right therapy and lifestyle changes. Take care!
thank you very much for replying. Actually i would love it to just be fear of HIV and not really the disease, it terrifies me so much than i am afraid of go and get tested. Even the episode with the girl that had her period in the middle of intercourse and i was wearing a condom, worries me. The other 2 girls with whom I practiced unprotected sex for like a minute before putting on mthe condom, one of them has told me several times, even the last time quite upset, that she took the test and it came pout negative, she was the one that actaully called me a hypocondriac, that I have a great fear of that disease and should look for counseling. So, taking this into consideration, i would not think she would lie to me in that way, also each time is the same answer na dshe is actually dating a guy right now, somemthing I do not think she would do being HIV positive, or at least, I think she would have told me, she even said iut was reassuting knowing her status.
the other girl, who was the last one, I have known her fopr many years, she is the type that fell in love with the idea of marraige, she actually just got married and was always in long term relationships, so i could not think she is someone of high risk.
Each event happened when I met my ex to try and fix things. Do you thinl all that anxiety and HIV fear could have been triggered by the fear of thinking I could pass something wrong to her, and an subconsciuos feeling of guilt? I ask you this becasue before I did not get paranoid or scared of those times thinking I could have gotten HIV.
I am so afraid and anxious.
the other girl, who was the last one, I have known her fopr many years, she is the type that fell in love with the idea of marraige, she actually just got married and was always in long term relationships, so i could not think she is someone of high risk.
Each event happened when I met my ex to try and fix things. Do you thinl all that anxiety and HIV fear could have been triggered by the fear of thinking I could pass something wrong to her, and an subconsciuos feeling of guilt? I ask you this becasue before I did not get paranoid or scared of those times thinking I could have gotten HIV.
I am so afraid and anxious.
Sorry to hear you are going through this. The mind can be so powerful. But the good news is you can defeat your fear.
Have you seen a therapist about your HIV anxiety? If not, I suggest you talk to one about it. There are many great tools out there to help you to win against your fear. :)
Do you have hypochondria? I cannot answer that. People sometimes call me a hypochondriac b/c once in a great while I will have a symptom I've never had before and I will sometimes worry about it... does that make me a hypochondriac compared to the people my sister sees at the Dr's office who come in twice a week thinking they have every disease in the book? I think that makes you and I look more like worry warts vs a hypochondriac. haha.
Glad you are realizing your issue is a fear of HIV. That's a great step to recovering from a fear. Is acknowledging you have that.
I think a little talk therapy can go a long way. =)
Have you seen a therapist about your HIV anxiety? If not, I suggest you talk to one about it. There are many great tools out there to help you to win against your fear. :)
Do you have hypochondria? I cannot answer that. People sometimes call me a hypochondriac b/c once in a great while I will have a symptom I've never had before and I will sometimes worry about it... does that make me a hypochondriac compared to the people my sister sees at the Dr's office who come in twice a week thinking they have every disease in the book? I think that makes you and I look more like worry warts vs a hypochondriac. haha.
Glad you are realizing your issue is a fear of HIV. That's a great step to recovering from a fear. Is acknowledging you have that.
I think a little talk therapy can go a long way. =)
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