Thoughts...worries...etc!!!

So, i am sitting here at work...thinkin i have lung cancer...checking out all the symptoms on the net (i know very stupid) and freakin myself out. Ready to go down to the hospital for all the X-rays/scans etc.

I thought i would come on here and hope that someone would give me the slap to the head i need.

I am 28yrs old, pretty healthy, diagnosed with panic disorder and general anxiety.

I dont have lung cancer, right?

[cnote]

You sound just like me.

My anxiety started when I had soar lymphnodes in my neck. I kept playing with them and messing with them... and they got soarer and more soar.

I swear I had lymphoma after researching it on the internet.

The internet can be your friend, or your enemy... people with anxiety... the net tends to be our enemy.. b/c when we find symptoms of some sort.. we feel that "OH THAT MUST BE WHAT I HAVE!"

Here's my question for you..

"WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE LUNG CANCER?"

[nursegirl6572]

Here's your virtual slap in the head from me....

*Thwap!*

:0)  LOL

Ok now......

You nailed it all for yourself...now if you could only get your brain to hear you right?  It would be VERY highly unlikely that you have lung cancer.  The fact that you are using the evil google is of course adding to your anxiety.  I wish all of us with anxiety could have pcs that didn't allow us to search for medical conditions...etc.  It's the worst thing we could do.

Let me ask you this...since you have a history of anxiety...you seem to know the drill...what are you doing for the anxiety?  Are you on any meds or in therapy?  If not....one or the other, or both (optimally) would be the best place to start.

You sound like you have classic health anxiety IMO.  Like cnote asked...what exactly is making you think you have lung cancer?

Good luck....please stick around here for support.

[WorriedScared11]

Thanks for the slap to the head...those thoughts are still lingering in my brain and have been for about a week.

Well, i recently quit smoking. I smoked for approximately 9 years. The reason I think i have lung cancer is because I always get these weird headaches and sometimes chest pains. I have been to the doctor about it and she says it is due to my anxiety.

So yesterday I did all this research on lung cancer....low and behold some of the symptoms match mine. Hence the anxiety.

I got diagnosed with anxiety 6 months ago...but now that i know what it is i think i have had it since i was a child.

Alrighty...I have to get my mind of this...these thoughts have consumed me for a week now. I am falling behind in every aspect of my life.

Thanks for the support!!!!!!

Mike

[WorriedScared11]

Oh yah....nursegirl asked what i take for my anxiety.

well, i only take ativan when it gets really bad. it seems to help...but i find it wears off very quick.

i have not looked into or talked to my doc about taking anything else. I really want to take care of this naturally. is that wrong of me?

Mike

[amish1979]

"i have not looked into or talked to my doc about taking anything else. I really want to take care of this naturally. is that wrong of me?"

Well.....yes.  If you can't do it on your own, you might need some outside help.  Me, I waited until it got sooooooo bad that I wanted to off myself before I sought medication.  If that's what you want then go ahead and try it "naturally".  

[WorriedScared11]

i have never thought of "offing" myself and dont think i ever would.

on my worst days, i think i have some kind of life threatening disease and it lasts for about a week or two max. then i live anxiety free for about a month, and then repeat it happens again.

i dont think its as severe as your case.

if it ever gets to a point where i cant handle it anymore...then i will definitely look into it.

but for now, i think i can handle it. thanks for your input though.

[amish1979]

Well with a name like "WorriedScared11", and the fact that you are "falling behind in every aspect of your life" I think you should reconsider. My point was that I hope you don't wait until it gets as bad as I did, because it will if you don't address it.  Have you considered therapy?

[WorriedScared11]

so i went to the doc and found out that i have an ulcer...anxiety gone!!

just a couple weeks of anti-biotics.

thanks to all for their help!