when i hear of other people's illnesses, it causes me to search for the same symptoms and then i think i have the same illness...does anyone else experience this?

I was wondering if anyone else has this....nearly everytime i hear someone talk about what illness they have, i automatically start to compare it to my anxiety symptoms and then i assume that i may have the same illness that they have....then that alone throws me into a panic attack after dwelling upon it all day. for example, my mother has mitrovalve prolapse, so when she starts talking about her symptoms, then i start thinking i have the same thing...afterall, my heart will race and flutter, but it's always AFTER i have worried about it. i have been to the doctor several times and he has always said its anxiety. it's like, my mind knows the truth, but i can't seem to control the 'what if' thoughts. also, my mother and grandmother are nurses, so anytime i come down sick, they automatically propose suggestions as to what it could be, which sometimes gets me worrying and all they ever talk about is health issues so it's all i hear. it's pretty much the root of my anxiety. when my mom first started into the medical field 8 years ago, that's when my anxiety started. my dad was diagnosed with a lung disease around the same time, and it all combined together because all i was hearing was health issues...after a few months of hearing it, i turned into a hypochondriac and had my first panic attack and i have had it ever since. and for some reason, my fears are the worst while i am driving. i have never fainted before, but i start worrying, 'what if i were to faint while driving?'. logically, it sounds so ridiculous but sadly, it is actually hindering and torturing me greatly! it cause me alot of anticipatory anxiety and of course, when i have to face the fear and drive, it throws me into a panic attack while driving. i think it all has to do with the fear of losing control.

i started medication 2 months ago, and i have been making so much improvement, this is the root of my issue and if i can somehow alleviate it, i will have conquered it. it's the last little bump i'm trying to crawl over. please, if anyone can provide any thoughts, it would be very helpful to me. it just helps me in knowing that i'm not the only one who is going through this. :-)

[greenlydia]

Being around a couple of nurses who talk about all sorts of illnesses and diseases and come up with a bunch of possibilities when YOU are sick would turn any of us into hypochondriacs!
It is very easy to see how you developed your anxiety.

In my humble opinion, you do have a good case of health anxiety with a large measure of hypochondria thrown in. That you have obviously seen a doctor about this and are on meds for it is great, but I would strongly urge you to seek out a good therapist to deal with what you seem to already know is the underlying cause. But, even knowing that, the meds will not help you deal with that root cause, they will just make the anxiety bearable. Please consider some therapy to kick this nasty thought pattern in the butt.
I wish you the best.
Peace
Greenlydia
And by the way, you are NOT going through this alone by any means! Read some posts, it's a very crowded little elevator we're all riding!  :)
  

[suzi-q]

I am laughing!  But NOT at you!  It is just that you are SOOOOOOOO not alone!!!  I would bet you more than 1/2 the people on this site do the SAME THING...I used to be a member of the club, but with therapy and a lot of self-talk I am not so bad anymore...but it does creep up!  I agree 100% with the above poster!

[astou]

please do not feel alone, for 15 years i felt like i was the only person with this horrible disease. i always felt like i am going to die of cancer, i have claimed all kinds of diseases and after all these years i am still here. i have waisted all these years having anxiety and panic attacks, well 4 weeks ago, the panics got so bad i thought that was the end. well i called a therapist and i have been seeing her for about 5 weeks now and believe me it WORKKKKs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . i am taking it day by day, i see her once week and i also get on my knees and pray alot and i sought help because i am 35 years old, with a wonderful husband and two beautiful children and i am tired surviving, i am ready to Live.  be strong and do not give up. FYI , i see a big difference in a matter of weeks and i am not taking any meds and i hope that i will not need any.

again good luck

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes I understand the experience. For myself it started when I was a child and my father had salmonella and almost died. Trying to understand the experience I asked for some medical books out of interest and I became obsessed thinking that I had the same diseases. When I looked through a book about vitamins years later a minor cold sore would make me worry I had vitamin defiencies. For myself though it was the prodromal (warning signs) of schizoaffective disorder as the obsessions were psychotic. And years later when I had the manifestations of schizoaffective disorder I would think a few people coughing on the train meant there was an epidemic.
  Its complex because when I started on Lamictal ever minor skin irritation had me running to the dermatologist but it was essential that I know this rare side effect because someone I know did get it and it was almost fatal. However, now that I can understand things factually when I started (as a mood stabilizer and to control dystonic spasms) Guanfacine when I felt dizzy I knew it was a blood pressure drop (its a form of blood pressure pill) and I tested my blood pressure. It wasn't a big deal. I know that I have to get yearly blood work for potential damage to the liver from Zofran which also works on tardive dyskinesia. It doesn't scare me. But when I was a teenager and had not started anti-psychotics, every normal bump on me I thought was a tumor.
   But obviously this is part of anxiety disorder too. But when you start to recover as for things to be concerned about you can inform yourself about side effects and not be frightened. For example, one medication if taken out of context causes a certain number of fatalities each year and has a blood thinning effect. That would frighten people from taking it right? Its called Asprin. Everyone has taken that. But it can interact with some medications and some people can't. But no one is afraid of it.
  So I've described to people that I have advanced tardive dyskinesia and what they are identifying as tardive psychosis its not to in any way discourage people from taking the antipsychotics that cause them. Its for people know what to look for and for their psychiatrists to test them as most do. Anti-anxiety medications don't cause that long term disability. In fact the Klonopin I take controls the dystonic spasms. But Klonopin has a potential for a person to build up a tolerance to it. It is something I watch out for. But it doesn't frighten me from taking it. Most importantly while people are worrying about unknown diseases they will never acquire, they forget something practical. To read the inserts from their prescription medications, not just psychiatric but all kinds and if they are too complex to have a hand out from the pharmacy. To discuss the potential side effects and interactions. I think its more lack of knowledge that is frightening than knowledge because once you know it in a practical way, it doesn't seem frightening.

[CG822]

This is such a common thing!!!  I had a horrible fear and gave myself such bad anxiety!  it happens, and it is silly at the end of the say.  I couldnt agree more on here with everyone on here to stick with meds and therapy.  I do, and it has helped so much.  Also, the positive self talk is great too.  I suggest stresscenter.com

it is a GREAT program!!!!  and the forums are verrry helpful.  just like this one!

[msabhi]

i was searching fa this post!!!!yes i am experiencing this rite now :(
my mother is suffering from rheumatid artheritis....i love my mother very much and so i set out to learn about the symptoms caution one should be known off abt RA
i searched read read and finally i was upset about my mom suffering from tat...i went into a grave dpression anxiety or say fear for 1 hour!!!i was so frightened tat i hugged the pillow and shivered(actually i was already stressed out reading for exams)later after an hour ma legs and hands had some pain,tingles which i related it to rheumatid symptoms!!! i started thinking i too hav the same :(...but after seeing your post i am relieved!!!!!!OR SHOULD I BE RELIEVED???PLZZ ANSWER ME...AM I ALSO SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY PROBLEMS :(

[CG822]

Sweetie are you on meds?  you prolly should go to the Dr. and get some for your anxiety!  Leaving it untreated to cause it to get much worse!  I would not worry about the RA.  it is good you are educating yourself about it though,, for the sake of your mother.  

[angeldoll]

i been so sick thinking i am dying from something if i read about something and i have the symtoms (symptoms) i think im doing from it not a good feeling