Should I be as worried as I am?

[bagonerves]

I am a 19 year old male and I have recently become very anxious over the fear of having hiv. I worry a lot about dying it is my biggest fear and it has triggered terrible anxiety leading to physical symptoms (I thought I had cancer)I was constantly fatigued and had chest pains. My one main worry is that I have hiv although I dont think I have been exposed but I am unsure so excuse me if this sounds ridiculous.Firstly I have had one sexual encounter with a girl who im sure is clean and I wore protection.
I was on holidays two years ago and in a club one night a glass bottle suddenly hit me on the shoulder and then a random girl reached out and touched my ear lobe and after that I noticed a sore on my ear lobe and I made myself believe I was injected with something maybe even hiv?
The second time that worrys me is last summer I stayed in a filty hostel in a terrible part of San Francisco,the bed sheets were blood stained and there were very seedy people living there except one guy who was a chef who lived there and he made dinner for all of us and I convinced myself that maybe he contaminated our food?
These thoughts have caused me terrible stress I turn everything into a symtom and I dont feel I can share this with anybody as I feel stupid! I worry that maybe I am dying and maybe I have hiv? Any advice on hiv infection and what you think I should do would be great!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You cannot have HIV from the environments and exposures you describe.  You intellectually know this but cannot get yourself to believe it, which proves the purely psychological and emotional nature of your problem.  See a health professional, be frank about your concerns, have an HIV test to help prove to yourself you do not have it, and expect that professional to then refer you for mental health care.  And accept and follow that advice when it comes.  I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.

I will have no other comments on this thread.  If you want to continue a discussion, take it to the HIV Support forum.  But that is not a substitute for getting the care you need.

HHH, MD

[sparkeler]

Have you been to the doctor to treat your OCD?  B/c it's as clear as day that this seems to be your illness here.  It's quite amazing that your OCD has you posting on an HIV forum.  Hiv isn't your problem but maybe you should start addressing what is the issue here.  Good luck & don't let your mind take away from anymore of your life than it already has.  Time to start living.

[dobber21]

My friend, your problems are all in your head. You could not  have possibly contracted HIV in any of the three scenarios you list.
However, you are clearly suffering from chronic anxiety. That's where your real problem lies. See a mental health professional to address your unwarranted fears.

But HIV is not an issue. It's as simple as that:)

[bagonerves]

Thank you!