A hypochondriac that avoids...help...

[jafinla]

Hello,

I am writing in the hopes of finding someone out there like me. I am a hypochondriac, or so I've been told. I have diagnosed myself with so many physical ailments I can't even count them. It seems like when one series of symptoms disappear, another set surfaces. I find myself obsessing over these symptoms and possible diagnoses that my anxiety actually comes between my daily life. For example, I should be at work right now, but I'm at home searching the internet for info on my symptoms. I feel pathetic, scared, anxious and mildly depressed, at the moment.

Is there such thing as an "Avoidant Hypochondriac"?

I basically complain and cry to family & friends and I always get the same response "Go see a doctor!". BUT, that doesn't help me, it just makes me more anxious. I guess I want someone to say, "ahh, don't worry...it's nothing". But how can they? I can't get passed this horrible fear of going to the doctor. Anyone else out there like me? Any advice?

Thanks!

Jafinla

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Instead of seeing a doctor, go see a psychologist or therapist to talk about your real anxieties...that's the best cure of hypochondriasis.

[englishlad]

well well well...your definately in luck because i am exactly the same way you are...in fact i didnt leave my house today untill 1pm when i should have attended a sales meeting at 9am...so what does that tell you..i am a bigtime hypochondriac and i obsess over EVERYTHING especially my health..i am always checking my pulse/blood pressure/checking for bumps, worried that my anxiety will cause my heart to fail,cause cancer ect ect ect...you are NOT the only one out there and it WILL pass if you want it to..my problem however is that i visit the doctor way more than i should...even after all my clean bills of health i still find things to obsess over..i am currently seeing a phycologist and it has gotten a lil bit better...but i am definately at the crossroads now of weither or not i should consider taking medication to help my symptoms..maybe it wont be such a bad thing...u definately should consider seeking a mental health professional because it does help to talk about it..they will run a phycological profile on you and find exactly what is bothering you...remember these symptoms that you are feeling are your brains way of distracting you from what is REALLY  bothering you...i myself,  have obsession and depression and an idenity chrisis... if you have not been to the doctor, then i highly recommend that you go because 80-95% of the time, they wont find anything wrong with you, and that is a HUGE load off your sholders in itself..if you are still obsessing and worried, then it wouldnt hurt to see a phyciatrist...read my latest blog right under yours and you will see that your not the only one...you arnt crazy, your not going to die...its just a chemical imbalance in the brain which can be fixed..it just takes time! good luck and god bless! =)

[jafinla]

Thanks for your advice Worrysum! I'm still terrified to go see anyone, I guess I have to figure out what that is about and why I am such an avoider. It's interesting that both you and I missed out on sales opportunities today due to our health anxiety. Good luck to you too! :)

Thanks!

[englishlad]

i hear ya!...it sounds like white coat syndrome..that is also extremely common..i dont think i could visit a dr's office without taking some sort of sedative to relax me...your always afraid that they are gonna find something wrong...ive always been that way even since a was a kid..i use to cry when my mom would drive me to the dr's...what line of work r u in?

[Pum]

It all sounds so familiar.  It wouldn't matter so much except that it seems to be affecting your life ie your job and relationships.  I have had patches like you are going through and sometimes could "snap" out of it and sometimes not.  I, personally, found medication wonderful for switching off the constant intrusive thoughts and reminding me what a wonderful thing life is when you're not obsessing over your health.

I read that people with "health anxiety" (I prefer that to hypochondriac: I'm in denial eh) visit their doctor more than twice as often as people with serious illnesses like cancer, diabetes etc. and I bet in many ways they are experiencing more "ill health" effects than many people with physical diseases.

Try to do some self-help things like exercise, listening to upbeat music, ceasing to search on the internet (ha), medititation, doing things for other people.  Get too busy.  

If you find yourself being less and less able to live your life then you need to SEE A DOCTOR.  You don't even need to go through your latest list of symptoms, just the mental health ones and ask about getting an anti-depressant.  After you've been on them a few weeks then see if you still need the physical things checked out.  My doctor did that to me once ie try paxil for a few weeks and if you are still having the heartburn, back pain etc. we will do a endoscopy.  Guess what, after a few weeks the pains had all gone and this was all over 5 years ago and I've not had the gastro symptoms back.  You might only need a short course (I had paxil for 4 months) and of course hopefully you will not need anything at all.

"A life lived in fear is a life half lived"  Strictly Ballroom wisdom.

Good luck

[ABCMomof3]

I have a similar problem too. And I didn't realize I had it until yesterday at work. The company I work for was hosting a *health-expo* and during the night (while I was at home sleeping) the whole expo was being set up and when I arrived at work I walked in and seen all these booths with displays on health and wellness and several ambulances were even in the building; there were 70 health exhibits in all.

Well, I was okay until around 10:00 in the morning when the sponsors and vendors started showing up and that is when I had a panic attack. It was awful. Suddenly the whole building was swarming with people in white coats (nurses) to give out flu shots and paramedics were everywhere I looked; taking blood pressures and other minor health evaluations. I started shaking and crying and I couldn't move. I had people coming up to me asking me what was the matter and I could hardly speak.

Someone came up to me and took me by the arm, walked me to a quiet spot and gave me some tissues and the first thing he asked me was *Is it the white coats*

I just shook my head YES and he said okay, hang on, give me a minute........he came back with a cup of warm cider and some cookies and I just sat there with him for probably an hour until I felt well enough to get up and do my job. It was the most difficult day and he reassured me that if I needed him again to contact security and he would be available.

I stayed and worked the whole day (8 hours) and every once in a while throughout the day we would see each other and he would wave or tell me I'm doing a wonderful job. And at the end of the day, when I was getting ready to leave he told me that I just accomplished a really important thing; I faced my fear, a fear I didn't even realize I had until then. He said it's most likely a post traumatic stress problem dating back to Oct. 2000 when I told him about my Mothers illness, life support for 2 weeks and eventually her death. I must associate lots of white coats to death instead of health and life; because there were always groups of doctors and nurses around my Mothers bed. And yesterday at work I was surrounded by them all day long. But I made it through and at least I know I can do it again if I have to.

I hope you feel a little better, because you are NOT alone.

[imcrazy2]

Well, I too have been called a hypochondriac, but nothing like what you have--mine is just a fear of having an anaphylactic reaction to something. BUT, I have noticed that my health anxieties and my OCD (the obsessing part) symptoms have been DRAMATICALLY improved with medication.  I have tried Paxil and Prozac for panic disorder and anxiety, and have noticed tremendous differences when taking medication.  I know more people in my personal life that are on medication than not, I truly believe that some form of SSRI should be in the drinking water ( ;). I encourage you (strongly) to try one if you haven't already. You will hear a lot of bad stuff about meds, but they really can be a miracle, and with the amount of interruption this problem is having on your life, you really should consider it.

[MariAAB]

It's good to hear from people with similar symptoms. If I catch a cold I can see a doctor with no problem.  But if I have something that I think is serious I totally freak out.  Luckily this doesn't happen often, but when it does I obsess to the point of an anxiety attack.  Today I'm seeing my doctor for something that I'm worried about.  Luckily I have a prescription of Antivan.  I've never taken a tranquilizer before a doctor appointment so I don't know if it will help, but I'm hopeful.

[can'tibenormal]

I am in the same boat. I am a mother, 33 yrd old and a nurse. My anxiety takes control over my entire life. I don't know what to do anymore. I spend 90% of the day taking my pulse, checking my blood pressure and thinking something is wrong with me. I thought it all started after I was mugged making it PTSD, but recently a high school friend and I were talking and she reminded me of a few attacks I had as a teen and even going by ambulance once to the ER for help.
What can I do to make it stop! I have try to get out of the "habit" of taking my pulse everytime I feel a little palpitation and that seemed to work for a while. I think I may have gone a couple of weeks even without worrying.
Sometimes I even drive myself to the emergency parking lot just because I know someone is near if I do need help. I have not been medicated, although I have a perscription for valium in my purse ( I only take it when I really need to, about 3 times a year). I dont even take meds because I am afraid I am going to have some crazy reaction to them and die! I know this is stupid. I do, I think thats how I have kept from going insane but I just don't know what to do about it!!

I am screaming inside and I have found that prayer sometimes just isn't enough.
ANy advise, other than see a Dr? Been there, done that and of course the diagnosis is "Anxiety".

Scared in San Antonio
***@****

[nolaman]

I too suffer from severe anxiety over health related issues.  For me, it is blood pressure related.  I started taking my blood pressure after learning from my doc that I was pre-hypertensive.  135/85 - So began my downward spiral.  In August 2006, I was taking my blood pressure twice a day, then 3, then 4, then up to 20 times per day by November.  I went for MRI, CT scans, ultrasounds, xrays, blood tests, etc, holter monitor, event monitor - all normal - I even had an angiogram done a week ago because they thought they found a blockage in my renal artery - but it was a wrong ultrasound - imagine your anxiety levels if that happened to you.  Anxiety is out of control right now, can barely sit still and I am on Lexapro.  Also recently diagnosed with sleep apnea in November 2005 and now wear a CPAP to go to sleep.  Panic attacks all the time, but some days are better than others.  Also have dizziness, numbness in forehead, vertigo, sweaty palms, insomnia, etc.