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Hypochondria (Severe)
It's almost ruined parts of my life, I've had cancer so many times I've broken records. I lost my Step Dad to Cancer and I think that is where it all started, my mom not has cancer and is in remission. I'm 20 years old, but now I'm convinced I had stomach colon pancreatic or bile duct cancer, and when I obsess sometimes I feel like symptoms can actually come to life. My lower left abdomen hurts, using bathroom frequently, and I'm so hungry all the time it's unreal. I just can't take it anymore. I'm tired of living in fear.
SSRIs work on the serotonin neurotransmitter. The SNRIs work on serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters.
There are two things that work and that is CBT and medication. If medication isn't for you, then you really need to concentrated on the CBT end of it. You said you learned it but it doesn't work great. You may want to revisit a psychologist and work on that again. Also, not all medications for OCD are SSRIs. You could try a SNRI for example such as Wellbutrin. That is the one I take and it works well for me. I take 300 mg and I don't feel sluggish or lazy at all. It has given me my life back.
I stopped taking Lexapro because it makes me so extremely lazy/ sluggish and uninterested in things, all anti depressants for that matter. I would feel way more accomplished if I beat this thing all natural. You know?
Bottom line....all things physical are fine. You do not have cancer. The stool...let it go because if it isn't the stool today it will be something else tomorrow. Tell yourself "NO, I AM NOT GOING THERE" when you start to find yourself overanalyzing something.
Did the Lexapro not work for you? Why off and on? Why not always on?
Did the Lexapro not work for you? Why off and on? Why not always on?
Update: blood results came in, everything looks normal. Got a CBC and liver pancreas function test.
I have taken Lexapro on and off for about 2 years, I've been off it for about 6 months now. By the way, for the first time today my stool actually looked clayish greenish, scared me a lot. Yesterday and the day before it was fine? What gives? If it was cancer wouldn't it be constantly that color? I've also heard anxiety can cause it to be greenish paleish
That is fine but when you get the results you have to believe them. Reassurance seeking is really another way of "testing" and sometimes that keeps you in the OCD loop. So yes, it is best to rule out the physical but like I said you have to believe in the results and move on. You never answered my lexapro question.
I went to the doctor today, he said everything was fine to him and he felt around my stomach asked questions, told me he'd " put his paycheck on it that I don't have cancer". But still wants me to do blood work so he can call me and reassure nothing is wrong.
Hi RTC24
I didn't understand your post 'Ive had cancer so many times Ive broken records'
Do you mean you've been worried about cancer? Or that you had cancer when u were younger?
If its just fear about cancer --- the less attention you give to little feelings here and there in your body, and less research u do about cancers ---- probably u can realise that these sensations in your body are what everybody experiences.
What is it makes you think u have cancer? Of course if you have symptoms of something go check with the Doctor....but what kind of things make u worried?
I didn't understand your post 'Ive had cancer so many times Ive broken records'
Do you mean you've been worried about cancer? Or that you had cancer when u were younger?
If its just fear about cancer --- the less attention you give to little feelings here and there in your body, and less research u do about cancers ---- probably u can realise that these sensations in your body are what everybody experiences.
What is it makes you think u have cancer? Of course if you have symptoms of something go check with the Doctor....but what kind of things make u worried?
Yes I have leaned the technique, it does work great when I'm having a "panic attack", but my worse concern is just the constant worry.. Not necessarily the attacks of panic. It's just the conscience and even sub conscience that is constantly in the back of my mind. It's more obsession than panic. But panic does come if another symptom pops up. And I try to breath. And it calms me down, but the worry... That never goes away. I've seen a lot of doctors, taken Lexapro but have since quit taking it.
Without looking it up I'm going to say not very common at all. So the therapists you saw never taught you cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)? If not, that is a shame because that is an important tool to have and master. You need to learn to let these thoughts go. You need to replace them with positive statements of fact and not the fictions you make up in your head. You need to learn to breath your way back to calmness.
Try this breathing technique next time you are anxious. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for 5 seconds and count this out in your head, then let it all out through your mouth. You can do this in any situation, anywhere and nobody will even know you are doing it. But at first, try it laying down in your bed with your hands on your stomach. See if it doesn't help to calm you down. When you are calm you can think more rationally.
Lastly, you are only 20 and IMO this is no way to live so if therapy is not something you want to try again, how about medication? There are lots of medications out there that help with both anxiety and OCD. Are you amenable to taking medication? Personally I think CBT is very crucial and it goes along hand-in-hand with medication. So perhaps find a therapist that actually teaches CBT and then from there you can decide of medication is something you want to try.
Try this breathing technique next time you are anxious. Take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for 5 seconds and count this out in your head, then let it all out through your mouth. You can do this in any situation, anywhere and nobody will even know you are doing it. But at first, try it laying down in your bed with your hands on your stomach. See if it doesn't help to calm you down. When you are calm you can think more rationally.
Lastly, you are only 20 and IMO this is no way to live so if therapy is not something you want to try again, how about medication? There are lots of medications out there that help with both anxiety and OCD. Are you amenable to taking medication? Personally I think CBT is very crucial and it goes along hand-in-hand with medication. So perhaps find a therapist that actually teaches CBT and then from there you can decide of medication is something you want to try.
Thank you for your comment, I have talked go therapists but it never seems to help, I'm just constantly worried, any slight symptom is catastrophic. How common is cancer in a 20 year old anyways?
Hi there....have you talked to a therapist about these thoughts? It sounds like it has been going on for a while. Health anxiety is pretty common actually. I mean really what is worse than having a bad disease like cancer and dying from it when you are 20. We take everyday life situations and we catastrophize them which seems to be what you are doing. And yes, anxiety can actually be so bad that it brings on the symptoms you are worried about. Things that you would ordinarily just let go such as a stomach ache get the what-if.
My suggestion would be first, stay off the internet. No Google searches about cancer...you are just making a bad situation worse. See if you can get an appointment with a psychologist so that you can learn ways to help yourself with these thoughts. Also, think about getting the book Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani. It gives you strategies to use when these thoughts pop into your head.
let me know how it is going. Take care.
My suggestion would be first, stay off the internet. No Google searches about cancer...you are just making a bad situation worse. See if you can get an appointment with a psychologist so that you can learn ways to help yourself with these thoughts. Also, think about getting the book Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani. It gives you strategies to use when these thoughts pop into your head.
let me know how it is going. Take care.
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