severe hypochondriac

[taylor22]

Does anyone else feel this way? I feel like if i read about a disease, ill automatically find some of the symptoms that are associated with that disease and convince myself that i have it. right now i am convinced i have a brain tumor, MS, macular degeneration, stomach cancer, and some other things. i feel like i get almost obsessed with a certain disease and convince myself that i have it. the only way i get "over" a disease is if i get tested for it. but some diseases you can't just get tested for. i used to be obsessed with having AIDS, i was convinced i had it. i finally got tested for it and definitely don't have it but every once in a while my thoughts will start going crazy and ill think, well i do have this cut on my hand, what if i touched something in public that had AIDS on it and now i have it? I can't get these obsessive thoughts out of my head. I guess that's why it's called OCD but mine is all about diseases.  anyone else get this? why can't i just live a normal life and not worry that every little things is something serious?

[jul04]

Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about.  Anytime I get a new pain/symptom I am on the net and always self diganosing.  And yes I will start havig "symptoms" of whatever disease I think I have.  It is a n endless cycle and it makes my anxiety worse.  My husband thinks I am nuts because he just doesn't get it.  That is why love this forum because there are so many people that have been there and they get what you are going through.  One thing I have learned is to stay off the net because alot of what you read out there is scary and most of the time it doesn't even apply to your situation.  Just learn to trust your dr, stay off the net and use this forum as an outlet.  Remember you will never be judged here.  Good luck...I hope you feel better soon!!!

[Andromedallia23]

Yes, I've felt that way too many times. I still feel that way and that's why my doctor prescribed me some antidepressants because my anxiety is getting to the point that I can't even focus on getting a job, plan for a career and go to school, let alone have a social life. It's pretty much going down the drains. Before I joined this site, I didn't think there was even such a thing as a health phobia. I think if I was to rational my issue as "hypochondria" that I'm keeping my sanity in check. And I do the exact same thing too when I go online and look up diseases that *I* believe I have for some odd reason and then wonder if I do have the symptoms listed. I even try to convince myself that even though I don't have the symptoms, I STILL have it either way!! I'm very much paranoid just like you. Especially when it comes to sharing food and drinks and when people double-dip or use their own spoon as a serving spoon and that whole paranoia of catching meningitis ('cause I was an idiot for not getting vaccinated). I wish I didn't have those thoughts but like you said, it's hard to get tested for some diseases. There are some diseases that you can't help but obsess with as if you already have it and you are certain that you're living through it without getting any treatment. I pray to God to make it go away so that I can at least focus and live a normal life. It's hard because I can't seem to talk to anyone else about this without being ridiculed or getting everyone else agitated with me like I need to be monitored or something. So don't worry, you're not the only one.