ALS health anxiety - anyone (please read)?

[Corey05]

E.B is 100%, body aches are not ALS related. I too have battled this fear on and off for 2+ years. It does get better as Stealth says. Idk if or when this fear will go away, but it is much more manageable than in the past.

 

[Worr1edsome]

I did for a shorter period of time...very common for anxiety sufferers.

May i ask your age? And how did you get over it? Length of the anxiety for it?

E.B is 100%, body aches are not ALS related. I too have battled this fear on and off for 2+ years. It does get better as Stealth says. Idk if or when this fear will go away, but it is much more manageable than in the past.

I’m debating on an EMG but I don’t think it’s worth it. Idk.

 

[sTeaLth]

Best way I convinced myself it was anxiety was to do things such as climb stairs, lift a weight, do a push-up, etc. If you had ALS, those activities would be basically impossible or at least VERY difficult. When I was able to do them, it became apparent to me that it was anxiety. Regarding your aches and pains, heck yes I did. It was from being so tense all the time. Literally shaking all the time caused me to feel that way a lot.

 

[Corey05]

May i ask your age? And how did you get over it? Length of the anxiety for it?


I’m debating on an EMG but I don’t think it’s worth it. Idk.

I've never gone that far either, although I've thought about it many times. I don't think it's worth it either. For us with health anxiety, even if you got a clean emg, you will likeit question it or not fully believe it. I know, because I know I would be that way.

 

[Worr1edsome]

Best way I convinced myself it was anxiety was to do things such as climb stairs, lift a weight, do a push-up, etc. If you had ALS, those activities would be basically impossible or at least VERY difficult. When I was able to do them, it became apparent to me that it was anxiety. Regarding your aches and pains, heck yes I did. It was from being so tense all the time. Literally shaking all the time caused me to feel that way a lot.

Right now I have this mild ache/pain in my left foot that comes and goes, and it is honestly really worrisome ... I am afraid this could begin foot drop. Thoughts? Also, how else did you handle it?

I've never gone that far either, although I've thought about it many times. I don't think it's worth it either. For us with health anxiety, even if you got a clean emg, you will likeit question it or not fully believe it. I know, because I know I would be that way.

Thank you for the response. Yea, I haven't been seen by anyone except my Nurse Practitioner, I am still able to walk on my heels and toes. I am just afraid this ache in my foot may become foot drop.

 

[Jonathan123]

thank you for that. How long did yours last?

It is not much use to you to know that because it varies so much from person to person. It depends also on what sort of treatment you have and who you speak to, your social environment and your domestic issues. Now I am going to say something that may sound crazy, but anxiety changed my life, for the better. At first, like so many, I thought I would never get over it. My dear old counsellor asked me at our first session, 'do you want to get over this or go through it'? I said get over it. WRONG! By going through it and feeling the pain it can be redemptive. By 'getting over it' we revert to our old life that caused the problem in the beginning. It does seem that us humans have to experience suffering to learn. When I got better I gave up my job and became a counsellor. It was not easy financially or practically, but I stuck it out through the training because I wanted to help others in a like state and still do. I am retired now but still see the odd patient.
Often a lot of time is needed to recover and a lot of patience. Patience is not a virtue anxiety sufferers have a lot of!
Try not to put time limits on yourself. But it can be a good idea to keep a journal so that you can see any progress. Again, the rate of progress will vary so much between different people. Just as there is no quick fix so there is no time limit.

 

[Hobbit]

@Jonathon123

You're right, i have zero patience these days. I think thats why i am having trouble reading the book , i am trying to get thru it fast so i can start " getting better " . Hard to get to that relaxed state to sit and read and concentrate .

 

[Worr1edsome]

It is not much use to you to know that because it varies so much from person to person. It depends also on what sort of treatment you have and who you speak to, your social environment and your domestic issues. Now I am going to say something that may sound crazy, but anxiety changed my life, for the better. At first, like so many, I thought I would never get over it. My dear old counsellor asked me at our first session, 'do you want to get over this or go through it'? I said get over it. WRONG! By going through it and feeling the pain it can be redemptive. By 'getting over it' we revert to our old life that caused the problem in the beginning. It does seem that us humans have to experience suffering to learn. When I got better I gave up my job and became a counsellor. It was not easy financially or practically, but I stuck it out through the training because I wanted to help others in a like state and still do. I am retired now but still see the odd patient.
Often a lot of time is needed to recover and a lot of patience. Patience is not a virtue anxiety sufferers have a lot of!
Try not to put time limits on yourself. But it can be a good idea to keep a journal so that you can see any progress. Again, the rate of progress will vary so much between different people. Just as there is no quick fix so there is no time limit.

Agreed 100%. I am just freaking out, as I am 7-months into this and I have foot pain that I feel will result in foot drop. I logically think, however, that this has been caused by sitting on my gaming PC for multiple hours a day, at least 5-7, nearly everyday, applying for jobs and video gaming. Could sitting this long cause pain in one's foot as a result?

EDIT: I also have ADHD, so I shake one of my legs pretty frequently. Depends on the leg and day, it shifts. Somedays I just relax.

I've never gone that far either, although I've thought about it many times. I don't think it's worth it either. For us with health anxiety, even if you got a clean emg, you will likeit question it or not fully believe it. I know, because I know I would be that way.

What has kept you from an EMG?

 

[Jonathan123]

@Jonathon123

You're right, i have zero patience these days. I think thats why i am having trouble reading the book , i am trying to get thru it fast so i can start " getting better " . Hard to get to that relaxed state to sit and read and concentrate .

Pace yourself. You have all of eternity to read the book. Go slowly. MEVER try to force the pace. That is very difficult I know. We all want to get well yesterday! But hurrying will have the opposite effect to that required. Sit comfortably and try and relax. I say try because it's not easy. Open the book in front of you but don't read at first. Just relax and look at the pages. Take deep breaths and begin to read when you feel relaxed. Acceptance is all about calm and the ability to let it all come without adding fear to fear.

 

[Worr1edsome]

Pace yourself. You have all of eternity to read the book. Go slowly. MEVER try to force the pace. That is very difficult I know. We all want to get well yesterday! But hurrying will have the opposite effect to that required. Sit comfortably and try and relax. I say try because it's not easy. Open the book in front of you but don't read at first. Just relax and look at the pages. Take deep breaths and begin to read when you feel relaxed. Acceptance is all about calm and the ability to let it all come without adding fear to fear.

Thank you.

 

[Worr1edsome]

Pace yourself. You have all of eternity to read the book. Go slowly. MEVER try to force the pace. That is very difficult I know. We all want to get well yesterday! But hurrying will have the opposite effect to that required. Sit comfortably and try and relax. I say try because it's not easy. Open the book in front of you but don't read at first. Just relax and look at the pages. Take deep breaths and begin to read when you feel relaxed. Acceptance is all about calm and the ability to let it all come without adding fear to fear.

How long did yours last?

 

[Hobbit]

Pace yourself. You have all of eternity to read the book. Go slowly. MEVER try to force the pace. That is very difficult I know. We all want to get well yesterday! But hurrying will have the opposite effect to that required. Sit comfortably and try and relax. I say try because it's not easy. Open the book in front of you but don't read at first. Just relax and look at the pages. Take deep breaths and begin to read when you feel relaxed. Acceptance is all about calm and the ability to let it all come without adding fear to fear.

I will try that . I'm the kind of person who makes tea in the microwave because the kettle takes too long to boil !

 

[Jonathan123]

I will try that . I'm the kind of person who makes tea in the microwave because the kettle takes too long to boil !

Yeah, I know the feeling well. I am not a patient man when it comes to everyday things, but I can spend hours modelling ships with all the fiddly rigging. It is as if something we are interested in can make us patient whereas something we find boring will make us impatient! But I am afraid that any recovery from anxiety takes time, that we must accept. Time and more time with acceptance. It does work, but so many give in after a few tries as if acceptance is a miracle cure. It's not, but it's effective if done 24/7.