Fear of a chronic illness

[Mandah2386]

I know most fear a sudden illness like cancer or heart attack, I fear those too. But lately I've also been fearing a chronic illness like high blood pressure or diabetes. Both run in my family and even though I'm at a healthy weight I worry as i get older how I would manage my anxiety with it. Anxiety makes your blood pressure go up anyways, so if i get high blood pressure i will spend my days obsessing about it I'm sure, checking it all the time. I really need to nip that anxiety in the bud once and for all and I also fear my anxiety being lifelong thing. My aunt has horrible anxiety, has tried to commit suicide twice, been in a mental hospital and now draws a disability check because of it. I dont want that to be me.

 

[triceps]

I know most fear a sudden illness like cancer or heart attack, I fear those too. But lately I've also been fearing a chronic illness like high blood pressure or diabetes. Both run in my family and even though I'm at a healthy weight I worry as i get older how I would manage my anxiety with it. Anxiety makes your blood pressure go up anyways, so if i get high blood pressure i will spend my days obsessing about it I'm sure, checking it all the time. I really need to nip that anxiety in the bud once and for all and I also fear my anxiety being lifelong thing. My aunt has horrible anxiety, has tried to commit suicide twice, been in a mental hospital and now draws a disability check because of it. I dont want that to be me.

Hi Mandah. Don't know how old you are but the best thing you've got going is that you're at a healthy weight. Type I diabetes is often hereditary but I don't believe Type II is. Generally it comes along with obesity. And yes, you'd probably burn through some blood pressure monitors if you got high blood pressure. But even if you got it they've got good medications to control it.
Sure sorry that your aunt has suffered so much.

 

[Steven]

I wouldn’t worry about the high blood pressure thing too much. I know some of the basics you can do the keep it low is avoid salty foods, excercise, maintain a healthy weight. All of those things are just kind of healthy life style habits anyway lol. I’ve noticed that I get anxiety going to the doc so sometimes my bp will be high at a check up and other times it won’t be. I think it’s called “white coat syndrome” or something like that when you raise your blood pressure just be being in a doctor office.

 

[Ageless50]

I know most fear a sudden illness like cancer or heart attack, I fear those too. But lately I've also been fearing a chronic illness like high blood pressure or diabetes. Both run in my family and even though I'm at a healthy weight I worry as i get older how I would manage my anxiety with it. Anxiety makes your blood pressure go up anyways, so if i get high blood pressure i will spend my days obsessing about it I'm sure, checking it all the time. I really need to nip that anxiety in the bud once and for all and I also fear my anxiety being lifelong thing. My aunt has horrible anxiety, has tried to commit suicide twice, been in a mental hospital and now draws a disability check because of it. I dont want that to be me.

Hello Mandah2386. If it's any consolation to you, I have hypertension and have had it for the past 5 years. I am currently on medication to control it and haven't had any problems with my blood pressure since. My mother developed hypertension at the age of 32 and is now 75 years old now. My mother is a rare breed...she absolutely doesn't worry about a thing! I believe that's one sure way of longevity. I aspire to be more like her. I also forgot to mention that I have hypothyroidism which I also take meds for. I developed both conditions after the birth of my third child at the age of 45. I'm 50 yrs old today and healthy according to my doctor. My husband said that I'm pushing the family away due my constant worrying about health. It was a wakeup call for me today. I really want to be more positive about my thoughts. Wishing you the best this new year...

 

[triceps]

Hello Mandah2386. If it's any consolation to you, I have hypertension and have had it for the past 5 years. I am currently on medication to control it and haven't had any problems with my blood pressure since. My mother developed hypertension at the age of 32 and is now 75 years old now. My mother is a rare breed...she absolutely doesn't worry about a thing! I believe that's one sure way of longevity. I aspire to be more like her. I also forgot to mention that I have hypothyroidism which I also take meds for. I developed both conditions after the birth of my third child at the age of 45. I'm 50 yrs old today and healthy according to my doctor. My husband said that I'm pushing the family away due my constant worrying about health. It was a wakeup call for me today. I really want to be more positive about my thoughts. Wishing you the best this new year...

Hi Ageless. I'm so, so sorry that your health anxiety is effecting your relationship with your family. I imagine that although it's a wakeup call, it will shortly make things worse for you. There are two things you know for sure: 1) your health anxiety is in no way any fault of yours and 2) your doctor says you're healthy. I know that doesn't by itself make you feel any better but trying to steer your mind to those two facts might help you be more positive. I know you've had your disorder a long time and suggesting that "all you need to do is change your thinking" is almost silly (I sure can't practice what I preach) but I thought I'd point out the obvious anyway. Am wishing you the best.