Health anxiety at 14 years old

[Damien ferguson]

Hi everybody
I'm a 14 year old boy who has been suffering from health anxiety for the last 5-6 months, back in August i notice a lump down below which really scared me. I was convinced i had cancer. I asked Dr google and it pointed straight at cancer, i told my parents and they got me an appointment at the doctors. The doctor said it was common for boys at my age to have lumps down below and he was pretty certain it was not cancer. I felt a lot better but then in september i started to worry again. I was pretty sure that i had colon cancer. I kept feeling the urge to have a bowel movement, when i get to the bathroom nothing comes out ( sorry for to much information ) I was also very gassy. I told my mum but she said there is nothing wrong with me. I begged for an appointment but she said its probably nothing. I eventually did get an appointment . just few weeks before christmas i went to the docters and i told the doctors about my fears about cancer. I told him about my signs and he said that its probably IBS or anxiety. He said that colon cancer is rare in teens. I felt better again but around new years day i started to noticed that my body temperature has changed. my skin is really hot. I got a thermometer ( brand new ) and took my temperature and i said it was normal. i kept taken my temperature everyday but it says my temperature is normal. I felt fine but i knew something was wrong. I went straight back to google and it was said cancer. My body temperature is more warmer than usual. This has been going on for 2 months now. I keep asking my mum to feel my forehead but she says i don't have a fever. I don't believe her and i think she is just saying that to try not to scare me . Ever since August i have just been fearing the worse and just keep thinking that i am gonna die and my life is over. I am a healthy 14 year old who has never had any problems with my health neither has my mum and dad ever had problems with their health. I used to enjoy life alot but now, everyday is so hard for me.

 

[triceps]

Hi Damien and welcome. There are so many here with health anxiety so you've come to a good place. My advice would be to change your thinking from those unrealistic thoughts of having cancer (which hopefully deep down you know you don't have) and work on getting the anxiety itself treated in some way. I would discuss it with your Mum and see if she would be willing to get you some counseling or take you to the doctor specifically to treat your anxiety disorder, not any cancer. Another option would be to schedule a meeting with your school counselor who has helped many kids with anxiety and can steer you to further help. Again, welcome and remember that none of this is your fault and that you do have an illness, it's just not cancer.

 

[triceps]

Hi Damien. Hope you're feeling better. Please remember that your anxiety is not limited in any way, and can be very creative in the physical symptoms it can give you. This morning I was sure I had the flu because of the feelings of nausea and having the runs. Couple hours later and I'm fine. Anxiety symptoms feel very real and I try to tell myself it's just anxiety and they eventually go away. Take care.

 

[Damien ferguson]

Thanks triceps. Take care

 

[Rinka]

Hi everybody
I'm a 14 year old boy who has been suffering from health anxiety for the last 5-6 months, back in August i notice a lump down below which really scared me. I was convinced i had cancer. I asked Dr google and it pointed straight at cancer, i told my parents and they got me an appointment at the doctors. The doctor said it was common for boys at my age to have lumps down below and he was pretty certain it was not cancer. I felt a lot better but then in september i started to worry again. I was pretty sure that i had colon cancer. I kept feeling the urge to have a bowel movement, when i get to the bathroom nothing comes out ( sorry for to much information ) I was also very gassy. I told my mum but she said there is nothing wrong with me. I begged for an appointment but she said its probably nothing. I eventually did get an appointment . just few weeks before christmas i went to the docters and i told the doctors about my fears about cancer. I told him about my signs and he said that its probably IBS or anxiety. He said that colon cancer is rare in teens. I felt better again but around new years day i started to noticed that my body temperature has changed. my skin is really hot. I got a thermometer ( brand new ) and took my temperature and i said it was normal. i kept taken my temperature everyday but it says my temperature is normal. I felt fine but i knew something was wrong. I went straight back to google and it was said cancer. My body temperature is more warmer than usual. This has been going on for 2 months now. I keep asking my mum to feel my forehead but she says i don't have a fever. I don't believe her and i think she is just saying that to try not to scare me . Ever since August i have just been fearing the worse and just keep thinking that i am gonna die and my life is over. I am a healthy 14 year old who has never had any problems with my health neither has my mum and dad ever had problems with their health. I used to enjoy life alot but now, everyday is so hard for me.

It seems as if you are going through some tough time. Its understandable. Just recently or its still on going, it experienced a lot of stress and anxiety. As you mentioned my skin and whole body got hot to the touch. My doctor explained to me that a continuous state of stress and anxiety lets your adrenaline glands overproduce and the hot skin is the result of it.
It seems that a certain situation or a change in your life in the last few months have triggered your anxious reaction. Do you by any chance have an idea what could have changed in your life?

 

[Rosy]

It seems as if you are going through some tough time. Its understandable. Just recently or its still on going, it experienced a lot of stress and anxiety. As you mentioned my skin and whole body got hot to the touch. My doctor explained to me that a continuous state of stress and anxiety lets your adrenaline glands overproduce and the hot skin is the result of it.
It seems that a certain situation or a change in your life in the last few months have triggered your anxious reaction. Do you by any chance have an idea what could have changed in your life?

Thank you for letting us know the reason for hot skin. I get that and could not understand why. No fever just hot skin to the touch. You helped me to get rid of one worry. Thanks again.

 

[Rinka]

Thank you for letting us know the reason for hot skin. I get that and could not understand why. No fever just hot skin to the touch. You helped me to get rid of one worry. Thanks again.

No worries, I was pretty scared as well to be honest. My skin got really hot, and sometimes my face got really red. I also got a really tight chest and pain breathing. Of course I was dying, NOT.
I had it checked out by my doctor, it's all related to stress and anxiety and the adrenaline that's running through your system during anxiety and gets you ready for your fight, flight or freeze reaction.

 

[Rosy]

You relieved me so much. Thank you. I get the tight chest and think heart. Then my rational mind takes over and I calm down some. I hope you are having a good day.

 

[Rosy]

Hurt. so glad to see you back. Hope all is well with your little boy and knee. Triceps and I were thinking of you and wondering how things were going. Like I said, good to see you back.