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Health Anxiety/Hypocondria??

Mikey18

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I think my partner has health anxiety/hypercondria caused by the loss of his family members in a short space of time. In March this year he had headaches which resulted in him thinking he had a brain tumour which was investigated and neurologist diagnosed hypertension/anxiety. He has had shortness of breath, very fast heart rate, high blood pressure. Numerous trips to A n E, liver function tests, lung xrays as he thought he had COPD but results all normal. Neck pain resulted in Respiratory doctor saying caused by hyperventilating. Further investigation with ENT consultant for neck lump result was all ok. He is now seeing a urologist for bladder complaints, I.e. frequent urination (5 times a night for example) as he thinks he has bladder cancer. To which the consultant reassured him to say it’s not bladder cancer. I know the mind is very powerful and I know he is experiencing physical symptoms I am trying to support him. But if he has extreme anxiety could the stress on his body (worrying) cause all these physical symptoms? He accepts he is anxious and is taking 50mg of Sertraline but is still continuously finding another symptom I don’t know whether he has something seriously wrong with his body and the Doctors have missed something or if this is symptoms of anxiety? Has anyone else had these symptoms? Current symptoms are Insomnia, twitching at night in sleep/ shouting out at night in sleep can’t breathe/fast heart rate/ numbness in fingers at night/Shortness of breath (can’t get satisfactory breath of air) frequent urination/not having power to push out urine/occasional Strong flutter (like a baby kick) in right of belly button.
 

Cuchculan

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If a person has a lot of tests done and nothing is found and they still think there is something wrong with them, then we would have to say health anxiety. If you see loved ones die, you can think ' what if I am next '. Then you begin to think about your health. Actually amazing how the mind works. The way it can make you believe you have some serious illness. To the point you will even imagine the symptoms of that illness too. Might be worth speaking to a doctor about anxiety. Loss can hard to take. People deal with it in different ways. His might be fear. Fear of illness. Quicker he seeks helps the more chances of it clearing up. One he sees and accepts it is only his mind making these things up.
 

mollyfin

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I'm not a doctor and I'm not psychic so I can't say for sure what's causing those symptoms, but they ARE all known and common anxiety symptoms. I think we've all had them at some point. If tests are showing nothing, the odds become greater that it's anxiety.

I know how hard it is to be the "reasonable" one when your loved one is a hypochondriac. It's okay to have limits of what you can listen to and how much reassurance you can give. Hang in there.
 

Mikey18

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If a person has a lot of tests done and nothing is found and they still think there is something wrong with them, then we would have to say health anxiety. If you see loved ones die, you can think ' what if I am next '. Then you begin to think about your health. Actually amazing how the mind works. The way it can make you believe you have some serious illness. To the point you will even imagine the symptoms of that illness too. Might be worth speaking to a doctor about anxiety. Loss can hard to take. People deal with it in different ways. His might be fear. Fear of illness. Quicker he seeks helps the more chances of it clearing up. One he sees and accepts it is only his mind making these things up.
Thank you
I'm not a doctor and I'm not psychic so I can't say for sure what's causing those symptoms, but they ARE all known and common anxiety symptoms. I think we've all had them at some point. If tests are showing nothing, the odds become greater that it's anxiety.

I know how hard it is to be the "reasonable" one when your loved one is a hypochondriac. It's okay to have limits of what you can listen to and how much reassurance you can give. Hang in there.
Thank you
 

iwakami

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I've had everything as your partner except the bladder concerns. In my case it is anxiety, but the doctors should always have the last word.

With anxiety disturbance, the mind tricks you with actual physical symptoms. But they are not imaginations in the brain, they are really physical. I do get real pain, digestion stops, i get dizzy, parts of my body get numb, etc.

What disturbed my anxiety was a combination of a lot of events, including the death of family members.

If it is anxiety disorder, for recovery a mix of things and practises is necessary. Might or not include medication (in my case it did), but this is very sensitive, so a specialized doctor should review the absolute best medication (or none) for the case.

In anxiety disorder, you can play an important role by reintroducing the good times you had (and still have and will have). With the help of more friends too!
 

Ajayne94

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This is word for word exactly how I feel. I am constantly searching for something on my body that’s wrong and self diagnosing myself. I am constantly at the doctors asking for different tests and I too have had neck lumps (currently found another today) and it instantly sets me into panic. I won’t sleep tonight thinking about the ‘what ifs’ and thinking what I’m going to do if it is something bad. I feel like I can’t cope and I don’t want to live the rest of my life feeling like this. If anybody can help I would be so so grateful this has gone on for over 10 years every day and nothing is helping
 
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