I’ve been struggling with health anxiety for years. I feel like I’m drowning. I try not to google symptoms but when my anxiety spikes it seems to be the place I land. Reassurance from peers only offers a moment of relief. I’m here because my cousin noticed my pupils being different sizes and starting listing possible reasons why. Brain aneurysm, glaucoma, maybe a tumor. I think it’s because I get headaches from playing too much video games or watching tv. To say I’m freaking out would be an understatement. I’m afraid of medicine. I’m afraid of doctors. I’m just afraid. If I don’t die from one of these I’m sure I’ll die from stress.
I’m a whole mess.
- Thread starter Cheppa
- Start date
Hi Cheppa, first of all, welcome to the forum.
The first and best thing that you can do in this situation to find the self-restraint within you to stop using Dr. Google. Google is trained to give you the worst possible conditions for every single slight symptom you might have, so it will do you no good first of all.
Secondly, I’d like to point you to my post “Anxiety Motivation”, where you can find that brain aneurysms, tumors, etc., are extremely rare, and only happen to small amounts of the population. It’s highly unlikely you have any of those conditions. I’m sorry to see that someone close to you put that fear inside of you.
I hope things continue to improve for you and please don’t hesitate to let us help you!
The first and best thing that you can do in this situation to find the self-restraint within you to stop using Dr. Google. Google is trained to give you the worst possible conditions for every single slight symptom you might have, so it will do you no good first of all.
Secondly, I’d like to point you to my post “Anxiety Motivation”, where you can find that brain aneurysms, tumors, etc., are extremely rare, and only happen to small amounts of the population. It’s highly unlikely you have any of those conditions. I’m sorry to see that someone close to you put that fear inside of you.
I hope things continue to improve for you and please don’t hesitate to let us help you!
Hi Cheppa,
I have severe health anxiety as well ac OCD, health anxiety is a form of OCD.
I assure you things are going to be alright.
I'm going to a very expensive therapy center for OCD as my health obsessions are constant and ever changing and I have had an ongoing irrational fear that I'm going to get meningitis since I discovered what meningitis was a yea ago. What I've learned from therapy is that you have to live with uncertainty. The reassurance is a comfort behavior that is only temporary and never fixes the problem,. our problem is fear of uncertainty but once we accept the uncertainty about whatever our fear is at the moment that is what actually helps. I myself am in need of reassurance often as well. Your not gonna die and NOT GOOGLING is one of the best things you can do trust me
I have severe health anxiety as well ac OCD, health anxiety is a form of OCD.
I assure you things are going to be alright.
I'm going to a very expensive therapy center for OCD as my health obsessions are constant and ever changing and I have had an ongoing irrational fear that I'm going to get meningitis since I discovered what meningitis was a yea ago. What I've learned from therapy is that you have to live with uncertainty. The reassurance is a comfort behavior that is only temporary and never fixes the problem,. our problem is fear of uncertainty but once we accept the uncertainty about whatever our fear is at the moment that is what actually helps. I myself am in need of reassurance often as well. Your not gonna die and NOT GOOGLING is one of the best things you can do trust me
This was amazing advice. Uncertainty can be intimidating. I have bouts where I accept the thought of death only to be riddled with shaking when I think of a “symptom”. Has counseling helped you? I think I’ve reached my limit and I do need professional help. Thank you so much. These replies are creating peace in my chaotic mind. It’s nice to not feel so alone.
Counseling and CBT-based therapy has helped me tremendously, so I recommend it for you. It’s the right thing to do.This was amazing advice. Uncertainty can be intimidating. I have bouts where I accept the thought of death only to be riddled with shaking when I think of a “symptom”. Has counseling helped you? I think I’ve reached my limit and I do need professional help. Thank you so much. These replies are creating peace in my chaotic mind. It’s nice to not feel so alone.