Is it all in my head?

[Hope23]

Hey, I’m Hope, I’m almost 23, I’m a mother to a 2 1/2 year old. I come onto this site because my anxiety, stress, depression, you name it, has grown worse since I had my son. I’m very conscious of my health and my body. I’m dedicated to eating well and exercising on a regular basis. I try to do anything I can do to help ME feel better. Some days I feel OK, some days I don’t, it’s a rollercoaster and I never know what kind of “funk” I’m gonna be in tomorrow. I’ve been feeling fatigued or run down for a while. Exercise helps, but sometimes not enough. It’s like excessive tiredness caused by my anxiety, my mood, I’m assuming?

Lately, I’ve become concerned of my health due to some feelings I’ve beenexperiencing. (Note: I don’t have health insurance and I think that’s partially why I have developed health anxiety.) Anyways, I have very painful periods. Everything hurts. They have gotten worse since I had my son. When I don’t have my period, I still experience “twinges” or sharp, quick pains in my lower abdomen. Sometimes I feel them in my lady bits. Over the past couple of weeks I have been hyperaware of these feelings. They come and go. I try to distract myself from them but the past few days Ihaven’t been able to. I have nausea, dullcramps/aches in my lower abdomen, twinges, and tiredness. I think the nausea,which has just recently appeared, is what’s been worrying me most. Do I have cancerin my lady parts? Is it totally anxiety related? I’ve been healthy all my life. I’mfit, in shape, but my mind is not clean and hasn’t been for a while. I have moments when I feel great, but I also have plenty of moments when I’m laying on the couch, thinking about everything, and feelinganxious beyond belief.

I haven’t been able to slow down life,though. I’m a busy mom. I work, I go to school, and I’m a full time mom. Somedays, I dread work. The other day I was extremely anxious all day at work but I tryreally hard not to let it show. I’m not sure if my coworkers notice it or not. Every day Ipush through my anxiety and try to better myself and be a good mother to my sweet boy. I’m also quite lonely. My boyfriend is my best friend, he’s a great dad, but I don’t have friends. I don’t have many people to talk to. Most days I’m alone.

I’m saying all of this in hope that someone out there can relate to what I’m feeling. Still, I need to see a doctor. The nausea that I’m experiencing (in waves) is it related to stress, anxiety? Or is it related to something being wrong? In my ovaries perhaps? Dull craps, twinges that come and go... I just can’t get it off my mind.

 

[janemariesayed]

Hey, I’m Hope, I’m almost 23, I’m a mother to a 2 1/2 year old. I come onto this site because my anxiety, stress, depression, you name it, has grown worse since I had my son. I’m very conscious of my health and my body. I’m dedicated to eating well and exercising on a regular basis. I try to do anything I can do to help ME feel better. Some days I feel OK, some days I don’t, it’s a rollercoaster and I never know what kind of “funk” I’m gonna be in tomorrow. I’ve been feeling fatigued or run down for a while. Exercise helps, but sometimes not enough. It’s like excessive tiredness caused by my anxiety, my mood, I’m assuming?

Lately, I’ve become concerned of my health due to some feelings I’ve beenexperiencing. (Note: I don’t have health insurance and I think that’s partially why I have developed health anxiety.) Anyways, I have very painful periods. Everything hurts. They have gotten worse since I had my son. When I don’t have my period, I still experience “twinges” or sharp, quick pains in my lower abdomen. Sometimes I feel them in my lady bits. Over the past couple of weeks I have been hyperaware of these feelings. They come and go. I try to distract myself from them but the past few days Ihaven’t been able to. I have nausea, dullcramps/aches in my lower abdomen, twinges, and tiredness. I think the nausea,which has just recently appeared, is what’s been worrying me most. Do I have cancerin my lady parts? Is it totally anxiety related? I’ve been healthy all my life. I’mfit, in shape, but my mind is not clean and hasn’t been for a while. I have moments when I feel great, but I also have plenty of moments when I’m laying on the couch, thinking about everything, and feelinganxious beyond belief.

I haven’t been able to slow down life,though. I’m a busy mom. I work, I go to school, and I’m a full time mom. Somedays, I dread work. The other day I was extremely anxious all day at work but I tryreally hard not to let it show. I’m not sure if my coworkers notice it or not. Every day Ipush through my anxiety and try to better myself and be a good mother to my sweet boy. I’m also quite lonely. My boyfriend is my best friend, he’s a great dad, but I don’t have friends. I don’t have many people to talk to. Most days I’m alone.

I’m saying all of this in hope that someone out there can relate to what I’m feeling. Still, I need to see a doctor. The nausea that I’m experiencing (in waves) is it related to stress, anxiety? Or is it related to something being wrong? In my ovaries perhaps? Dull craps, twinges that come and go... I just can’t get it off my mind.

A very warm welcome to you Hope. I not surprised that your anxiety has got worse since becoming a mom. This is usual. The fact that you don't have health insurance is also understanding that would bring health anxieties.

I'm not sure if the pains you are feeling are to do with anxieties and suggest that you see your doctor. I don't think you have cancer at all, it may be just women's things. I used to get awful pains with my 'not so merry' monthly's and some of the pains were miscarriages. I didn't realise I was pregnant and was losing.

Being alone, you are not alone completely. Your boyfriend see's you and your child and he is a great dad. You go out to work and see people at work as well. And you have your child and family. Now, you have us too, so please don't feel lonely, we are here for you.

 

[Hope23]

Thanks for your kind response! I’m not sure what I have or IF anything’s wrong with me. I think a lot of what I’m feeling is anxiety/stress related because 90% of the time I’m anxious and it affects my body. However, when I mentioned dull cramps in my lower abdomen and abdominal “twinges,” those are also felt when I don’t have my period- which is what makes me wonder & concerned. Some of my symptoms are similar to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and ovarian problems. For a little bit I thought I had a UTI but I wasn’t having that burning sensation that many women complain about when they have one.

Do I think I need to see a doctor? Probably. I’m a woman, I had a baby, and it’s been two years since I’ve last seen one. It’s awful not having health insurance, which I’m sure is bringing on my health anxiety.

There’s a few other things I didn’t mention like heaviness in my head almost every morning when I wake up. I’m not sure if it’s sinus related or what. The past week or two I’ve had headaches behind or around my eye, my temple area, that come & go, mostly in the mornings. Tension headaches, probably.

I just hope whatever is wrong, I can make it better. I just want to get stronger and feel GOOD. I have this underlying fear that something will happen and my son will be left without a mom, just like I was when I was 13 and my mother passed away. There’s a lot of things that have made my anxiety worse but it’s exhausting & I want to fight it.

 

[butterly30]

Hope, you are very young, I am sure it will turn out OK. I get the same feelings on a regular basis let us know!

 

[Peacelily]

Thanks for your kind response! I’m not sure what I have or IF anything’s wrong with me. I think a lot of what I’m feeling is anxiety/stress related because 90% of the time I’m anxious and it affects my body. However, when I mentioned dull cramps in my lower abdomen and abdominal “twinges,” those are also felt when I don’t have my period- which is what makes me wonder & concerned. Some of my symptoms are similar to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and ovarian problems. For a little bit I thought I had a UTI but I wasn’t having that burning sensation that many women complain about when they have one.

Do I think I need to see a doctor? Probably. I’m a woman, I had a baby, and it’s been two years since I’ve last seen one. It’s awful not having health insurance, which I’m sure is bringing on my health anxiety.

There’s a few other things I didn’t mention like heaviness in my head almost every morning when I wake up. I’m not sure if it’s sinus related or what. The past week or two I’ve had headaches behind or around my eye, my temple area, that come & go, mostly in the mornings. Tension headaches, probably.

I just hope whatever is wrong, I can make it better. I just want to get stronger and feel GOOD. I have this underlying fear that something will happen and my son will be left without a mom, just like I was when I was 13 and my mother passed away. There’s a lot of things that have made my anxiety worse but it’s exhausting & I want to fight it.

Hope, you should apply for Medicaid or Medical Assistance at your county office since you are a single mother. Since you are a student, there should be clinics on your campus that you can go to. There are also free clinics in your city (every city has them, but sometimes they are hard to find, so Googling "free health clinics in [name of your city]" is the best way to find them). And clinics with sliding fee scales.

Since you have a 2 year old, you NEED to find a free or sliding fee scale walk-in clinic, while you apply for county health insurance at your local county office. If you are a single mom, you'll definitely qualify for it. Please look into that. Sorry to read that you are having those health problems.

But you need to see a doctor. That's probably why you feel anxious all the time. And chronic anxiety like you're experiencing keeps your cortisol levels high, that can wreak havoc on your hormones, your digestion, give you headaches, rashes. I think once you apply for county medical assistance and can find a free clinic to go to, you're anxiety levels will lessen.

Ask your boyfriend to babysit for you, while you go to your local county office. Or you can go to your county office online and fill out an application for Medicaid or Medical Assistance since you are a single mom. Good luck.

 

[JACKIE]

Hey Hope,
I can relate to you. I have some symptoms you are having. Mainly the tension headaches. I wake up super tense and also feel like i have a headache from it. Once i get up and start moving it gets better. Also my vision some days is weird, my eyes feel dry and very sensitive to the light it seems. When i feel these symptoms i think about my kids and them being without a mom too ( i have 3 boys) and that makes me sad and only makes it worse. I would suggest seeing a doc and maybe that will bring you some relief. I have had check ups and apparently im ok but i dont feel ok. I have more appts. next week because i keep feeling these symptoms and also panic attacks. I think maybe if i get a brain scan and back scan i will be relieved. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Amw311]

Hey, I’m Hope, I’m almost 23, I’m a mother to a 2 1/2 year old. I come onto this site because my anxiety, stress, depression, you name it, has grown worse since I had my son. I’m very conscious of my health and my body. I’m dedicated to eating well and exercising on a regular basis. I try to do anything I can do to help ME feel better. Some days I feel OK, some days I don’t, it’s a rollercoaster and I never know what kind of “funk” I’m gonna be in tomorrow. I’ve been feeling fatigued or run down for a while. Exercise helps, but sometimes not enough. It’s like excessive tiredness caused by my anxiety, my mood, I’m assuming?

Lately, I’ve become concerned of my health due to some feelings I’ve beenexperiencing. (Note: I don’t have health insurance and I think that’s partially why I have developed health anxiety.) Anyways, I have very painful periods. Everything hurts. They have gotten worse since I had my son. When I don’t have my period, I still experience “twinges” or sharp, quick pains in my lower abdomen. Sometimes I feel them in my lady bits. Over the past couple of weeks I have been hyperaware of these feelings. They come and go. I try to distract myself from them but the past few days Ihaven’t been able to. I have nausea, dullcramps/aches in my lower abdomen, twinges, and tiredness. I think the nausea,which has just recently appeared, is what’s been worrying me most. Do I have cancerin my lady parts? Is it totally anxiety related? I’ve been healthy all my life. I’mfit, in shape, but my mind is not clean and hasn’t been for a while. I have moments when I feel great, but I also have plenty of moments when I’m laying on the couch, thinking about everything, and feelinganxious beyond belief.

I haven’t been able to slow down life,though. I’m a busy mom. I work, I go to school, and I’m a full time mom. Somedays, I dread work. The other day I was extremely anxious all day at work but I tryreally hard not to let it show. I’m not sure if my coworkers notice it or not. Every day Ipush through my anxiety and try to better myself and be a good mother to my sweet boy. I’m also quite lonely. My boyfriend is my best friend, he’s a great dad, but I don’t have friends. I don’t have many people to talk to. Most days I’m alone.

I’m saying all of this in hope that someone out there can relate to what I’m feeling. Still, I need to see a doctor. The nausea that I’m experiencing (in waves) is it related to stress, anxiety? Or is it related to something being wrong? In my ovaries perhaps? Dull craps, twinges that come and go... I just can’t get it off my mind.

Hope,
I am having a lot of these symptoms as well and I’m also a mom of twin 7 month old boys. It Interferes with my daily life and I can’t focus on my boys as much as I need to because the fear is crippling. How have you been feeling?