Hi - I’m new here and have been looking for ways to cope with heath anxiety for 50 years, I’m 63. Back when I was young I remember the chronic upset stomach issues I had almost every day along with many other, mostly imagined, health issues. In my early 40s the anxiety finally blew up into severe generalized anxiety where daily regular functioning was impossible. I had to find a good physiatrist. The fella I found was really good in that he cared. He put me on 3 1.0 mg Xanax per day (3 mg/day). I’ve been on that dose now for 25 years. Back when I started taking Xanax it was not a street drug, but unfortunately it now is. Anyway, Xanax has been able to put a lid on any panic attacks but excessive worry, mostly about health, is still a daily struggle. As they say, it’s a whac-a-mole like routine. Once one heath issue is solved another pops up. Each one leads to an early grave. Interestingly, I’m fully aware of exaggerating symptoms, but still can’t resist Dr. Google, which of course has a patient story where the person is shaving, feels, a small pea shaped lump on his face has dies months later from parotid gland cancer. Of course only ~25% of parotid tumors are cancerous and not everyone dies. Guess what my current concern is 
. Well, I really just wanted to say hello and am looking forward to try to help others with this awful disease.
. Well, I really just wanted to say hello and am looking forward to try to help others with this awful disease.