My hypo is back again

[Honey Hoop]

Hello everyone,
I have been battling with hypochondria since last summer when I was convinced I had a tumour in my stomach. I took various tests at the doctors and they were proved negative but since then I am in constant worries about my health. I just want to know I'm not in this alone. I decided to sign up for this page and find people with similar problems, I hope we'll all support and help each other.
My hypo got better this winter, I was only worried about my kidneys, but now I feel it's back. The constant fear, anxiety, living in stress. I feel pain in my lungs and tension in my stomach (I started smoking half a year ago). Today I googled lung cancer and I got into my old manic worrying state again. It's terrible. I can't go anywhere without fear, nor can I describe it to any of my friends because they don't understand. I'm seeing a therapist but it doesn't help, I am just so scared of all the illnesses of the world happening to me. Google says cancer is really tricky because you can't even notice the first symptoms untill the tumours slowly kill you inside.
I am so afraid.

 

[Kelculator]

Welcome to the community. I'm sorry you are encountering such situation, which reminds me if when I first got help for anxiety. I fully understand the desperation of feeling like there is no way out, the endless scares and everything. I am glad you decided to reach out fir help, which is a big step for recovery, and a great sign that you will feel okay again, since you are open and clear about having a problem. It can only get better from here.
Whenever you have a health worry, try to only listen to yourself and logically search for an answer when you are calm and logical. How to tell? Personally, when I'm anxious and not thinking straight, signs like a tighten neck, shallow breathes and clenched jaw are giveaways. In those situations, there is no use letting your mind wander as it is nit helping, but instead can only send you panicking.
When you feel relatively calmer, reserve a time period each day for you to look for answers for your symptoms. as this is what your brain urges you to do. But aside from that period, don't google. You will only search for the rarest forms of diseases you can get, subconsciously.
Have you tried getting professional help? Taking meds has allowed me to focus on my own recovery. Do try that if you haven't already or if your living situation allows.
When you are truly scared of something, go on here and talk to us. That usually brings me great reassurance.
All the best!

 

[janemariesayed]

Hello everyone,
I have been battling with hypochondria since last summer when I was convinced I had a tumour in my stomach. I took various tests at the doctors and they were proved negative but since then I am in constant worries about my health. I just want to know I'm not in this alone. I decided to sign up for this page and find people with similar problems, I hope we'll all support and help each other.
My hypo got better this winter, I was only worried about my kidneys, but now I feel it's back. The constant fear, anxiety, living in stress. I feel pain in my lungs and tension in my stomach (I started smoking half a year ago). Today I googled lung cancer and I got into my old manic worrying state again. It's terrible. I can't go anywhere without fear, nor can I describe it to any of my friends because they don't understand. I'm seeing a therapist but it doesn't help, I am just so scared of all the illnesses of the world happening to me. Google says cancer is really tricky because you can't even notice the first symptoms untill the tumours slowly kill you inside.
I am so afraid.

Bless you, Honey hoop. The worst thing you can do is go to the google doctor. Try to think of yourself as fit and healthy. Stop smoking as well as it will only make you worry more. What I see as a massive problem are the number of adverts we have over here on UK TV that go on about cancer. It's like every quarter of an hour they are talking about cancer. On all the channels that is as well. If the law of attraction is anything to go by it is so dangerous. And to top it off, there are actually more people getting cancer. Thes adverts could be acting like a subliminal. My advice is to not think about it. Not easy I know, but it is doubtful that you have cancer.
Here is an article from the Daily Mail that you may find interesting. I hope it helps you to force yourself to think different.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-171897/How-think-healthy.html

 

[Honey Hoop]

Thank you for your reply. I really hope I am on my way to get better again. Being on this forum really helps me, because only other hypochondriacs can truly understand. This problem is not taken as a serious illness and everybody is constantly misinterpreting it.
I have been sick with worry past few days. I tried to slowen my breathing as my therapist advised me, I tried to occupy myself with work and to not think about the possible cancer in my throat (It is sore, I have trouble swallowing and I am constantly touching it.)
I manager to resist the urge of googling. You are right, there are calmer periods which allow me to think more rationally. But there are also those terrible anxious periods when I can't think straight and my head is pounding with worry. You must know that yourself.
I am currently abroad but I will see my doctor as soon as I return and tell him about the problems with my throat.
-Honey Hoop

Welcome to the community. I'm sorry you are encountering such situation, which reminds me if when I first got help for anxiety. I fully understand the desperation of feeling like there is no way out, the endless scares and everything. I am glad you decided to reach out fir help, which is a big step for recovery, and a great sign that you will feel okay again, since you are open and clear about having a problem. It can only get better from here.
Whenever you have a health worry, try to only listen to yourself and logically search for an answer when you are calm and logical. How to tell? Personally, when I'm anxious and not thinking straight, signs like a tighten neck, shallow breathes and clenched jaw are giveaways. In those situations, there is no use letting your mind wander as it is nit helping, but instead can only send you panicking.
When you feel relatively calmer, reserve a time period each day for you to look for answers for your symptoms. as this is what your brain urges you to do. But aside from that period, don't google. You will only search for the rarest forms of diseases you can get, subconsciously.
Have you tried getting professional help? Taking meds has allowed me to focus on my own recovery. Do try that if you haven't already or if your living situation allows.
When you are truly scared of something, go on here and talk to us. That usually brings me great reassurance.
All the best!

 

[Honey Hoop]

Thank you for your reply.
Cancer is a terrifying thing - personally, I know like two people from our town that are oncology patients. My doctor also says it's very rare. But yet I managed to convince myself that I had many types of cancer and tumours all over my body. I am certainly over-stressed and over-worried.
My therapist said that cancer is not as simple to get as I imagine and that it's caused by many different factors. I think I'll read some approved studies on it.
I am trying my best not to smoke very much, only once a week. At the moment I am so worried about my health I do not dare to put a single cigarette in my mouth.
Thank you for sending the article. It is really powerful, I've tried the methods described in it. I agree that our mind indeed is a powerful thing. I need to learn to control it to overcome my worries.
-Honey Hoop

Bless you, Honey hoop. The worst thing you can do is go to the google doctor. Try to think of yourself as fit and healthy. Stop smoking as well as it will only make you worry more. What I see as a massive problem are the number of adverts we have over here on UK TV that go on about cancer. It's like every quarter of an hour they are talking about cancer. On all the channels that is as well. If the law of attraction is anything to go by it is so dangerous. And to top it off, there are actually more people getting cancer. Thes adverts could be acting like a subliminal. My advice is to not think about it. Not easy I know, but it is doubtful that you have cancer.
Here is an article from the Daily Mail that you may find interesting. I hope it helps you to force yourself to think different.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-171897/How-think-healthy.html[/QUOTE

 

[janemariesayed]

Actually reading up on it may help you a great deal. You will learn more about it and realise that you are okay.

 

[Kelculator]

Thank you for your reply. I really hope I am on my way to get better again. Being on this forum really helps me, because only other hypochondriacs can truly understand. This problem is not taken as a serious illness and everybody is constantly misinterpreting it.
I have been sick with worry past few days. I tried to slowen my breathing as my therapist advised me, I tried to occupy myself with work and to not think about the possible cancer in my throat (It is sore, I have trouble swallowing and I am constantly touching it.)
I manager to resist the urge of googling. You are right, there are calmer periods which allow me to think more rationally. But there are also those terrible anxious periods when I can't think straight and my head is pounding with worry. You must know that yourself.
I am currently abroad but I will see my doctor as soon as I return and tell him about the problems with my throat.
-Honey Hoop

I'm glad to hear you seem to be doing better. And yes, I do understand the times that adrealine just rush through you and you cannot think straight. When that happens, I usually find a quick way to ease my worries for the moment-- asking for reassurance from family or friends (if they are understand and patient), asking for help on this forum, watching a movie online for distraction etc.
Don't feel discoraged and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. You can express your most seemingly ridiculous fear here, and no one would bat an eye. We are all very eager to help.
Speaking of which, I have experienced the lump in throat and hard to swallow feeling too. Happened when I focused on my eating actions too much. Turned out to be nothing. Sometimes you may think you are not causing it with anxiety (and that it's a "real" thing this time), your brain may be silently restricting your throat/oesophagus without you knowing, because of anxiety. So perhaps that is nothing, try not to worry too much. Keep fighting, I believe in you.

 

[Kelculator]

Actually reading up on it may help you a great deal. You will learn more about it and realise that you are okay.

Knowing more about diseases and hospitals actually helped me, by knowing that receiving treatment, having weird symptoms, are not horrible warnings of death.