New Here: Really bad Health Anxiety

[SallyBarnes94]

Hi Everyone!
I'm new here. My name's Sally. Im 23 years old. I've only recently started dealing with health anxiety after a friend of mine passed away from cancer. It seems like something I cannot get away from. I worry CONSTANTLY and its no way to live. I am miserable.
Recently I've been obsessed with breast cancer. No lumps thankfully but my breast ( I'm a 36 DD if that helps) are very veiny and the skin around my nipple is a weird texture. They do itch sometimes but I embarrassingly have to admit I don't do my laundry as much as I should.
I should go to the dr. but I am worried sick of doing so. I picture myself walking into the dr. Them not only finding breast cancer but a super aggressive breast cancer that has already spread to my brain, etc. Me having to deal with my short lived life and having to accept death so soon. It's horrifying.
Ever since I started thinking I had breast cancer too all the other symptoms of it seem to be popping up.
Ugh I just can't get it off my mind. Its compulsive and taking over my everyday life.
Will this ever stop??? It's no way to live.
Also any advice about the breast cancer.
Thank you to anyone who answers this.

 

[SallyBarnes94]

I feel like I can't have fun. Everything is ruined by this constant cloud over my head of worry.

 

[Kelculator]

Oh... I'm so sorry to know you're struggling. I wouldn't wish that feeling of helplessness and fear in anyone. Do your symptoms back up your suspicion of breast cancer? Maybe I/we can help you with figuring out what's happening if there are any that especially cause you to worry.
Is cancer one iof your constant worries, it is it specifically breast cancer? Knowing why you are afraid of a disease so much helps as well.
Keep trying to tell yourself that fearing something would happen doesn't mean it will really happen. Thoughts are just thoughts. As you may notice it is not rational for you to be so worried about breast cancer when you don't even have a suspicious lump. This is because if anxiety. Try to take care of yourself mentally and be patient with yourself when worries pop up. It will be okay, just focus on yourself mentally more than physically, and only permit yourself to worry about your symptoms for a controlled amount of time a day-- that way your body doesn't have the excuse to worry all the time to "look out for you because you wouldn't".
Do you visit a psychologist/psychiatrist? Talk to us again soon. Until then, hang tight.

 

[SallyBarnes94]

Oh... I'm so sorry to know you're struggling. I wouldn't wish that feeling of helplessness and fear in anyone. Do your symptoms back up your suspicion of breast cancer? Maybe I/we can help you with figuring out what's happening if there are any that especially cause you to worry.
Is cancer one iof your constant worries, it is it specifically breast cancer? Knowing why you are afraid of a disease so much helps as well.
Keep trying to tell yourself that fearing something would happen doesn't mean it will really happen. Thoughts are just thoughts. As you may notice it is not rational for you to be so worried about breast cancer when you don't even have a suspicious lump. This is because if anxiety. Try to take care of yourself mentally and be patient with yourself when worries pop up. It will be okay, just focus on yourself mentally more than physically, and only permit yourself to worry about your symptoms for a controlled amount of time a day-- that way your body doesn't have the excuse to worry all the time to "look out for you because you wouldn't".
Do you visit a psychologist/psychiatrist? Talk to us again soon. Until then, hang tight.

Hi,
Thank you so much for answering! I was getting worried nobody would . Cancer is my only anxiety. I had a scare of lymphoma after I had a swollen lymph node and my dr told me to get a chest x-ray and everything was clear. Then I thought I had bone cancer after my cousin got diagnosed because my legs hurt a lot. Then I thought skin cancer cause my mole is a little itchy and brain cancer when I got headaches, etc etc the list goes on.... on occasions I get chest pain so heart attacks are definitely something that scares me as well. I don’t know where this fear came from. I’m scared I’m wasting my life worrying and not living to my fullest. It’s so depressing. I’m 23 i should be out having fun not stuck inside scared all the time of a disease.
I don’t see a therapist. Do you think I should? I’m scared I’ll be judged for how over the top my fears are.
Also I really searched around for growths in my breast. I have a little tiny ball in each of my breast that are on the same side of each. Do you think I’m okay? My mom thinks it’s nothing serious but I’m freaking out. She thinks I only find symptoms after I have looked the symptoms up...which is pretty true.

Thanks so much for helping me!

 

[Kelculator]

Hi,
Thank you so much for answering! I was getting worried nobody would . Cancer is my only anxiety. I had a scare of lymphoma after I had a swollen lymph node and my dr told me to get a chest x-ray and everything was clear. Then I thought I had bone cancer after my cousin got diagnosed because my legs hurt a lot. Then I thought skin cancer cause my mole is a little itchy and brain cancer when I got headaches, etc etc the list goes on.... on occasions I get chest pain so heart attacks are definitely something that scares me as well. I don’t know where this fear came from. I’m scared I’m wasting my life worrying and not living to my fullest. It’s so depressing. I’m 23 i should be out having fun not stuck inside scared all the time of a disease.
I don’t see a therapist. Do you think I should? I’m scared I’ll be judged for how over the top my fears are.
Also I really searched around for growths in my breast. I have a little tiny ball in each of my breast that are on the same side of each. Do you think I’m okay? My mom thinks it’s nothing serious but I’m freaking out. She thinks I only find symptoms after I have looked the symptoms up...which is pretty true.

Thanks so much for helping me!

Hmm, let's address to your breast worry first. This is one of my ways to diagnose myself-- warning, this is silly-- if the lump is on both sides, it's nothing. Heh. I mean, having them on the same side, and if they are both harmful and have grown on the same parallel spots, you would have to be extremely unlucky to get that. On a side note, you would notice a lot of lumpllike stuff around your breasts when you press them. Those are normal, and I usually use the good old "check both sides" method to be sure.
I get chest pain as well. Usually when I'm anxious and am unconsciously tensing up my chest muscles. Sometimes it hurts a bit as my heart beats along my chest as well. It occurs rarely, but hey I'm still alive. So don't worry too much about it, if it doesn't worsen. But of course you can get a doctor to check it out just to be safe.
I think a therapist or a psychiatrist can definitely help you, if situation allows. I don't think you "have" to, but these are ways to improve your quality of life. I personally find it easier to learn and cope with my anxiety when I'm on meds and some chemical I'm balance in my brain is handled. So that was just a suggestion.
So how are you currently coping with your fear? It gets better, and you won't be so anxious your entire life. It doesn't get easier, but you evolve and learn(which... Makes it easier), and you are so so much stronger than you think. Cheesy I know, but it's true.
One more thing. If a therapist judges you, time to find a new one, although it is unlikely. No one should judge you when it comes to anxiety. Ever.

 

[SallyBarnes94]

Hmm, let's address to your breast worry first. This is one of my ways to diagnose myself-- warning, this is silly-- if the lump is on both sides, it's nothing. Heh. I mean, having them on the same side, and if they are both harmful and have grown on the same parallel spots, you would have to be extremely unlucky to get that. On a side note, you would notice a lot of lumpllike stuff around your breasts when you press them. Those are normal, and I usually use the good old "check both sides" method to be sure.
I get chest pain as well. Usually when I'm anxious and am unconsciously tensing up my chest muscles. Sometimes it hurts a bit as my heart beats along my chest as well. It occurs rarely, but hey I'm still alive. So don't worry too much about it, if it doesn't worsen. But of course you can get a doctor to check it out just to be safe.
I think a therapist or a psychiatrist can definitely help you, if situation allows. I don't think you "have" to, but these are ways to improve your quality of life. I personally find it easier to learn and cope with my anxiety when I'm on meds and some chemical I'm balance in my brain is handled. So that was just a suggestion.
So how are you currently coping with your fear? It gets better, and you won't be so anxious your entire life. It doesn't get easier, but you evolve and learn(which... Makes it easier), and you are so so much stronger than you think. Cheesy I know, but it's true.
One more thing. If a therapist judges you, time to find a new one, although it is unlikely. No one should judge you when it comes to anxiety. Ever.

I just cried out of relief . I’ve been so emotional since I started battling this anxiety and tired from it and you don’t even know how much that just helped me. I wish I could send you a hug through the internet lol. I’m going to start looking into therapist tonight after work and getting it all figured out. I’m so sick of it!

I’m happy to know that what I’m experiencing with my breast is normal. PHEW!

Do you know why people get these anxieties? Like what do you think is triggering me to feel this way out of nowhere? My mother was very neglectful as a child and never took me to the dr. I had a 10cm cyst on my ovary that was causing me severe pain that i never had looked at until I was an adult and it made me scared that I had other things growing in me that I wasn’t aware of. Maybe this is it? I’m unsure.

Sorry for just pouring me heart out.

 

[Kelculator]

I just cried out of relief . I’ve been so emotional since I started battling this anxiety and tired from it and you don’t even know how much that just helped me. I wish I could send you a hug through the internet lol. I’m going to start looking into therapist tonight after work and getting it all figured out. I’m so sick of it!

I’m happy to know that what I’m experiencing with my breast is normal. PHEW!

Do you know why people get these anxieties? Like what do you think is triggering me to feel this way out of nowhere? My mother was very neglectful as a child and never took me to the dr. I had a 10cm cyst on my ovary that was causing me severe pain that i never had looked at until I was an adult and it made me scared that I had other things growing in me that I wasn’t aware of. Maybe this is it? I’m unsure.

Sorry for just pouring me heart out.

Aww. It made me so warm and happy inside knowing that you feel better. Anytime. I have been there so I absolutely understand. I wish I was there to give you a hug too!
So when did your anxiety start? For me, it had been a thing since childhood, so I see it as a way our brains are wired, and that for me, it is just a part of me that I have to embrace. But sometimes events can trigger it and turn us into full-blown hypochondriacs too. Was there a time you suddenly became way more concerned and afraid about your health? There maybe a trigger that caused it, as you said.
Don't ever apologize about opening up. I would absolutely love to help you and make you feel better.