New to forum - constant health anxiety

[RobbyH]

Sorry for a long first post

I have struggled with health anxiety since I was 18, now 59. My mother struggled with it so I grew up hearing all the bad things that could happen to you. In my 40 years of struggling with this I have so far had (in my mind and never actually have any real signs of any of them):

- colon cancer
- ALS
- heart disease
- brain tumor
- melanoma
- prostate cancer
- sarcoma
- leukemia
- pancreatic cancer
- oral cancer
- diabetes (based on one slightly elevated reading)

and my latest - liver disease (my mom died of liver disease)

You get the idea by now and as I have read trhough the forums, I am not alone in this struggle.

My latest issue is skin related. I get this "skin pokes" all over my body like a nerve is firing off or as if someone sticks me with a pencel or needle - it's not the classical pins and needles that many folks experience. They aren't constant and I don't notice them if I am occupied with something else - mainly when trying to relax. Of course, I think it must be related to my liver because I read about itching although this isn't really an itch as all I have to do is ignore it or rub it and it goes away. My wife says she gets the same thing alot as well but she never worries about it (how I envy her LOL). of course I also read that this can be anxiety related and it did all start after one slight itch on the bottom of my foot that lasted a few minutes and it started this cycle. Some days it can be bad and other days very little.

Anyone else ever experience this type of sensation?

I did finally breakdown and go see a psychiatrist about my anxiety and just started Lexapro but of course it has not had time to really do much.

Thanks

 

[triceps]

Hi and welcome Robby. I fortunately don't have health anxiety (have GAD)but have survived melanoma. My mother suffered with HA and at one point I said, "Mom you've had everything but cancer of the testicles". Those "skin pokes" easily could just be a creative anxiety symptom, this damn disease is pretty sly and it sounds like it's already burned up many of the contents from its' "anxiety bag of symptoms". Again, welcome and I hope that Lexapro brings some relief to you soon.

 

[RobbyH]

I think you are probably right. I have had a few of these for as long as I can remember but only in the past month (when I started to wrroy about the itch) have they become more pronounced. I mentioned them to the docotr when I met to get the Lexapro and she didn't seem to thing anything of them. In the back of my mind, I realize they are nothign serious or it would be mroe serious and constant (plus my wife has them) but inteh front of my mind, I can't seem to let them go -which of course brings more of them

 

[triceps]

A similar thing drives me nut with my generalized anxiety disorder. It puts scary thoughts in my brain that makes me avoid things even though deep down I know that those thoughts are completely unrealistic.

 

[RobbyH]

I am a "worse case scenario" type of person. No matter what the issue, I always imagine the worse case and expect that to be the outcome. The thing is that in my 41 years of worrying like this - the worse case has NEVER come true so you would think by now I would learn but with each new worry, comes a new set of worse case fears. Hopefully this medicine will kick in soon and help with this.

 

[Mandyhiero]

I’m so glad I found your post. These little pin pricks/electric shocks as I like to call them are my newest symptom. It all started back in November when I had a little pin prick feeling or zap in my bottom lip on one side. It lasted on an off for about thirty minutes until I decided I would do what I always stupidly do and google what it meant. HUGE mistake! The first thing to pop up was something called numb chin syndrome and it was caused by metastatic breast cancer being the leading cause. A little back story, I thought I had breast cancer the whole year before this and was just starting to get over it and move on. Then I read this. It was all downhill after that. I’m still not convinced I don’t have numb chin syndrome because I still get little twinges here and there. I constantly check my chin to see if one side is numb. Sometimes it’s not and other times I convince myself that it is. I’m almost positive that it’s my anxiety causing this but with health anxiety, I can’t be sure. I will tell you that I have these sensations all over my body, it’s not just limited to my chin and lip. I’ve had it on my leg, my arms, my nose. Practically anywhere you can have them. So, you’re not alone. And I’m pretty sure they’re a normal thing. Just wanted to share my story and let you know that other people have these (and worry about them) too.

 

[RobbyH]

I don't know if you are on any medicine but I am and those have all but stopped. I take Ashwagandha and L-Theamine herbs and they work great. I am also on a very mild dosage of Lexapro and Doctor said to continue to take the herbs with it. It has made a HUGE difference in my anxiety in just a month.

 

[Mandyhiero]

No, RobbyH, I’m not on any medications at the moment. I stopped taking my citalopram because I couldn’t even cry with my grandfathers illness and death while I was on it. Do you get the herbs you're taking online or locally? I may start back on my citalopram, also.

 

[RobbyH]

I get them at my local vitamin shop but you can orde them on Amazon. They really seem to do great forme

 

[Mandyhiero]

Okay! Thank you for sharing. I’m looking them up now.