Ahh, a hypocondriac-!

Oh, sure, ever since I watched my brother die of cancer, every little ache and pain and I think there's something majorly wrong with me! Tingling pain in my wrist and I think I'm having a heart attack. An ache in the belly and I think it's colon cancer. These always subside after a night of deep sleep, so I think it's all in my head, and the fact that I simply have trouble relaxing, feeling comfortable in my own skin.

Yep, I agree, best way to fight an idea is...with ANOTHER IDEA. If you think you're sick, do something physical to convince yourself that you're not. I exercise like a madman and get plenty of deep sleep.

I too do the same thing , I worry about every little change. I have found the more i worry the worse my anxiety is and when that happens I can feel the panic attacks starting. Remind yourself that you are okay, busy yourself with something that will take your mind off all the worry some thoughts. I have found that mine comes in waves when I feel okay its not so bad but if i wake up with a headache or a unexplainable pain i fall right back into the same cycle. You can control this take one day at a time.
BTW i noticed you mentioned that you had gone online to look at your symptoms and to look for a cause.... Try not to do that if you can if you do it will make things worse. I speak form experience. Before I knew I was having anxiety and panic attacks I was at the doctors every other day and no one could give me answers so i started using web MD and other site to try and diagnose myself. If you will notice when you do that your searches always bring up the worst results and they all lead to some serious illness or something we all fear. Fear is what feeds anxiety finding a way to control your fear and you will find ways to help with your anxiety.
Best wishes!!!

Great, great thread. I've dealt with this on and off since I was 10 or 11 (I'm 29 now). Shemp's post is fantastic...positivity will help us all get a long way. I struggle each and every day, and sometimes (although not lately), I get a break for a few months. Just keep at it!

Yep, online searches are THE WORST, because they PLANT sickness WORDS in our heads! We really have to be careful about what we put in our minds. Even WORDS can trigger anxiety! If we read stuff about health and fitness, health and fitness WORDS fill our minds! Hope this helps.

DITTO! I have done this my entire life.. I am now 53 years old, Yes, online searches and the stupid commercials on tv talk all of us into illness and fear! I end up having every symptom of everything ! Im exactly like all of you... If its bad, its going to happen to me, Im here reading, and trying to find ideas to help me get though these fears and worry. The health anxiety is where all of my trouble started... years ago, now it has built up to everything in my life causes me worry and anxiety.
You are not alone, and the search continues for answers. ((hugs))

I have enormous anxiety over health issues and am also sick of thinking I'm sick. Going to (or calling) the doctor to check out a symptom helps, and trying to make peace with death has also helped. Also remembering that none of the fatal diseases I though I had were actually in my body. Most of what we worry will happen, doesn't happen. This thread has been very helpful to me.