Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
Hi all! I haven't been here in a while, but the group helped me so much in the past that I thought I'd stop by again. It's always nice to have people to talk to who may know what you are going through.
Here's a brief history about me and my anxiety issues. I had my first panic attack in 2007 at a viewing for my beloved grandfather. I had no idea what was happening to my body, but the dizziness, anxiousness, uncomfortableness started then and didn't let up for a long time. It affected just about all facets of my life. I eventually was put on Lexapro and went to counseling. I got off the Lexapro after a little more than a year when I felt more capable of coping with the panic attacks.
And I did very well for a while. And then the anxiety crept back in. I have had panic attacks since then, but I'm still pretty good at keeping those under control. However, I'm not good at all at controlling the general anxiety, especially health anxiety, and it's really interfering with my life. Over the last few years, I've thought I've had so many things wrong with me. Some of them scare me so bad that I can't even type the words because I'm afraid to give them any sort of "realness" if that makes sense.
I guess my question for those who suffer from health anxiety is, does it ever get any better? I feel like once I get over being afraid of having one illness, I just jump to something else. I feel so exhausted, and I feel so lost. No one close to me even knows this about me...I don't talk about it with anyone. On the surface, I seem fine to most, but inside I feel such despair.
I'm sorry if this post is all over the place. My thoughts are just really scattered right now. Thank you so much for reading if you've made it this far.
Here's a brief history about me and my anxiety issues. I had my first panic attack in 2007 at a viewing for my beloved grandfather. I had no idea what was happening to my body, but the dizziness, anxiousness, uncomfortableness started then and didn't let up for a long time. It affected just about all facets of my life. I eventually was put on Lexapro and went to counseling. I got off the Lexapro after a little more than a year when I felt more capable of coping with the panic attacks.
And I did very well for a while. And then the anxiety crept back in. I have had panic attacks since then, but I'm still pretty good at keeping those under control. However, I'm not good at all at controlling the general anxiety, especially health anxiety, and it's really interfering with my life. Over the last few years, I've thought I've had so many things wrong with me. Some of them scare me so bad that I can't even type the words because I'm afraid to give them any sort of "realness" if that makes sense.
I guess my question for those who suffer from health anxiety is, does it ever get any better? I feel like once I get over being afraid of having one illness, I just jump to something else. I feel so exhausted, and I feel so lost. No one close to me even knows this about me...I don't talk about it with anyone. On the surface, I seem fine to most, but inside I feel such despair.
I'm sorry if this post is all over the place. My thoughts are just really scattered right now. Thank you so much for reading if you've made it this far.
I also suffer from health anxiety. It started when I was 13 and I am now 45 :) So, in my experience, yes, it does get better, but it can also get worse. Like everything else, it seems to ebb and flow.
I have thought I have had everything from cancer, to MS, to my current "affliction"--heart and lung problems. I get myself so convinced that I have the disease that I think I even get my body to manifest physical symptoms like shortness of breath, heart palpitations, etc.... I know that all of these are also symptoms of anxiety but somehow I think it's a health issue even though my doctor has said otherwise.
I understand that health anxiety is very exhausting. I see a therapist every couple of weeks and she helps me keep things in perspective. I have read a few helpful books about retraining the brain. Right now, I am reading Paul David's Anxiety No More, which is helpful. I try to just keep reminding myself that I have had this health anxiety for so long and nothing I have worried about has happened. Not to say I have not had health issues-- but not the ones I worried about and my "real" health issues were not as bad as I worried they could be!
I know it's tough. I had years of very little health anxiety, but now that I am in peri-menopause, it's back with a vengeance. I know it will pass at some point, though.
Hang in there!!
I am not on any medication. I'd prefer not to take anything, but I'm getting to the point where it might be unrealistic, especially since I'm not enjoying my life because I'm so anxious all of the time. I am really considering going back to a therapist, though.
Leigh-I am the same way...completely envious of the "normal" people who don't worry about everything. I'll be praying for you that your MRI goes well.