I worry about things that haven’t happened yet the future also my healths future too especially my Hygiene I’m still learning about anxiety but I will say yes

I do deal with anxiety and OCD but I don't struggle with hypocondriasis. However, I have been a firefighter/paramedic for 15 years and I see folks with this quite often actually. It's usually the same person(s) seeking help multiple times a week. I had a patient that we intubated 3x in one month because they forced themself into severe respiratory distress over what they swore were insect bites. The patient had other ailments that forced the intubations to happen but we just couldn't get them to relax and focus on the present. I know it's frustrating for the patient and I can tell they can't help it or sometimes don't even realize its a problem. If you provided some examples of what you encounter during your episodes I would be glad to share my thoughts about them.

You mentioned you are self-diagnosed at the moment. I would highly encourage you to find a psychiatrist or therapist to discuss your concerns in more detail. If it's left unchecked it can cause serious emotional, relationship, and even financial problems with multiple hospital or doctor visits.

I didn't really think much about health problems until I got into my late 40s, when most people I know, myself included, started getting some health issues. Up until then, I would be grateful for my health each day, and live in the moment, and just try to enjoy life.

Sorry I can't be of much help regarding health anxiety, but I would suggest journaling what you're feeling, every day if you can. Seeing your doctor regularly might help reassure you that you are healthy and okay. Keep up with your health appointments. Stay on top of health things. Chances are, you are healthy and fine... and don't forget that worrying in general can bring on health issues of their own.

Being in the moment, living for today, is what my therapist keeps telling me. That I shouldn't worry about something that might not even happen. I can't predict the future, I only have today.

Have you tried therapy, medication?

Hope this helps somewhat.

This spoke to me a lot.

I’ll join the hypochondriac group, so you will have someone to talk to.

You will just have to tell me what the group name is.

I do see a therapist, weekly by choice. When my anxiety first began manifesting six-ish years ago, I didn't know it was anxiety causing everything. So I would find myself at a Dr clinic once a week or so. I became obsessed with body monitoring (I still do that a bit) and googling my symptoms (don't do that too often anymore) and turning small things into big things, or creating huge thought loops that would lead to panic attacks. I'm a bit better now in the health anxiety sense, which is why I think my brain has chosen even scarier things to think about now.

No therapist has diagnosed me with hypochondriasis....or really anything for that matter. I did see a neuropsychologist one time, for one session and then some standard tests...and he gave me conversion disorder. I feel like that was a diagnosis because he didn't know what to make of me.

The main thing I still seek is validation. For everyyyyyything. Flash of light in my vision? I have to make sure it was a bird in the sky or a bug. Cold feeling on my skin? Have to make sure it's because my car's a/c is blowing on it. Nausea? I have to wrack my brain to figure out what I ate that caused it. These constant validations are nightmare fuel for my fears of going crazy.
Anyways, it's just interesting to see that some people suffer the same thoughts. And that it can be a lot worse than what I experience.

Thanks all.

You know you best. I can only speculate, but it sounds a bit more like OCD (thanks for giving your examples). The good news is that OCD thoughts, compulsions, can be effectively treated with an SSRI class of medication. (Something to discuss with your doctor)

My example, I tried Zoloft for only 1 month (long story why I stopped it), but by the end of that month, I noticed I had a lot less OCD, which was a pleasant and welcome benefit that I did not know was going to get better. (In fact, I am thinking of trying Zoloft again soon).

Maybe you could research the SSRIs, that would be a positive and productive thing to research where you might find one that you think could help you. The SSRIs are all different. For example, Paxil is great for social anxiety. The SSRIs do different things.

Just an idea, something you might want to look into, or ask your doctor to give you one to try.

I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you for the suggestion. I have tried several different ssri/snri but had severe reactions to all of them. I have clonopin now to use on an as-needed basis that calms me down during a panic attack.

You know Ash I have anxiety. And I have had it for the past six years and have always thought in my mind that something is wrong with me or something is gonna happen to me. And you know what nothing has. It's just thoughts. And I think with anxiety they build up and go over and over in your mind until you just blow up. I write all my feelings down and what I'm thinking and how I feel. It really helps me sort through what's going on in my brain. You can have some horrible thoughts with anxiety. Remember there just thoughts. Nothing is wrong or nothing bad is gonna happen. I finally have came to that conclusion. I hope you too can. You take good care my friend. Here's to positive thinking and happy thoughts. You got this. Italianmomma4ever ❤️

Rather than take your self diagnosis as it stands, I would get a psychological evaluation to help sort through the entire package of what could be happening.

You know you care about your health and that you may be overthinking about your health.

Writing it out is very helpful in finding the pattern of thoughts which leads me to believe that it may be something else that is connected to expressing it through health thoughts.

Best wishes as you find your better balance.

I've mentioned my health anxiety to my therapist a few times. We've deduced that it probably stems from watching people in my family not age the most gracefully, and having to care for them at a young age. Like a control thing, and focusing around health. But I also have racing insane thought loops about anything and everything that's has started around a year ago on top of all this. My therapist had me reach out to a psych who wants to put me on a daily med, but I'm not convinced I need that yet. I'm very functional, it's just an internal struggle.

Italianmomma- thanks. I need to just succumb to and accept that they are just thoughts. I've been learning to breathe through them. But sometimes they cause fire in my chest and down my arms and it's hard to fight through that, ya know?

Mid-ive been Journaling by typing lately. My fingers can keep up with my thoughts a bit better than a pen can. However, I usually end up with too much that I don't want to go back and read it.