Are you on anxiety meds or do you see a therapist? I'm not judging you by any means, because I myself have to make that first step yet. Googling symptoms definitely makes things worse. I have done that myself. Sometimes I wish there wasn't internet so that we couldn't do that to ourselves! I have dealt with chronic pain since November and am starting to accept that at least part of it has been anxiety related. I am working on making that first step to see a therapist so that hopefully this won't happen again, because it has been completely miserable! I am afraid a lot too, and I get that butterflies in the stomach feeling over fear or worry-even about simple things that would not bother most people. I can't seem to control it! But I am aware now and am trying harder.

Thank you very much for your response, luckily Im not on anxiety meds, I battle in my mind with what's logic and what my fears try to make me feel/think. I want to "start" a good healthy season and regain mental strength so when im put to test (a redness on my chest, a bruise... a pimple, sinnusitis, etc) Im able to confront it on a functional reasonable way, if theres in any case, anything to confront at all.

I advice you that once you enter that "safe zone" in your mind, do everything in your power to not go out again, even if you get sick. Because everybody gets sick, and we seem to blow it out of proportion which doesnt help and also stress our loved ones and people around it.

Apparently, I am also a BIG believer in researching things on the internet and then panicking myself unnecessarily and then freaking out. I've called an ambulance TWICE in the past year because of that. Incredibly embarrassing. I am great at making mountains out of molehills!

A fairly new area of medicine is integrative medicine and I LOVE it! My doctor gives me a range of options. I went in with a sinus infection last year and told me about using a Neti pot (sorry, but I can't get used to those), antibiotics, a silver nose spray and several other options. I chose the silver nose spray. I used it twice. No more sinus infection. My belief is that Western medicine is great for acute illness but for chronic issues, alternative medicine and lifestyle changes are better. Medicine tends to address one issue but can cause problems for other parts of your body. Alternative medicine tends to help overall health.

I hope you're able to find some answers, but stress can really throw you for a loop. When I went through my divorce I had bronchitis, an ear infection, pink eye and IBS all at once. I felt like a hot mess for several months!

I also believe that as people who are really tuned in, we need more time than most to just care for ourselves. Easing into the day with some meditation, a warm bath, reading, having quiet time, taking the time to connect with our food by growing it ourselves, cooking, cleaning and organizing with intention and staying on top of healing work like getting massages regularly, etc. is vital to us. I don't know too many who can get all this into their daily lives, but the more we can slow down, the better.

Hi thank you very much for your response and sharing your personal experiences, I have encountered myself checking for symptoms ranging from cancer to hiv, yes overreacting seems to be a common factor here, and a very unhealthy one, lets get better!

Since the fear of getting sick is one of my number one anxiety triggers, my counselor has always told me I am not allowed to look things up or read the side effects of medication. LOL. She knew I would just drive myself nuts. If you can avoid it, I would not look things up. I try to tell myself that people survive worse every day and have some kind of faith in people that if something catastrophic did happen, those around me would call 911. It takes LOTS of practice. I still have to wash my hands as soon as I get home from places like school or the grocery store.

Im on a low right now, I need someone to shake me and tell me Ill be alright, I need perspective

One of the most difficult tasks anxiety faces each day, is ? fill in the blank and go for a ride through your brain. When your health symptoms display less than normal, first make sure you're drinking enough to be hydrated. Second, eat something. Third, move around. Take a moment to pause and reset your balance. Break your usual pattern of thought and action to help you heal the parts you can, and push the brain into "active" rather than "acquire". I could not think of a better word to use at the moment. Best wishes. You are not alone.

I am of no help, but it is important to put yourself out there, even when the fear takes over. For me, I had anxiety and depression all at once. Sometimes, they were independent of each other. Sometimes I couldn't get out of bed. Take it one day at a time, and know you'll be ok. Just keep posting here, if need be!

I did not relize that fear was a symtomes or trigger for anxiety ..I have a lot of fears .......and when it gets bad the fears get out of controll .....I thought that was the depreshion ......I have been house bound befor ......and got my self out of it but it was not easey and took a long time ......I couldent go any ware with out my h .......I am now going places by my self ..but still having some fear .....about it ............................................I am on anxiety meds an find they are helping .......but my doctor wanted me to try to go off them so I am dowen from four pills to three ....I could not go lower .......four worked better ..........I will have to ask him why he wanted me to get off them .............if you read my post .......someone has given me some advice ......on somthing that seames to work for angizety ...........

EMDR ........that is what it is called ......rapist eye movement ...treatment .........I am going to ask my doctor about it .....

Thank you all for taking the time an anergy to comment here, after a bad season Im glad to say that Im ok, and in reciprocity to your comments Im going to make some reflexions here to close this chapter of my life, or try to close it, these reflexions are very personal and are not intented to patronize anyone (btw Im not an English native speaker):

- We are not the center of the Universe, so we don't have to be the subject or being at risk of every major illness.
- Googling symptoms, treatments, diagnosis, etc is strictly FORBBIDEN, I have found that it doesn't help in ANY case.
- We have to accept to "feeling well". There's a risk of getting used to feeling sick all the the time or having "something" all the time. There's a risk of starting to like that cycle of feeling bad-taking something- feeling well.
- The mind is powerful and it can really produce symptoms that are not there.
- Mental stress needs to be addressed, my advices are: eat healthy, workout, practice yoga or anything to relax.

I hope everybody is ok and I hope we can take control of ourselves again without the constant need of someone telling us that we are ok.