Hypochondria Support Group
Hypochondria refers to excessive worry about having a serious illness. Hypochondria is often characterized by fears that minor bodily symptoms may indicate a serious illness, constant self-examination and self-diagnosis, and a preoccupation with one's body. Many individuals with hypochondriasis express doubt and disbelief in the doctors' diagnosis.
Hi guys, every little thing has been setting off my anxiety. My husband got fed up with me and he doesn’t want to hear it. I have no one to talk to. I hold everything in because of my kids. I’m afraid to go to the dr. Yesterday I had a migraine so bad. I have so many knots in my neck and back from the tension and stress that I start to think what if they are tumors or something crazy. I know exercise would help me but I just want to curl up in a dark room and cry. Every ache and pain scares the crap out of me. I work for a school so I’m on vacation right now and the spare time is driving me crazy. I’m better when I stay busy. Idk what to do.
My god, I can empathize. Maybe not with the family aspects. I'm 23 and am nowhere near having one of my own. However, with everything else, I've been there. The fact that people you know are tired, no exhausted of listening to your problems, the fact that you want to keep your worries from those you love and don't want to hurt or alienate others, the body aches (up until today I have had headaches and other pains daily for nearly a month), and the knowing that exercise can be a great aid, but you'd rather just cry in a dark space. You are not alone, I've had uncannily similar experiences. As for what to do? This is where things get complicated and I'll start off by mentioning some of my experiences.
I have been suffering with crippling anxiety for the past three months and yes I've had an excessive amount of free time. I was preparing to move away from my parents' home and travel around the world. Everything seemed to be coming together nicely. I quit my job and was taking care of all the remaining logistics of my voyage when misfortune struck. Needless to say, being suddenly unemployed brought me excessive free time and the fact that my travel plans had to be post-poned proved catastrophic. I've basically been decomposing since then with my anxiety disorders developing into debilitating issues. At first people rolled their eyes at my complaints since I was a hypochondriac and everything seemed fine, but then things got progressively worse where people occasionally paid some attention to me (friends/family), but the truth is I am a wreck today and hardly anyone can provide the right amount of help. One step forward, two steps back has been my life. I'd make progress in on area only to flounder or worsen in another. So what can I do now? Not sure. Another plan to beat my problems and be an independent adult has gone awry and I feel like I'm not only starting from zero, but from negative infinity. What to do, what to do?
Well I don't know what I should do, but I think I know some things you should:
First, try to make yourself cry if you can. Crying helps and is something I yearn to do. Tears are very therapeutic so by all means make that curl-up fantasy of yours a reality. If you do it before the other things I suggest, it can likely give you a kick start in addressing your issues.
Next find a support group or network that you can depend on consistently (family, friends, actual groups, therapists, etc.). This is crucial and will provide you with much relief. I have a support group, but it's unfortunately sporadic and often unreliable. This is partially my fault since I was always expecting to leave and therefore did not want to commit to anything. Also, you stated that your husband has made himself emotionally unavailable to your worries which I think is something that you should address. Unfortunately, any human no matter how special they are can only provide so much support before exhaustion sets in. I am not justifying your husbands actions, since I do not know what your relationship really entails. But whether he proves supportive or not (he should), he can only help you sometimes and likely in ways that may leave you desiring for more. He's human and therefore you need more than just one other human to get you through this. That's where friends, family and actual in-person support groups come in. I recommend all three as together they can all provide a relatively consistent flow of help for you. Consistency matters. Last week I was out regularly, this week I am all alone and am regressing.
Lastly, find something you're interested in that you can participate in with others on a somewhat frequent basis. Volunteer work or local classes can be invaluable. I was once in an acting class where a fellow classmate confided in me that the class was the highlight of her week of loneliness and depression. The class kept her motivated to confront her life's challenges with more resolution and not give up. That discussion is ingrained in my memory and I think provides a valuable lesson.
These things are easier said than done, but the sooner you can complete them the better. If you are feeling better due to these things, I bet developing a long-lasting exercise routine will be a lot easier too. Also find ways to have fun, no matter how silly they are. Fun is one of the enemies of worry.
Good luck.