Do you realize how meaningless everything else is???

[elen]

I mean we worry about things like our jobs, friends, money, gossip...and then we (or someone we love) gets "a symptom"! And then we panic and EVERYTHING else is meaningless!
At those times I find myself thinking:  THIS is more important than anything! As long as my family and I are healthy, I don't care about anything else, everything else will work itself out, somehow.  Yet, as soon as all is well, it happens again...
Anyone else?

Elen

[pinky5]

Elen,

I know what you mean. We just go about worrying about this and that and then one day something bad does happen. I know I had a health scare a couple of years ago and did have something wrong with me. I was just in total disbelief that anything would really go wrong with my health. I find it pretty funny that I worry about my health all the time, but it's like I have this secret little belief at the same time that I'll always be healthy and I'm going to live forever.

When your health is in question all the things that seemed important enough to worry about then just seem ridiculously unimportant. You're right though, as soon as the crisis is over it's back to worrying about petty things that really don't matter. I really try not to worry about much and don't waste my time on things that don't mean something to me.

Rachel     

[miika]

I`ve noticed the same thing. everything else is meaningless. For me personally it has cost a lot for me. I`ve messed up my finances and relationships, because I can`t concentrate to anything else. Ok, I`m doing better with my GF right now, but still..

I`ve noticed this thing. IF there`s a moment of relieve, or a good day, I mean symptoms don`t bother....I feel empty. I feel so empty. I`m already alarmed to the next thing, and I can`t enjoy of life. I feel uncomfortable without anxiety, and I feel bad with it.

[Beth]

This is all so true.

When I am worried about a symptom (or a loved one's health, etc.), I really can't think about anything else. I've had people say, "Well, trying focusing on your job." And I always think to myself, "What does my job matter if I'm not healthy or if someone I care about is sick?" Honestly, nothing else matters at these times.

Along the way in dealing with this health anxiety, I've tried making deals with God. I'll pray and say, "If you just let me survive this symptom, I'm not going to worry so much. I'm going to get better about it, really." But when the next symptom comes up, I do the same thing all over again.

I am so scared that if something truly horrible did happen, I'd never be strong enough to deal with it. If I fall apart worrying about symptoms, what would I do with an actual diagnosis?

And, like Miika said, sometimes I feel like there's something wrong when I don't have anything to worry about. I know something else is coming, and I'm just waiting.