newbie december 2010

[bumblez]

hi everyone,
just wanted to introduce myself. am a 30 something mum of 2 who has had health anx for 5 years with no relief.  am at the end of my tether, i try so hard on my slightly better days but end up either in tears or panic with pure frustration of it all. i have an unfounded fear of cancer and it has gotten so bad i cannot scratch or even bathe before it sets me off. it has darkened my days so much so thought i would visit here to liaise with likeminded souls. have tried cbt twice and anti deps but to no avail.  just want to be normal (ish!) again and not spend most days thinking i am going to die and leave my babies and my man.
love to you all,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[MidnightRun]

Hey bumblez,

Welcome!  You are among friends.  I'm sorry you're spending your days in tears, that happens for those with HA but it doesn't have to be that way.  I'm new and a cancer-phobic too.  I really know how to pick them also, always the more rare, hideous ones.  I understand your frustration and urge you to come on here when you need it.  There are so many supportive and experienced folks here.  And everyone pitches in with the support when they can.  Whatever you do, don't google  Dr. Google almost made me catatonic with fear before I came on here 

It's good to have you here. 

[sixpack]

health anxiety can be nasty.

but you can feel better.  it doesn't have to rule your life.

[floridaguy65]

Hi there:) Yes, HA doesn't have to dominate your life as it is doing currently, according to your post. Welcome to the Zone and I trust you'll be able to find assurances that you're, certainly, not alone in your struggles. Overcoming a feeling of isolation can be a wonderful healing power, in itself:) From the edge of the cliff and from the depths of total despair, there are success stories that can give you hope. Seeking solace from anxiety can be a winding journey, full of much trial and error, in determining you best personal path for healing. But, I do know the only thing guaranteed to fail is not trying...or giving up trying. We must keep soldiering on seeking that right combination of acceptance, compassion for ourselves, education, therapy (if needed), meds (if needed), self-help techniques, etc. If your process isn't working, change it, tweak it, do something to it, or little will change in your struggles. Our desire to be "normal (ish:)" can cause us angst if we get overzealous in saying I MUST get better...I MUST get better now! IMHO, there has to be major acceptance and then a calm well-defined outline for our healing paths. In reading your post, I would think that giving therapy another try might be a good idea...I'm no pro...this is just my opinion:) How about a different med...an anti-anxiety type med (benzo)...that might be used short-term to, simply, take the edge off. Again, between you and your Doc for this decision:) But, once we peg our anxiety down just a notch then, perhaps, we can have a clear-headed assessment of what long-term processes might be most beneficial for our "recovery". When we are fully "fuzzy-headed" with anxiety it's difficult to even think about an appropriate path for seeking solace. Taking the edge off, just a little, through whatever means we can find, might just make us comfortable in our own skins, enough, to afford us a glimpse at what might be in our healing:) Feel Well:) And always remember there is HOPE:)