newbie here - long term hypchondriac obsessive!

[chrissie]

HI everybody,

This site is really interesting is it amazing how we all follow the same line of catastrophic thoughts!

I have had long term fears - over periods of sometimes years for each one - brain stem tumour, MS, blindness and other eye diseases, CJD, leukemia, breast cancer, bone cancer, pernacious anemia, heart attack etc etc etc. I too have suffered panic attacks for years and use to have a fear of being sick in public which caused me to have a panic attack everytime I was around people that I didn't know.  My husband ( who was my boyfriend at the time, god knows why he agreed to marry me after all this!!) took me out to dinner when we first got together and I just jumped up and left the restaurant in a dizzy, slurry tingling panic and he had to pay the bill and come after me.. we were in the middle of the main course!!

Alot of the brain. ms issues are down to panic I think that is why alot of us on here have the same symptoms.  Although recently,I have had swollen glands in my neck. Googled it...came up with about 20 deadly and horrible illnesses that this could relate to.. totally panicked.  Worried so much that i was scared to go to the doc for abou 2 months.  Finally went and he calmy said that I had fluid in my ears that was blocking the glands.  gave me a nasal spray, and it went.  That was about 8 montsh ago and I have had it again this week.... am terrified that it may be something else and am still to scared to go back to the docs.

It is horrible how it can make you feel exhausted, on edge and miserable all day isnt it?  I have also had achy muscles which I think as well is down to stress but I am trying not to google it any more.. the worst thing I ever did was start looknig on the internet for illnesses!

[mermaid]

Hi Chrissie :)

i'm also new to the site and can really identify with what you say. I have just recently started going for therapy which is really helping so far.

My therapist's first recommendation before anything else was to stop with the googling which is really hard for me because i work online, from home, all day. So it's like being an alcoholic working in a pub! Some days the 'craving ' to check out whatever symptom is featured in my body that day is so strong that i give in and tell myself 'just three sites then i'll stop'. pretty scary to see that in myself! but i'm always thinking, what if i've missed something?
 
Anyhow i'm seeing this therapist twice a week and it's good to have someone to be accountable to  as to whether or not i've succumbed to my urge to google symptoms and when i do 'fall off the wagon' she's just like 'that's ok, next time you'll stop at two sites.'

Her main premise is that old truth 'the more you feed something the bigger it grows - starve it and it will eventually shrivel up.' And I have felt soooo much better in my mind since curbing my symptom searching.

Now if only my body would get with the program. Sadly no quick fix hey! Exercise and strectching esp. on my Pilates ball really helps, also walking around the football fields when my son's at practice twice a week, watching the sunset, and also swimming in the sea though with winter coming to the southern hemisphere i will need a wetsuit soon!


Anyhow my new replacement when i get in the google-grip is to come to this site and remind myself that my twitching, aching, tingling, numb face, headaches, etc are all anxiety.

Good Luck, Chrissie. Hope you're doing well today.

[chrissie]

Hi

How can I go about getting therapy?  Do you have to go through the docs?  What should I ask him for -is there a specialist type of therapy for these disorders.

[mermaid]

Chrissie I live in South Africa and I heard about a counselling centre run by a church nearby. Was sceptical at first cos while i believe in the power of prayer etc felt i needed 'real' counselling as i had read online that cognitive therapy has been used very successfully around the world for HA. But couldn't afford a psychologist, not even one visit which is hugely expensive here.

In desperation finally went to the centre and was amazed and pleased to find they work on cognitive therapy basis (and great for me, no charge just donations). I am going twice a week and finding it great. She wants to help me 'stabilize' before we start working on how i got into this state - and more importantly how to cope if i do ever REALLY get some or other disease, which could happen!

How you would go about finding something in your area not too sure. Maybe use google to find some help next time (it helped me more than googling symptoms ever does! :)

Good Luck