Do I have health anxiety?

[Khadijah]

I officially feel like a freak

For the last few monthes, I am convinced I will have a heart attack and die. I have no chest pains except random normal ones, and I am only 23. I can't shift this feeling and I freak out like anything. I am constantly thinking 'what If I have a heart attack right now' and I seem to see everything heart attack related, and people keep talking about heart attacks, but maybe this is no more than usual and I am just noticing it more. Or do I have a heart problem and my body is telling me :/ arrrrrrgh!!

I only usually get these feelings when I am alone, at night.
2 nights ago I stayed at a friends, and I am used to peace at night and her son was being so noisy, I started to feel panicky and my heart rate increased but I thought nothing of it.

All of a sudden I felt hot and dizzy and had to sit down. My heart started thumping, my left arm went numb and tingly, and I was freaking out like crazy. Eventually she had to call an ambulance  I feel so stupid..

I often feel hot flushes, faint and always think the worst. Maybe these symptoms are a symptom of anxiety.

Anyhoo...

I went to the doctors today and he said it sounds like anxiety but couldn't imagine me having anxiety (what do people with anxiety usually look/act like..?? )

And I have been sent for counselling 

I am still convinced my body is warning me that I am in due course to have a heart attack   

Health anxiety?

[Slangevar]

What doctor tells a patient, "You don't seem like someone who has anxiety?!"  That's insane.  Yes, you have health anxiety. Anyone who worries about getting a heart attack when they're young, healthy, don't have intense symptoms, and haven't been diagnosed with a heart condition has health anxiety.

The incident at your friend's house sounds like a panic attack. A lot of people have them, and a lot of them wind up in the hospital feeling a little embarrassed.

It's okay. You're not going to have a heart attack. But you do need to do something about your health anxiety. The most accepted treatments are 1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 2) regular aerobic exercise, 3) a healthy diet (some food allergies can actually exacerbate anxiety), 4) this forum (though not without doing items 1-3), and, as a last resort, 5) medication. 

Many of the people on this forum wind up having new symptoms and HA from their anxiety meds, not to mention problems when they try to get off of them, so I would encourage you to explore therapy, exercise and diet first before turning to the pills.

Good luck! 

[marc]

Your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety and stress. The more you fixate on your symptoms, the
worse they can get. Your chances of having a heart attack at your age are extremely remote. The face of
health anxiety looks different in each individual and it is a mistake in diagnosis to say one does not look
the part.

[bubzyboo]

you sound like me except i fear of having a stroke im only 22 and although im not the healthiest person i know its rare to have one so young still doesnt stop me worrying, i havent made a doc appointment but im going to, sounds like your doing the right thing by having counselling thats what im hoping i get rather than medication x

[Khadijah]

you sound like me except i fear of having a stroke im only 22 and although im not the healthiest person i know its rare to have one so young still doesnt stop me worrying, i havent made a doc appointment but im going to, sounds like your doing the right thing by having counselling thats what im hoping i get rather than medication x

Hi and thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear you feel this way too.

Do you have any symptoms to make you feel this way? I have none except standard aches and pains so not sure why made my brain think this way. I then start thinking the thoughts are too strong to be anxiety and my brain is warning me of my upcoming death via heart attack :/ but I felt this way for monthes so that's obviously a load of rubbish!

Yes try that first before medication, I am hoping to ask for CBT at my session. I hope you feel better soon xx

[Khadijah]

What doctor tells a patient, "You don't seem like someone who has anxiety?!"  That's insane.  Yes, you have health anxiety. Anyone who worries about getting a heart attack when they're young, healthy, don't have intense symptoms, and haven't been diagnosed with a heart condition has health anxiety.

The incident at your friend's house sounds like a panic attack. A lot of people have them, and a lot of them wind up in the hospital feeling a little embarrassed.

It's okay. You're not going to have a heart attack. But you do need to do something about your health anxiety. The most accepted treatments are 1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 2) regular aerobic exercise, 3) a healthy diet (some food allergies can actually exacerbate anxiety), 4) this forum (though not without doing items 1-3), and, as a last resort, 5) medication. 

Many of the people on this forum wind up having new symptoms and HA from their anxiety meds, not to mention problems when they try to get off of them, so I would encourage you to explore therapy, exercise and diet first before turning to the pills.

Good luck!

What a great post with lots of information! I do think CBT would be good from what I have read. At my first counselling session I will mention this, see if they can refer me.
Thank you for reassuring me, yes when the Doctor said that comment I thought omg if I don't have HA, then is my brain just warning me about an impending heart attack!? Doc made it 10x worse!

Yes pills are my last resort, last few days I have felt a little better from not taking my thyroid tablets as I have a sneaky feeling the anxiety and my thyroid is related, I get blood results Monday.

When I am out and about, walking etc I feel great, just being alone makes my mind tick over!

Thank you again!

Any links to therapy vids you know of?