How I handle this determines my future

[RNwithanxiety]

So, I was able to successfully kick a month long obsession with lymphoma by myself, without going to the doctor etc. I thought about lymphoma constantly while I was awake. I eventually got so mentally
Exhausted the anxiety just stopped 80%. I figured if my small lymph nodes hadn't grown at all in a month it probably wasn't lymphoma. These past two weeks have been awesome. I had my life back and I was able to recognize my problem is anxiety. However, last night I started getting intermittent pain in my upper right quadrant, similar to the pain I had before my gallbladder removal in November. I was a little anxious about it today which led to me checking my usual enlarged lymph nodes. They felt about the same but I thought I felt another pea sized one next to my two enlarged ones I noticed six weeks ago. I had a small freakout that almost led to a full panic attack but I stopped myself. I have had a couple of instances today where I was thinking I had some kind of abdominal cancer and that is why my lymph nodes are enlarged.

However, I'm not googling and I am using my rational thinking to fight my anxiety. I know if I let it flare up it will get out of control and I can't do another month long panic session. I am accepting I have anxiety and bodies do weird things. Everything is not linked to cancer. Once I can retrain my brain to stop jumping to
Cancer every time, I will be okay. I'm determined this time to beat my anxiety.

[rr2005]

Good for you! This post inspired me. I've also got to accept the fact that bodies change and do strange/different things (even stranger stuff when we're anxious), and that doesn't necessarily mean I'm dying. I'm so sick of being scared, and I'm sad that it's making me miss out on the life I've been given. Good luck to you!!

[Allochka]

Hi, really inspiring post! I'm thinking something similar now - I have some symptoms, which I am sure are anxiety related. I try not to freak out about them, not to got ot the doc. Because I know deep down - if I succumb to HA again, it will be harder and harder to beat it.
So now we are defining out future, like you said. Let' s make it less anxious. We are generally healthy, and the only thing we have to fight is our anxiety disorder. And we' ll cope with it!

[wegngis]

This is timely for me.  I'm currently struggling with cardiac symptoms, such as chest pain, left arm pain, shortness of breathe.  I've been tested, multiple times, multiple ways, always comes back clear, yet the symptoms remain.  I'm trying to just keep telling myself what you're telling yourself, keep using rational thinking, keep fighting.  Just know that you have others around you going through the same...exact...things.  We can do this.