I came onto these threads a while ago but havent been on for some time. I struggle massively with health anxiety. The slightest niggle or sensation I get (can be anywhere in my body) I am on to Google. If i get a spot/bruise/bite/cough, different coloured urine, I am on to Google. I am currently in therapy and trying so hard to relieve my anxious mind. Any tips? It's not just health anxiety I have, I am quite an anxious person anyway. Thank you for listening!
It's something I really struggle with too. My Dr wants to put me on anxiety medication for it but yup you guessed it, Im anxious about that too!
For now these are my best tips:
1) NEVER EVER google. Our brains are always going to go to worse case scenario. If I am ever really worried or feeling like I cant
not google, I get my husband to do it for me. Because he doesn't have anxiety he can read it far more pragmatically that me and finds the most common reason for things, not the very unlikely things
2) Stay away from media articles, social media etc that tell the story of random people that get sick. I used to do this all the time. I naturally gravitated to worse case stories. I would read them to see if they mentioned what their first symptoms were and I literally convince myself I have them too. I did it with the lady (Deborah?) that had bowel cancer, Sarah Harding with Breast Cancer.
3) When you start spirally, write a list of all the reasons you are healthy, why you cant possibly have a brain tumor, cancer etc. For me its things like 'no sudden weight loss, good diet, fit and active, have had regular blood tests etc.
4) Remind yourself that the vast majority of people lead pretty boring lives and reach a ripe old age before dying. We hear about horrible early deaths for the very reason they are rare.
5) Practise mindful breathing, lie on the floor on your back with your legs up against the wall and take long slow breaths. It can really help to quiet your brain.
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Has anyone ever experienced shortness of breath or feeling like they can't take a full breath in?
I would take a very strong guess that its anxiety.