Struggling to differentiate between health anxiety and real medical issues?

Health concerns

I often convince myself I have some kinda of life threatening illness… currently colon/ rectal cancer is what I’m obsessing over… anyways I struggle on when seek medical attention because I don’t know when there’s a real medical issue or if it’s just ocd telling me there’s something wrong. Does anyone else struggle with this, and if so how to decide when so see a doctor or when to ignore it

Username: SpookyKiwiSpookyKiwi

Date posted: 43w ago

I delt with similar, not to scare you or anything genuinely, last year I was dealing with concerns that I was going to die of a deadly heart condition, wouldnt sleep because I thought I would die in my sleep, went through many tests and found out I have PoTs, which is a NON life threatening condition that I was likely dealing with for many years prior to when my ocd started rearing its head. Not saying you have cancer in any way however, I think this is most likely just the ocd making everything more crazy, it can even generate symptoms of diseases or illnesses without you actually having it. I was afraid I had a brain tumor and would constantly get headaches, but no brain tumor. Sit with it, maybe, or maybe not do you have cancer. See how you are feeling in the next couple weeks while doing the mental work. If you feel that you are having symptoms of colon cancer that couldnt be caused by ocd, like bleeding etc dont want to go into many details with that because I'm sure you know what I mean, then I would say go to a doctor to check. But for now I honestly wouldn't worry, try to get rest, sit with the discomfort, and see how you are in the next couple weeks. This was probably super poor advice but I hope maybe it helps even a little bit. Take care!

Username: Unknown93Unknown93

Date posted: 43w ago

@SpookyKiwi Thank you for your kind words and great advice

Username: VGHVGH

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 43w ago

Hi I used to deal with this all the time. Therapy helped. I learned to go to regular doctor appts no more, no less. If a doctor wanted to see more I followed their advice. If you look for symptoms, you will find them. Believe me, I would stare at moles for hours trying to figure out if they’d changed. Id read DR reports for hours. I learned to allow the “fatal” symptoms, trust you will know if you need to go to Drs.

Username: emilytravelswildemilytravels...

Date posted: 43w ago

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I went through this exact fear in September and ended up having a colonoscopy, which came back fine. It’s so scary! I would say, if you’re having a legitimate symptom, go to the doctor. Now I know that can be hard to tell when we’re anxious and have OCD. Also make sure to go to regular checkups. Outside of that I know it can be difficult living with the uncertainty of health issues. ERP really helps, not sure if therapy is available to you? This would be a good topic to discuss with your therapist. Sending you big hugs!

Username: workingonit

Date posted: 1y ago

How do we listen to our body when we have OCD

I’ve struggled with medical OCD for most of my life without realizing it. I feel like as a kid I always heard stories where people listened to their gut instigating and it was correct and they saved themselves. I remember overhearing my mom talking about a boy who had hit his head at a soccer game and told his parents “I need to go to the hospital something is wrong” and it turns out he was bleeding in his brain and needed immediate surgery. My mom said “it just goes to show you need to listen to your body”. I am constantly listening or watching, particularly when I’m under stress. Of course all of the extraneous symptoms are almost always the result of my anxiety (finger tingling, chest pain you name it anxiety is probably the cause). I’ve trained myself to take this line of rationalization when such symptoms appear. It terrifies me because how will I know something is really wrong when I can’t trust my own brain. I feel like I’m fighting a battle against myself all the time. I just want to know that I’ll be able to take care of myself but I can’t know that for sure.

Health Concern OCD

Username: emilytravels...

Date posted: 48w ago

In a vicious health OCD cycle 😭

I cannot seem to stop the cycle and I’m questioning how much longer I can manage like this. I keep having a symptom, or so I think. It’s not super consistent, and when I’ve gone to the doctor to explain it, I feel like a crazy person. Its sharpish, tingling pains in my stomach that do seem to be more present when I’m stressing and hyper fixating on them. But sometimes just pop up on their own. I won’t notice it for a few days, and then I’ll feel a twinge in my stomach and absolutely have a freak out over it thinking it’s some stage 4 something. I’ve stopped wearing certain clothes and working out because I’m afraid of “triggering” it. I feel like I can’t even distinguish between what’s real and what’s not anymore. How will I ever know when to actually go to the doctor for something if i don’t know that what I’m feeling is even real? Has this happened to anyone else?

Username: Alittlebital...

Date posted: 38w ago

Health concerns

Hey everyone, I’m not sure if this is super OCD related, but I figured I’d post just to maybe feel less alone. I’m always worried in the back of my mind that I might have cancer, and it’s not for nothing, I have had two types of cancer before I was 10 years old. The fear doesn’t take over my life, but it’s definitely there. I recently got sent to check a large lump that appeared on my thyroid, and all diagnostics coming back so far are ruling out the easy non-cancer options. I’m worried, it’s not an unfounded worry, but it’s starting to interfere with my life in a way that feels like OCD. I’m scared, and if I’m completely honest, I’m extremely sad. The last thing I want to do is get life changing bad news in the middle of an OCD spiral. Anyway, thank you for reading, I think I just needed to get that off my chest ❤️‍🩹

Young adults with OCD

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Struggling to differentiate between health anxiety and real medical issues?

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