OCD health anxiety over my child

What do I do with my OCD health anxiety over my 3 year old daughter? Every illness she gets I worry it’s some sort of cancer - I google all cancer symptoms and know practically all of them by heart. I don’t need to learn anymore signs But I need to stop. I’ve brought her to the doctors twice last week over a virus (I think it’s a virus) I think of her dying and it brings me to tears and idk how to overcome this specific OCD fear. Facing it as in being exposed to it sounds awful but I need a solution. I can’t go on like this, it’s bad for my marriage, my daughter and my 5 year old son. Any suggestions?

mdg1985

Date posted: 8h

I have three daughters, 6, 3 and 7 months old. Can definitely relate. What works for me is accepting children get alllll sorts of viruses and it’s actually healthy and making their immune system strong. If you can hold that thought in your mind and resist googling, you will feel more at peace. She is not going to die, and in fact she’ll be healthier for developing necessary antibodies for the future :)

Liz ♥️

Date posted: 8h

@mdg1985 Oh wow I LOVE this!!!! Thank you so much!!!! I got scared because one of her lymph nodes was a little swollen (still is) but it’s been a week and her dr said it’s normal and actually might still be there even in another week or two. I love that perspective THANK YOU ♥️🙏🏻 Did you also worry with every illness it was cancer ?

mdg1985

Date posted: 8h

@Liz ♥️ Glad it helped! I obsess over what could be wrong when I get sick, but pretty calm when it comes to the kids and others. Since having kids I think we’ve been through every virus imaginable and I’m able to not worry when they are sick because it’s just part of the immune system building up, tons of germs (daycare), and it will pass. Kids are ultra resilient. It’s when I get the sickness I think it’s something far worse and go down the Google rabbit hole lol

Zips

Date posted: 9h

I do this with myself, I have minor chronic throat pain from allergies, but I kept googling symptoms and somehow made myself convinced I had Lpr, and my throat was being damaged. I wish someone would put restrictions on what I could search because I spend unhealthy hours a day searching about Lpr and anaphylaxis

Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 8h

Look into exposure response prevention (ERP) this, in combination with one medication helped me get in control of my OCD. ERP involves exposing yourself to the thought that triggers fear and anxiety and sitting with it till it no longer bothers you. For your specific theme it would involve imagining your worst fears, and sitting with the fact that it’s possible, accepting that it may or may not happen. Once your brain desensitizes to the fear you won’t be so triggered by every symptom. I highly recommend therapy with someone trained in ERP. It is life changing once you get a handle on your OCD. I once couldn’t imagine ever enjoying life my OCD was so bad. But now I live mostly with my OCD locked away. Sometimes it comes out but I just practice ERP till I can lock it back up again. I hope this helps you. Pl

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