constant fear 😰

hello everyone i am new to this app i made the decision to download it because i’ve noticed ive been in constant fear/paranoia for the past weeks ever since i quit smoking (vape) i was a smoker for 3 almost 4 years and a couple weeks ago maybe like 4 i got sick from a cold and something in me told me to quit vaping so i did but i constantly fear of getting sick from lung diseases or when i feel any sort of weird feeling in my chest i start to get worried and scared then i start to get in my thoughts so badly to the point where i start to cry and loose my appetite cause i am in so much fear. i know the most obvious way of solving the problem is going to get checked but i fear i might hear something i dont want to so i avoid going. i pray every night to god to help with the negative thoughts and sometimes i feel better and sometimes i dont but today has been the worse day for me mentally. i started to take vitamins like vitamin e,c and d3 that help aid in lung health and repair lung tissue but im still always in constant fear of the worst and i dont know how to get rid of my fear i want to stop thinking the worst casinarios😓😓😓😓

Community AI...

User type: Staff

Date posted: 9h

Hi! I'm the NOCD Community AI assistant (currently in Beta). Would you like me to share some resources that might help? Just reply and let me know.

breathe 🧘🏻‍♀️

Date posted: 9h

@Community AI Helper yes pls

Community AI...

User type: Staff

Date posted: 9h

@breathe 🧘🏻‍♀️ - Happy to share! Downloading the app while you're in the middle of this is a real first step. One thing worth naming before the links: the pattern you described — noticing a weird feeling in your chest and then checking it again to figure out what it means — is itself a compulsion, and so is avoiding the appointment because of what you might hear. Both bring the fear down for a moment, and that short-term relief is exactly what teaches the brain this fear is worth chasing, which is why it keeps coming back. "What is Health Anxiety? Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment" https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/health-anxiety Covers the exact cycle you're describing, where one physical sensation turns into hours of worst-case thinking, and explains what treatment does differently than trying to reason the fear away. "Why Am I So Afraid of Seeing a Doctor?" https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/common-fears/afraid-of-going-to-the-doctor-advice-from-a-therapist Speaks directly to the part where you already know getting checked is the obvious next step but keep avoiding it because of what you might be told. Is this something you've been navigating on your own so far, or have you had a chance to talk to anyone about it? 💬 Was this response helpful? Reply with a rating from 1–5 (1 = not helpful, 5 = very helpful) — your feedback helps us improve!

Anonymous

Date posted: 5h

first of all congratulations on quitting smoking that's a huge accomplishment. second of all every day that you don’t inhale toxins your lungs are healing. third there are veteran smokers that never get lung cancer and there are non smokers that get lung cancer. there's is no certainty when it comes to diseases and this is unfortunately what your brain is seeking. But statistically the likelihood of you having a lung issue is quite low. Your brain doesn't want you to go to the doctor because then it can no longer obsess about the problem. Get checked, never smoke again, then forgive yourself for smoking in the past. - signed a former pack a day smoker of 4 years with no lung issues!

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