- Date posted
- 5y
- Date posted
- 5y
I honestly never have read a post that I can relate to more. I honestly had to scroll up to see it I had writen this post...seriously. I’ve done an intensive outpatient program that helped quite a bit but the unfortunate truth is that this condition, like any other chronic medical condition, will likely be with us for the rest of our lives. My advice to you, stick with therapy. ERP is extremely helpful for OCD... I’m still on the fence about it’s benefits for those of us strictly with hypochondriasis. For me personally, I find that ERP was difficult to get me triggered because the exposures were set up rather than real life, which are the ones that really effect me. Another big thing- NO compulsions. That includes checking your lymph node, going to the doctor for reassurance, seeking reassurance from others, googling, mental rumination, and/or avoidance. Have you talked to your doctor about the fact that you have hypochondriasis, or illness anxiety disorder? I did and it helped a lot for both me and my provider to understand how to better help me. Yes, we lose some of our credibility as a patient, but it’s a valid loss. Have you tried medication? Lexapro worked fuckin wonders for me but I’m currently off it as I’m trying to get pregnant. Diet is a big thing too, try and reduce inflammation, as it can trigger obsessions. Probiotics believe it or not also can help with allievating some depression/anxiety, maybe not for everyone, but maybe it’s worth a shot if you haven’t tried? Lastly, I’m sorry for what you’re going through. It fucking sucks so hard and has literally consumed me for the last several years... since getting engaged and then married, for sure. It gets better (and then worse, and then better again, at least from my experience). Just know that you are not alone.
- Date posted
- 5y
You know that saying, "Google is your friend"? Well, in the case of OCD Google most certainly is not your friend. IMO having a world of information available to you in moments is not always helpful, especially with OCD. It allows you to feed it so much and in some cases will even give you reassurance that you 100% are RIGHT in your worry. I know it's difficult, but really try to stay away from the Google searches, they really are not helpful. Just accept you need to live not knowing if you have an illness, the same as anyone else and, until you do get an illness (if you do), you will get on with your life doing the things that matter.
- Date posted
- 5y
I know I have to stop that, although sometimes it can be reassuring (but then I don’t belive when it is). The thing is I am afraid I already have an ilness that I don’t of and about which I will find out when it’s too late.
- Date posted
- 5y
@sometimes_mary That's one if the things about OCD, it makes you worry about future events, which you really can't control. No one can tell you that you won't get ill. You can take action to lessen the chances, by eating well and exercise, but the is no guarantee. I'm not sure how you would deal with this. Unfortunately you will need to learn how to sit and live with the unknown, which is bloody difficult.
- Date posted
- 5y
True, that’s the big challenge, accepting you cannot control what happens. Yes, bloody difficult. But it helps to know I am not the the only one with that struggle :)
Related posts
- Date posted
- 22w
Hey friends… I am in a really low place regarding my health anxiety. I am absolutely terrified of cancer. Im only 17 years old and im worrying more about health then living my life its very draining. At the moment I have a very chesty cough which has lasted around two weeks and a runny nose and just full sinuses. I woke up from my sleep tonight and woke up completely wet in sweat and itchy. I am terrified in case ive got cancer. I get so so scared It genuinely is not only affecting me but everyone else around me im pulling them down too. 💔 I am UK based and recently got a job and even then its all I can think about. Im crying my eyes out scared ☹️ To anyone else going through this your not alone and its so consuming. ❤️🩹
- Date posted
- 22w
I went from intrusive thoughts of hurting people, thinking I did horrible things and not remembering it like running people over with my car etc, to my brain trying to convince me I that I had split personality disorder to now health anxiety. The intrusive thoughts weren’t as bad as this. I’ll get physical symptoms like my heart racing, chest pain, can’t swallow. It’s been causing panic attacks but I’m constantly scared I’m dying. If my mole looks like it changed I freak out and think I have cancer. I had to get a stethoscope to listen to my heartbeat to make sure I don’t have an aortic aneurysm to buying a Fitbit to constantly check my pulse. I went to the ER bc I thought I was dying and now I’m paying a 2 thousand dollar bill when they say my heart is fine. It’s just exhausting.
- Date posted
- 21w
content warning: MRI results I got prescribed MRIs done on my lumbar and cervical spine over the weekend, and several things came back abnormal in the report. I started to google when I saw a word ending in -oma, got a basic definition of this particular kind of t*mor (probably benign/non-cancerous), realized that googling in this case was for sure a compulsion, caught myself and put my phone away. I told myself, "I have an appointment with my specialist in 2 days. I trust this doctor, so I will delay/not do my own reading until after I talk to her, and only if she recommends further self-education." I stuck to it and I was proud of myself. Cut to the appointmet today. I got lost in the building where her office is and arrived 14 mins late. The receptionist said there's a 15 minute grace period, so I would have to reschedule. No availability for 2 MONTHS, even for telehealth. First of all, I am so ashamed of being late (that's another trigger for me), and so hurt and rejected that they wouldn't talk to me, even very briefly. Now the urge to google is so extreme. There are objectively concerning things in my report, based on what she said ahead of time that we were looking for, and what would affect treatment. I also have a LOT of c*ncer in my family history; 3/4 grandparents, an aunt on each side, and 1.5 bio parents (1 was skin c*ncer, 1 was prec*ncerous polyps removed but considered high future risk to be monitored), so "-oma" and "t*mor" are big red flags in my minds. So while normally I am actually pretty good about living and making peace with my chronic conditions, and health ocd is really only like 5 on my hierarchy, I know that I actually do have to be vigilant about c*ncer in some ways. My balanced solution is sticking to recommended observation scheduling, and then entrusting the research and checking to my trusted providers, so that I am not being negligent nor being compulsive. But now what? I hate waiting. Idk if/when I'll hear from her. Chronic pain in those regions due to curvature and degenerative discs are the reasons I have to get MRIs every couple of years, and now I am so somatically, obsessively aware of that pain and wondering what's going on. This post is a vent, and is my choice to express the anxiety without giving into the desire to google. I'm not seeking reassurance on whether I/my test results are going to be ok. Still, I think just some understanding and/or advice on holding myself accountable for not compulsing would be deeply appreciated. Thanks.
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