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rukiddingme New Member Date Joined Jul 2008 Total Posts : 3	Posted 7/23/2008 12:38 PM (GMT -6)
	Hello everyone. I'm new. I have had issues with anxiety and panic for about 15 years now. I'm 46. One of the other things that "gets me going" is when I hear of someone being diagnosed with a horrible terminal disease. My mind starts racing and I start obsessing about it in relation to myself. I think that I can't bear to hear about it because it makes me very nervous. I want to be compassionate towards other people & be supportive but I really can't bear to hear about stuff like that. I want to tell the people who are telling me about their friend's condition or their own condition that I just can't handle hearing about it, but that sounds horribly cowardly and uncompassionate. I want to stick my head in the sand & just not hear about it. Why am I like this? In addition to the periodic panic attacks over the past 15 years, I have had issues concerning medical tests....always expecting the worse result. I do go & have all the annual regular checkups recommended for women my age and always have. I've never had an alarming result but I always expect the worse & am very nervous. Most people I know don't even give it a second thought once they walk out of the lab or doctor's office. I'm very healthy and have never been hospitalized or had a serious illness but when I'm waiting for a medical test result, I'm a wreck & check my answering machine several times a day to see if anyone from the doctor's office or lab has tried to contact me. I don't go to the doctor very often, only when I actually have something medically wrong with me or I'm due for an annual check up so I don't think I'm a hypochondriac, or am I? I was on Zoloft before, once for about 9 mos when I had my first symptoms of panic attacks 15 years ago and then again about a year ago when I started having panic attack again. I took the Zoloft for about 6-9 mos again. I also tried Prozac about 6 years ago for about 3 mos and hated how I felt on it & experienced all kinds of withdrawal problems when I weaned myself off. I do not like taking medications in general and this last time when I weaned myself off the Zoloft, it was terrible & I vowed to never take medication again. I don't know if I have a trigger for the panic attacks per se, I haven't really noticed anything in particular that starts them but I do know when I'm experiencing them. I believe the panic attacks and the worrisome thoughts about medical/health issues are separate but maybe they aren't. I try to talk myself through these issues and eventually I'm successful but for the days or weeks that I'm obsessing about the issue or very nervous after hearing about someone with a serious ailment, I'm miserable and can't stop thinking about it. For the panic attacks, I bought Dr. Andrew Weil's breathing CD and I listen to it & do the breathing along w/him to help me get through those moments. It does seem to help. I do recognize what I'm doing, believe me. I just can't seem to control it. Is there a name for what I'm experiencing? I guess I'd like to know if there is so I could try to work through these episodes myself and educate myself better. I'm wondering if the obsessive thoughts about medical/health issues are a form of OCD? Back to Top

Howlyncat Elite Member Date Joined Jan 2005 Total Posts : 24909	Posted 7/23/2008 3:42 PM (GMT -6)
	Hi there and Welcome to HW IMHO ' It sounds like you are OCD with Health anxiety for others as well as for yourself especially for self It is quite normal for a/per's to have health anxiety and many here you will find do go thru it ahave it and are ocd about it ......... Know first that Anxiety and Panic is the sneakiest of all the DD out there and it will rip you down and tear you apart IF you let it You need to learn some more skills to help you get thru this IMHO. There is Cognitive Behaviuoral Therapy( sp) up top in the Resources as well as deep breathing and relaxation techniques and if you read other threads you will see others have ways of dealing with this You may have a more serious health anxiety than most BUT know it can be helped and you can be helped as well ....... I am not a professionall by no means but I would suggesst perhaps trying therapy and also a short term med that will help with the anxiety you are going thru You are ...........or seem to be very afraid of dying Is there a specific reson for this that you know of or can think of ?? You sure seem to be very obsesive about this and OCD can also be helped believe me I was severe OCD with many things and thru CBT I have gotten alot better in the last year and with techniques as well as medication I am glad you found us here and I SO hope you will stick around and get to know us It is a very caring and supportive family here All are willing to give you help IF they are able too Please DO read other threads ....pages and resources as well as And Stay with us Take care and I hope I have helped a bit...........LYN _{^{DX With Crohns,Pyoderma Gangrenosum,Anxiety/Panic,Fibro & Other DD}} ^{_{Donate at www.healingwell.com}} Moderator @ Alzheimer's,Co Mod @ Anxiety/ Panic,Co Mod @ Crohns ^{FIGHT the FIGHT with all YOU HAVE} Look For The GOOD,Even At Your Lowest Listen To Your Heart,Look Inside Yourself,Understand You Back to Top

rukiddingme New Member Date Joined Jul 2008 Total Posts : 3	Posted 7/23/2008 4:07 PM (GMT -6)
	Thank you Lyn. I will certainly look into the Cognitive Behavior Therapy. I've thought of speaking w/a professional but haven't done so yet. Thank you again for responding. Back to Top

Howlyncat Elite Member Date Joined Jan 2005 Total Posts : 24909	Posted 7/23/2008 4:10 PM (GMT -6)
	Not a problem There is a link at the top in Resources with "Wen" at the end ( in yellow) that will give you the free online CBT workshop /workbook I have and am using this and for me it does work as it for many others here Take care and keep us posted LYN _{^{DX With Crohns,Pyoderma Gangrenosum,Anxiety/Panic,Fibro & Other DD}} ^{_{Donate at www.healingwell.com}} Moderator @ Alzheimer's,Co Mod @ Anxiety/ Panic,Co Mod @ Crohns ^{FIGHT the FIGHT with all YOU HAVE} Look For The GOOD,Even At Your Lowest Listen To Your Heart,Look Inside Yourself,Understand You Back to Top

stkitt Elite Member Date Joined Apr 2007 Total Posts : 32602	Posted 7/23/2008 4:13 PM (GMT -6)
	rukiddingme Hi I am Kitt and welcome. I just bumped a thread to the top for you that has tons of info on CBT therapy written by the members. I hope this helps you. You have received great advice from Lyn and she is ver wise so please do look into therapy. Stick with us as we care and we will support you. Kitt Kitt, Moderator: Anxiety, Panic & Depression ~ http://www.healingwell.com/donate *~* Not a mental health professional of any kind ^{It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.~Mahatma Gandhi~}Clickable Link: Anxiety-Panic Resources Back to Top

nervymeg Veteran Member Date Joined Jul 2006 Total Posts : 2721	Posted 7/23/2008 8:20 PM (GMT -6)
	Hi Rukiddingme, welcome to HW! I'm glad you found us. I think Lyn could be right that you have OCD along with the health anxiety. You are in good company! It is probably a good idea to see a professional about this if it is interfering with your quality of live. We do not deserve to live with this fear, and we certainly don't need to do it alone. Again, welcome, I look forward to getting to know you better. Take care. Meg Co-moderator Anxiety/Panic Panic Attack Survivor Weekend Warrior Princess www.healingwell.com/donate Back to Top

rukiddingme New Member Date Joined Jul 2008 Total Posts : 3	Posted 7/24/2008 8:05 AM (GMT -6)
	Lyn, I can't seem to find the free online CBT info you referred to above. I've looked under Resources and can't find it..... Back to Top

stkitt Elite Member Date Joined Apr 2007 Total Posts : 32602	Posted 7/24/2008 8:11 AM (GMT -6)
	Good Morning This is Kitt Here is the link to MoodGYM. http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome It is a great site, give it a try. I am sure you will find it easy to follow and you can go through it at your own pace Take care Kitt, Moderator: Anxiety, Panic & Depression ~ http://www.healingwell.com/donate *~* Not a mental health professional of any kind ^{It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.~Mahatma Gandhi~}Clickable Link: Anxiety-Panic Resources Back to Top

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