Health Anxiety

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Recently I been trying to keep active, fit and eat healthier. I have been playing football for 1 hour once a week and cycling to work a least twice a week (a 30 minute ride each way). I have been getting a solid 7-8 hours sleep a night. I have been laughing, smiling and chatting with friends. I feel good right now. I am still on Escitalopram, but I will start coming off them later in the year.

I truely do think that I am feeling good at the moment because I am keeping active and not thinking about anxiety. I am not thinking about my health 24/7. And it really feels good.

I want to know. I have been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks now for about 2 and a half years. I have been on Escitalopram (SSRI antidepressant) for about a year and a half. I have had cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and most of the time I keep anxiety and panic under control. Is this going to last forever though? Will it ever completely go away? My wish is that it will go, like most sufferers do. But, am I a natural born worrier? What ever I do, will I have anxiety with me? Only time will tell. For now, I have it under control and I am enjoying my life with my 6 month old son.

Wow, what a month or so. I haven’t been able to update for a while because my partner was expecting our first baby. Anyway he was born on Saturday 26th June. So, I have been having some anxiety symptoms, but I know this is because of all whats been happening. But bow I worry about our baby. Is he breathing? is he having enough milk? Why is he crying? worrying about the dreaded cot death. I suppose thats being a parent though, anxiety for a different reason. A parenting reason. Each day is different my fiancee and I work as a team. HAPPY DAYS!!!

Source:  www.thelindenmethod.co.uk

Health anxiety sufferers become obsessed by their physical self. Sufferers find it impossible to divert their thoughts away from constantly monitoring their body for aches, pains or strange sensations. Health anxiety causes sufferers to check their pulse, listen to their hearts, take their blood pressure and study medical information, surfing the internet to find explanations of each and every symptom, sensation or thought which arises.

Health anxiety is very destructive. It causes the sufferers to focus on themselves, disregard others, their work, their daily routines and even their personal hygiene. Sufferers often become withdrawn from society, developing social phobia or agoraphobia to prevent exposure to anxiety provoking situations.

Sufferers become concerned that ‘something else’ is wrong with them, that they might have an undiagnosed or unrecognised condition, which is secretly ‘attacking’ them.

Health anxiety is most common amongst sufferers and is caused solely by the ‘what if’ thoughts caused by the underlying anxiety disorder. ‘What if’ thoughts are often also called ‘fear of consequences’ thoughts; these are the thoughts, which present to you a negative, anxious scenario, which represents the absolute worst case.

Many anxiety sufferers experience a variety of scenarios created by ‘what if’ thoughts; these can often be about health but may also be about harming oneself or another person or maybe about sexual themes. All of these thoughts are the product of the anxiety reaction and should not be feared.

The brain produces these ‘what if’ thoughts as a result of an overreaction of the ‘flight or fight’ response and once the sufferer has ‘practiced’ these thoughts, by reinforcing them with behaviours such as researching and constantly monitoring their body, it becomes habitual.

This health anxiety habit is powerful, infiltrating every element of the sufferer’s life.

Please feel free to contact me on anxietytoday@hotmail.co.uk

Several new anxiety treatments are showing promise as complements to both therapy and medication. In mild anxiety disorder cases, these treatments may provide sufficient relief on their own.

Exercise – Exercise is a natural stress buster and anxiety reliever. Research shows that as little as 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week can provide significant anxiety relief. To achieve the maximum benefit, aim for at least an hour of aerobic exercise on most days.

Relaxation techniques – When practiced regularly, relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, controlled breathing, and visualization can reduce anxiety and increase feelings of relaxation and emotional well-being.

Biofeedback – Using sensors that measure specific physiological functions—such as heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension—biofeedback teaches you to recognize the body’s anxiety response and learn how to control them using relaxation techniques.

Hypnosis – Hypnosis is sometimes used in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety. While you’re in a state of deep relaxation, the hypnotherapist uses different therapeutic techniques to help you face your fears and look at them in new ways.

Helpguide – Anxiety Attacks and Disorders Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Here are a few people who suffer with anxiety and/or panic attacks. Amazing really, I didn’t know any of these guys suffered or suffer now.

I did have to use some of my self CBT techniques today too. I can feel the anxiety coming and can recognise it, apply the techniques. Then it slowly goes and doesn’t turn into a panic attack.

When I feel anxious or like I’m going to have a panic attack it’s a strange feeling. I get a lot of the symptoms like dizziness, tunnel vision, increased pulse and respiration. It feels like I’m in a picture, like I’m not really there, it’s a strange feeling.

As well as the weather, it seems that alcohol also has an effect on my anxiety. I use to enjoy a drink or two, maybe a couple in the evening 3-4 times a week. But recently have have dropped to about 2 drinks a weeks. I really do feel refreshed and more alert with less anxiety without alcohol.

It’s not during the time I drink more, it seems that it’s the after that I suffer with higher levels of anxiety. I know it sounds like I’m looking for answers and I think it’s because I’m feeling so much better that I want to know what triggers it.

I know anxiety is closley linked with OCD and depression, but alcohol can cause these as side effects.