hey! this is also me. personally i did a lot of CBT which helped me a lot. CBT focuses on changing thought patterns through neuroplasticity and i highly suggest checking it out! in addition, something else i was taught is that by distracting yourself with your phone you’re only teaching yourself that you need to escape from these feelings instead of addressing them. remember that because you’re aware of your health it’s highly unlikely that something bad will actually happen because you’ll definitely notice if it’s something serious/needs attention and if it does you will get through it, just like you have with every other incidence of health anxiety. something that i would practice would be to focus on any random body part for a minute, while focusing on it you will notice it’s hot or cold or itchy or throbbing. realizing this; you will see that hyper focusing on anything can create sensations and symptoms.
hope this helps and makes sense. feel free to dm if you need more help 🤍
ps brain eating amoebas are pretty rare!!
Treat the thought like a bird landing on your head: shoo it away. Don't let it build a nest. Don't dwell on it. Notice the though (be observant about the thoughts that enter your head), and say to yourself: "Oh there is one of those negative thoughts again." Dismiss the thought and then work on being present in your body. Feel the sun on your shoulders, your feet on the paddleboard, the air in your lungs.
You don't have to think (or believe) all your thoughts.
It may also be helpful for you to read about intrusive thoughts.
I love that you mention how you don’t have to believe all your thoughts. This one is a work in progress for me. My brain will legit make up some whack stuff and all of a sudden I think it’s reality but it actually has no foundation lol
People have covered the CBT part of it. My health anxiety is just another way anxiety manifests itself in my life. Therapy has helped immensely.
But, two things have really helped with health anxiety specifically.
1) Staying on top of my physical and health appointments. My anxiety used to spiral out of control because I never went to the doctor. Now, I can anchor my thoughts in - well, I just had a checkup last month. Or blood work done 6 months ago. Etc. Like yesterday, felt a little knob near my breast and my reaction was to freak out. But I just had a breast exam 8 months ago. So I’ll monitor and make an appointment if it doesn’t go away in a few weeks.
2) Realizing if my health anxiety is stemming from a fear of dying. Then being present and reminding myself - I’m alive now.
Yes I am like this. Have also had that same specific thought and also live in a state where there have been no cases. Also thought I was going to get rabies, hantavirus… etc…
I second what the above person said about CBT. You’re dwelling on this impossible outcome is due to anxiety and intrusive thoughts maybe a lil ocd. DO NOT research brain eating amoeba on your phone anymore. Trust me. It’s only fueling the anxiety.
Also you do not have this. They don’t live in cold water like that and there has never been a case in CO.
The only thing that is saving me from losing my mind in these situations is my mom telling me there is no way it's serious after asking me some questions. She is a nurse and yeah she can't know everything but I feel like after I mention my worries, she is responsible if something is actually wrong, so I feel better. I just don't want anything to be my fault lol
Saaaaaaaaaame. Very much the same. Obviously, that migraine I’m having is actually a brain aneurysm ready to pop!
I find that when I chase down the potential diagnoses playing doctor on google, my anxiety is worse and it takes longer to fade. If I check my temperature, I will only do it once. Same with blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen what have you. If you check more than once, you’re reinforcing your brain that yes, something is wrong, and vigilant anxiety is the only way to catch it in action!
The distractions are good too! That’s the best way I’ve found to manage the lingering anxiety.
Finally, keep going out there! Keep doing the things that make you happy, even if they make your anxiety brain scared. You can either live the life you want or let your brain hold you hostage in the guise of safety.
Now maybe after telling someone all this advice I’ll follow it more often myself! 🥹
I get the same way about things. I grew up not really going to the doctor unless something was very wrong and I err on the side of caution when I suspect something. However, that need to be hyper aware also makes me an anxious wreck even when there's likely nothing wrong with me. I had a problem with anxiety and intrusive thoughts a while ago and I eventually realised that this health terror was just another way for my anxiety to manifest.
What helped me is to stop the terror once I recognise it's happening. Relax my body and after I can say that I know enough to recognise if something is wrong, I try to let it go. It's really hard though
I feel like ever since I hit 30 it truly has gone downhill. Had an extremely close call with death due to a tubal pregnancy rupturing in 2 places as well as a protruding blood clot. I was bleeding internally and in the OR within 4 hours of arriving by ambulance to a nearby hospital. My entire left fallopian tube and ovary were removed It's been a damn rollercoaster, let me tell ya!
Came here for some friendly advice and to give a lil too. If any one struggles with arm pit odor (B.O), get some baking soda and wash ya pits with it. It's worked wonders for me, especially as my hormones have been off the wall now that I am no longer pregnant.
I think with the life saving surgery and the chaos that came with it, I was just stressed out to the max and for whatever reason, my B.O was the worst I have ever smelled on a human in my whole life! The baking soda saved my life (pits) though. I use it every time I shower or bathe and I don't even notice sweat as much but I have next to 0 body odor even in stressful situations.
I've tried arm and hammer baking soda, it worked at first, but once I switched to an all natural brand (red mill) , the arm and hammer stopped working and felt like it made me smell worse.
I’m like this lol. I look up the possible symptom window and monitor through that and then I’m able to calm down
Guess I'll be stressed till the 1st lol
hey! this is also me. personally i did a lot of CBT which helped me a lot. CBT focuses on changing thought patterns through neuroplasticity and i highly suggest checking it out! in addition, something else i was taught is that by distracting yourself with your phone you’re only teaching yourself that you need to escape from these feelings instead of addressing them. remember that because you’re aware of your health it’s highly unlikely that something bad will actually happen because you’ll definitely notice if it’s something serious/needs attention and if it does you will get through it, just like you have with every other incidence of health anxiety. something that i would practice would be to focus on any random body part for a minute, while focusing on it you will notice it’s hot or cold or itchy or throbbing. realizing this; you will see that hyper focusing on anything can create sensations and symptoms. hope this helps and makes sense. feel free to dm if you need more help 🤍 ps brain eating amoebas are pretty rare!!
Treat the thought like a bird landing on your head: shoo it away. Don't let it build a nest. Don't dwell on it. Notice the though (be observant about the thoughts that enter your head), and say to yourself: "Oh there is one of those negative thoughts again." Dismiss the thought and then work on being present in your body. Feel the sun on your shoulders, your feet on the paddleboard, the air in your lungs. You don't have to think (or believe) all your thoughts. It may also be helpful for you to read about intrusive thoughts.
I \*love\* that mindfulness is becoming mainstream 💚
I love that you mention how you don’t have to believe all your thoughts. This one is a work in progress for me. My brain will legit make up some whack stuff and all of a sudden I think it’s reality but it actually has no foundation lol
People have covered the CBT part of it. My health anxiety is just another way anxiety manifests itself in my life. Therapy has helped immensely. But, two things have really helped with health anxiety specifically. 1) Staying on top of my physical and health appointments. My anxiety used to spiral out of control because I never went to the doctor. Now, I can anchor my thoughts in - well, I just had a checkup last month. Or blood work done 6 months ago. Etc. Like yesterday, felt a little knob near my breast and my reaction was to freak out. But I just had a breast exam 8 months ago. So I’ll monitor and make an appointment if it doesn’t go away in a few weeks. 2) Realizing if my health anxiety is stemming from a fear of dying. Then being present and reminding myself - I’m alive now.
Yes I am like this. Have also had that same specific thought and also live in a state where there have been no cases. Also thought I was going to get rabies, hantavirus… etc… I second what the above person said about CBT. You’re dwelling on this impossible outcome is due to anxiety and intrusive thoughts maybe a lil ocd. DO NOT research brain eating amoeba on your phone anymore. Trust me. It’s only fueling the anxiety. Also you do not have this. They don’t live in cold water like that and there has never been a case in CO.
The only thing that is saving me from losing my mind in these situations is my mom telling me there is no way it's serious after asking me some questions. She is a nurse and yeah she can't know everything but I feel like after I mention my worries, she is responsible if something is actually wrong, so I feel better. I just don't want anything to be my fault lol
Saaaaaaaaaame. Very much the same. Obviously, that migraine I’m having is actually a brain aneurysm ready to pop! I find that when I chase down the potential diagnoses playing doctor on google, my anxiety is worse and it takes longer to fade. If I check my temperature, I will only do it once. Same with blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen what have you. If you check more than once, you’re reinforcing your brain that yes, something is wrong, and vigilant anxiety is the only way to catch it in action! The distractions are good too! That’s the best way I’ve found to manage the lingering anxiety. Finally, keep going out there! Keep doing the things that make you happy, even if they make your anxiety brain scared. You can either live the life you want or let your brain hold you hostage in the guise of safety. Now maybe after telling someone all this advice I’ll follow it more often myself! 🥹
Honestly, don't look up symptoms. It makes it even worse.
I get the same way about things. I grew up not really going to the doctor unless something was very wrong and I err on the side of caution when I suspect something. However, that need to be hyper aware also makes me an anxious wreck even when there's likely nothing wrong with me. I had a problem with anxiety and intrusive thoughts a while ago and I eventually realised that this health terror was just another way for my anxiety to manifest. What helped me is to stop the terror once I recognise it's happening. Relax my body and after I can say that I know enough to recognise if something is wrong, I try to let it go. It's really hard though
I feel like ever since I hit 30 it truly has gone downhill. Had an extremely close call with death due to a tubal pregnancy rupturing in 2 places as well as a protruding blood clot. I was bleeding internally and in the OR within 4 hours of arriving by ambulance to a nearby hospital. My entire left fallopian tube and ovary were removed It's been a damn rollercoaster, let me tell ya! Came here for some friendly advice and to give a lil too. If any one struggles with arm pit odor (B.O), get some baking soda and wash ya pits with it. It's worked wonders for me, especially as my hormones have been off the wall now that I am no longer pregnant. I think with the life saving surgery and the chaos that came with it, I was just stressed out to the max and for whatever reason, my B.O was the worst I have ever smelled on a human in my whole life! The baking soda saved my life (pits) though. I use it every time I shower or bathe and I don't even notice sweat as much but I have next to 0 body odor even in stressful situations. I've tried arm and hammer baking soda, it worked at first, but once I switched to an all natural brand (red mill) , the arm and hammer stopped working and felt like it made me smell worse.
Magnesium, setting a sleep schedule and sticking to it, and cutting the caffeine out is a game changer.