Serious Illness

BlackKids

Well-known member
Is anyone else almost 100% convinced that they have some kind of serious illness? I've been to see a doctor and he dismissed but I still can't get it outta my head.
I wondered if its a common issue with SA?
 

mikestar

Banned
Only you know what your problems are and what your capable/incapable off.

You'll never be 100% yourself and nor will doctors
 

shygirly

Well-known member
I always worry about diseases. I wanted to become a nurse but I was too phobic of learning about diseases.
 
I think I used to be kind of a hypochondriac back when I was depressed. I never really told people about my "suspicions," but I would read about various ailments and think "maybe that's what's wrong with me." It was also before I was diagnosed with depression, and depression was never something I had considered, or even knew a whole lot about. A lot of the "symptoms" I thought I had were exaggerated in my mind (and I think deep down I knew this, which is why I never made a big deal out of anything), but I did have headaches every day throughout my teenage years.

I'm not sure if this was a way of seeking attention, or simply because I knew there was something wrong with me, and I just wanted to be able to put a name to it, and know that I wasn't just "imagining" things. Maybe there was also a desire on my part to be able to explain/excuse some of my behaviors, like the fact that I missed a lot of days at school, or just didn't feel like doing much in general.

It was a relief when I was diagnosed with depression, and subsequently, social phobia, because then at least I knew that it was something legitimate, and not just me being lazy/apathetic/etc. But psychological disorders aren't always taken seriously, or as seriously as physical ones, so perhaps if you still feel convinced that there is something physically wrong with you, it's because it might "legitimize" your problems more (at least in the eyes of other people). I know in my case depression did cause the headaches (for the most part) and some other physical symptoms- when you internalize anxiety/stress your body will express it in one way or another.

So maybe you feel this way because you feel like those around you aren't taking you or your SA (or any other problems you might have) seriously. I don't know your situation, so my theory might be wrong in your case.
 

iamthenra

Well-known member
Yeah, I am convinced of it and I have some very real symptoms. Numbness, tingling of both hands and feet. I have tremors in the hands, and sometimes it prevents me from doing things that I used to do....

I was an electronic tech for the last 17 years, and I had a hard time soldering anything because my hands would shake so bad. Now that I was laid off my job of 16+ years, I am now looking to become a nurse.... Yeah, I'm a girly man. My anxiety is going to go through the roof being around women and girls at school and out in the job field. I am putting my therapists suggestion to the test. He told me that in order to get over your fears, you have to face them head on.
 

market.garden

Well-known member
I'm convinced every niggling pain or ache is something serious. I feel weird about going to the doctor's because I'm convinced they're fed up with seeing me now.
 

Jimsie

Well-known member
About a year ago, i was completely convinced i had a serious illness, the doctors said it was something small but after Googling symptoms i was convinced it was something much more serious. I think my fear of doctors and hospitals made it worse and i kept posting messages on forums explaining my symptoms and getting mixed responses.

I couldn't stop thinking about it all and i think so much worrying then made me constantly feel sick and i couldnt eat which then made me even more paranoid and anxious. After i came to conclusion i was just making it up in my head, i then started worrying about dental health because i know i definatly do have problems there. That is now a whole other problem that i worry about, but this one deffinatly exists.
 

IceLad

Well-known member
Is anyone else almost 100% convinced that they have some kind of serious illness? I've been to see a doctor and he dismissed but I still can't get it outta my head.
I wondered if its a common issue with SA?

I can totally empathise with how you're feeling BlackKids!

This week I discovered what I think to be a large new scaly mole on the top of my back leg. From the offset I was convinced that it might be skin cancer!

Engulfed in worry, I made an appointment to see a doctor on Friday. I saw a trainee doctor at the appointment and she was pretty convinced that it's a benign mole. However she did bring in a senior doctor to look at it and he basically agreed, although he did add that it was a slightly unusual mole. The senior doctor concluded that it would be worth the skin specialist doctor of the practice taking a look. However it turns out that she is off on holiday for the next 3 weeks, and I will have to wait until late August before I see her!

I can't begin to imagine how I would feel if it turns out to be cancer. Because of social phobia, I've yet to get my life up and running so I certainly don't need anything like this.
 

FOR REAL

Banned
a few years ago i had a brain scan because of my vertigo, a couple of days later i got a letter from the nhs, i thought to myself "tumor"
the letter said "congratulations" you are fine
in a way i felt relieved but at the same time i was cursing and swearing cause they couldnt find what was wrong
 

BlackKids

Well-known member
I can totally empathise with how you're feeling BlackKids!

Thanks man. I've arranged an appointment for next week to get a second opinion. I hope that he will atleast humour me if nothing else. Its so feckin confusing though. Everything feels so real but then people/docs tell me its all in my head. Be nice to know for sure
 

this_portrait

Well-known member
I don't really want to worry too much about diseases. I just try to be happy (when I can tone down my anger and whatnot), eat healthy, exercise (something I need to do way more of), and when I get to a certain age, go to the doctor when I have to.
 

dooby-duck

Well-known member
Anxiety itself has some quite extreme feeling physical effects, which are symptoms of other problems, some of them really serious. The feelings are real enough. The most extreme and concerning feeling I ever had was in my stomach. It felt like blood was pulsing in from a vein / artery.
 

BlackKids

Well-known member
It's probably the side effects of worrying to much over nothing all due to SA.

I hope so. I suppose my main concern is that it is something more serious like ms. A debilitating disease that if left untreated could have serious complications later on in my life.
I've just realised thats my biggest fear. ****
 

Flowers-Of-Bloom

Well-known member
I often think that I might have a serious or even terminal illness.
Lack of exposure to the sunlight (resulting in Vitamin D deficiency) has caused my skin to become pale like the sick, my nails are turning purple, dark circles have formed around my eyes, my veins are very blue against my skin and my bones are weak.
Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of osteomalacia (and possibly osteoporosis), high blood pressure, tuberculosis, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, peripheral artery disease and cognitive impairment.

And God knows what other risks surround my generalised ill-health.
I'm going for a blood test soon. Not looking forward to it.
 

SnowWolf

Well-known member
I often have some random pain or lump and convince myself I have cancer. The internet really doesn't help in this regard with stupid medical sites that seem designed to totally freak you out.

My doctor told me once that he wasn't going to let me get a test because that would only encourage this behaviour, and there was almost no chance I had that type of cancer. But I still worry, I'm actually seeing my doc for other issues tomorrow and I'm debating whether to bring it up again because the symptoms are worse. Almost no chance still leaves a chance.

Though, it is true that anxiety can cause a lot of random pains, I've had chest, stomach and and head pains in particular that have all been blamed on anxiety. But many years ago I had a chest x-ray and I actually had a broken rib, had no idea how that happened.
 
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