How do I get over my health anxiety/phobia?
441427
Have you tried doing some sort of strenuous exorcise like weight training, long distance running or cycling. Anything that makes you super fit, apparently it can be euphoric, you sleep soundly, feel much stronger and able to cope with anything, it worked for a friend of mine. Good luck.
1025608
Hypochondria (or hypochondriasis, sometimes referred to as health anxiety or health phobia) is a somatoform disorder in which one has the unfounded belief that he or she is suffering from a serious illness. Hypochondria is often characterized by irrational fears of being diseased/dying, obsessions over minor bodily symptoms or imperfections, doubt and disbelief in doctors' diagnosis, constant self-examination and self-diagnosis and preoccupation with one's body. Hypochondriacs often require constant reassurance, sometimes from multiple doctors, family and friends.\n\nHypochondria is often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety, and can also be brought on by stress.\n\nThe term hypochondria comes from the Greek hypo- (below) and chondros (cartilage - of the breast bone). The term was originally used to describe unidentifiable stomach pains. It was thought by ancient Greek physicians that such pains were caused by the movement of the spleen, an organ located near the hypochondrium (the upper region of the abdomen just below the ribs on either side of the epigastrium).\n\nDuring the 19th century the term evolved to be the male counterpart to hysteria.\n\nThere is some evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressants can alleviate severe hypochondria.\n\n[edit]\nTips for hypochondriacs\nSufferers of hypochondria may benefit from one or more of the following exercises:\n\nKeeping a journal describing what led to the anxiety attacks or panic \nTalking with friends or family members, and taking a different perspective on the symptoms \nTracking the triggering factors of anxiety, and avoiding them (e.g. self-diagnosis, reading about symptoms) \nMaintaining a healthy lifestyle and positive outlook \n[edit]\nFactors contributing to hypochondria\nMedia and the Internet often contribute to hypochondria, as articles, TV shows and advertisements regarding serious illnesses such as cancer and multiple sclerosis (some of the common diseases hypochondriacs think they have) often portray these diseases as being random, obscure and somewhat inevitable. This only allows the hypochondriac to reinforce the idea that they actually have that illness.\n\nIt is not uncommon that deaths in family members or friends can trigger hypochondria in certain individuals. Major outbreaks or predicted pandemics can also contribute to hypochondria. Statistics regarding certain illnesses such as cancer will give hypochondriacs the illusion that they are more likely to develop the disease
823493
This problem is more common,then you think.A lot of people have the same problem.Try to breath deeply and imagine flowers-it really help.Before to go anywhere ,you think you can have a problems-don't eat!Tell yourself-nothing is such a bed,look different on the life!
287214
You are a hypochondriac, go to your doctor and tell him/her what happens to you maybe he/she will be able to refer you to someone who can help.
141150
I'm not sure there is an easy way to conquer any fear.  My suggestion is take the first step and visit some local dentist's offices.  Find one you like the looks of (clean, homey feeling, relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff) and make an appointment for an initial exam and X-rays.  This is a fairly simple and very painless visit which is great for the first time when you're nervous and scared.  Make sure they offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas).  It really makes the visits much easier.  Then ask someone you trust to go with you so that you are not alone.  Also remember don't be embarrassed about being scared, more people are scared walking in the office than are not.
770955
Hi scared....Boy do I know how you feel!  I walked into the emergency room on June 23, 2003 holding my chest.  My Cholesterol was >500, triglycerides >1200, and I weight 230 pounds....about 70 pounds over for me.  For some reason I turned down an angiogram and anything invasive and started on a quest for health.  I’ve been a Chef for years but the idea that food (and exercise) could so dramatically affect health escaped me somewhere....as it does just about all Americans.  The fact is that we in America have created this nice little fantasy world that exists apart and separate from the environment that nourishes us; the earth.  My journey has led me to a greater understanding of my own body and how it fits into the earth system.  I took two drugs for a few days over 1 month, just until my Doctor indicated that the momentum had switched to blood lipid reduction and I through them away and realized way more than half of my blood lipid reduction through diet and exercise alone.  In under 6 months I had bounced off of 150 ponds and settled about 160...my cholesterol was <150, triglycerides <100, I’d put on 10 ponds of muscle mass....I felt and looked GREAT...the best I’ve looked or felt in 45 years!\n\nI’m presently studying to become a Registered Dietician so that I can help plain folk like you and I help themselves faster and easier.  Although I could....and WILL in the future....offer some very concrete advise, especially on how to get through this on a day to day basis, I’m going to defer to several well qualified sources below that will get you going...spend a few hours on the vegsource website....find a teacher-Doctor there that appeals to you....I’ve highlighted two below.....get their DVDs (as well as the vegsource lecture DVDs) and books......put what they teach into daily practice......turn off the TV and tune in to life......exercise DAILY and eat right....become apart of the earth environment!  \n\nGood luck.....you can do this...I KNOW because I did it MYSELF.....I and others are with you!!\n\nDr. John McDougall\nhttp://www.drmcdougall.com/index.html\n\nDr. Neal Barnard\nhttp://www.nealbarnard.org/index.htm\n\nJohn Robbins\nhttp://www.foodrevolution.org/\n\nVegSource....a great resource for tons of health oriented teachers...\nhttp://www.vegsource.com/
553777
Those are good questions but you need good sleep, diet, exercise and really follow through with a doctor's recomendations.  Trying to line up your questions before you see your doctor sound like anxiety and you should jot down some questions and submit them to your doctor.  Just make an honest try at your doctor's suggestions and that will be your best bet.  Get some rest and try to avoid the anxiety of these conditions.  Things will unfold at their proper time but listen to your doctor not some internet crap.  Follow your doctor's advice to a tee.
506019
Simmer down!!! (Calm your nerves) Get a massage, or something, take a relaxing bath. Do whatever to chill out.
217754
1) Breathe\n2) Try listening to your fav music with headphones\n3) Remember there is a LOT of blood in your body, which will be replaced immediately when a tiny amount of it is taken out for testing.\n4) Watch programs like Nip Tuck before going to give blood. It is all made up artificially & is hysterically funny. If it bothers you watching the false stuff, just think that at least you aren't going through that & giving a bit of blood is not so hard after all.\n5) Promise yourself a treat afterwards, like your fav choc bar.\nYou basically have a phobia. We all have them but it must not run your life.\nI have given blood for years. I think of all the people it is helping. Giving blood + injections have never bothered me. It is just something we have to face. Think of what you want to achieve - ie: the cross cuntry - and think of this as a hurdle that you have to jump over.
319533
There are many people who face different kinds of neurosis. There are also many people who have phobias. If you have had this problem for over 4 years, some books you may want read. Books that can teach people how to deal with such things. You may want to see a therapist or hypnosis. I don't know if there is a medication that will make this go away. One way to work on it, is by using exposure therapy. Start practicing doing this, when it isn't necessary, and if you have someone you feel you can trust to tell this too, have them with you as encouragement when you have to sign the documents, and continue on, taking steps to reach the goal of overcoming the neurosis. It sounds like it might be a phobia, and there are so many resources out there to help you learn how to overcome this. I wish you all the best
1025516
eat some good food - drink some liquid besides beer ect --you will get over it--you may be alergic
238344
There are several options open to you.  \n\n1. Your doctor could prescribe a medication to relax you.  You might not like this one, because you wouldn't be allowed to drive for 4 hours after taking the medication.\n\n2.  See a psychological counselor to work through your fear.  I'm afraid I don't have statistics on this.\n\n3.  Hypnosis.  Many hypnotists claim a high success rate.  I recently attended a seminar on Medical Hypnosis and was shocked by the outright lies that some licensed hypnotists tell in regards to their success rates.  It might be worth a try, but I'm much more leery of hypnosis for therapy now.\n\n4.  If your fear stems from previous bad flights.  Talk to someone about those episodes.  Explain why and what you felt.  Get it out of your system.  Then try to desensitize yourself.  Visit a small mom & pop airport.  Sit in a small plane on the ground (most small airports usually have a pilot or two that would let you sit in their small piper cub or cessna.  \n\n5.  Do somethings else that's really terrifying like bungee-jumping.  That will put all your other fears into perspective.
607351
I have been having fear of that lately also. Im 25 and i have 2 kids, Im in perfect health, but I have alot of anxiety and I know its all in my head. Im making myself "worried sick." Try to think positive, okay. Its hard for me to do that as well, but I try. best of luck to you. Im not sure if its normal, i think that people to go thru fears of different things though. Maybe youre just going thru alot right now. Dont let your mind get to carried away with things that most likely wont happen. 'Cause then you begin to play tricks on yourself and began to feel physically ill. Best of luck and hope I helped.
1131919
Concentrate on your breathing.  If you start to panic, just start thinking slowly about your breathing, breath in and out again, and in, and out, do this slowly, don't take huge breaths or fast breaths, just in and out.  Then think of something happy, something that you enjoy, do NOT concentrate on what you are panicking about, say if you are anxious because of all the people, don't sit and stare at them, or think about them at all.  If you have to, go into the bathroom and imagine that you are somewhere else, vedge out for a minute until your nerves get calm again.  \n\nI would also suggest talking to a doctor, they can prescribe medicines that you can take when you first get that panicky feeling, or even before you get into a situation that you know you may feel anxious about.  This stuff has worked for me, I have found that I can breathe my way through just about any panic attack, I haven't had one in about seven months now.  Try it, and seriously, talk to your doctor.
938737
Try meditation before bed. \nI think you have unconfronted issues of anxiety - you say that you don't worry, but you had cancer, so it's pretty unnatural not to worry in such a situation. Sooner or later you'll have to face your fears, even though your attitude is very positive, please allow yourself to admitt this small weakness. You may also want to try counselling.
81707
I have had panic attacks since I was 17, I'm now 23. There is a book that helped me understand how to relax myself and deal with these attcks. Its called the Anxiety and Phobia workbook by Edmund J. Bourne. \n\nSomething I have noticed that has helped tremondously is to excercise. If your not a gym person, I recommend walking at least 30 mins a day.
632277
Overcome Fear?\nFear of being stuck may hint at a difficult birth. If so, something can trigger it years later, but immediate awareness is not there, it is a more unconscious knowing. However, even if of a different origin or an unknown origin, you should be able to overcome such fear!\n\nWhat can you do? Fear of any kind may diminish from the use of Bio*Chakra Light MeditationTM. This may sound funny, yet this brief exercise only takes a minute or three, but has been very effective in the past. It helps dissolve the negative while staying positive! One can practice once a  day, in about 4-6 weeks changes may occur (or even sooner), at first on the inner plane, then in real life! One also learns to accept the positive and not to cling unto the negative.\n\nYou find this exercise spelled out at http://www.biochakra.com, click Hilites, go to the end of the monthly Hilite article, click Archives, Click Spiritual Energies, Predictions and the Bible, and find Bio*Chakra Light MeditationTM. It is in successful use since 1979!\n\nMay you overcome your fear, I am convinced you can!\nHappy recovery, cordially, India.Magica