Hypochondriac, very scared, looking for reassurance ?

Question

I'm 17 and worry about my health alot, even though i eat well, exercice regularly, sleep more that 8 hours at night..

I find myslef constantly worrying about diseases and conditions that surround me. For example, for two days i've been having a little numbness in my left arm, so i immediatly assume it has something to do with the heart.. Who can help me overcome this problem? it's ruining my life.

Also, i don't like to talk about this to anyone, not even my mom to whom i am very close, because i an ashamed of this and don't want her to know.

Answer 1

I think you need to talk with a professional. First, speak with you primary care in private, away from your mother or anyone else. Let him evaluate your health before you jump to conclusions. If there is nothing wrong with you, then ask him to recommend a psychiatrist or psychologist for you to talk with so you can get to the root of what makes you feel this way. Psychiatrists, by the way, are medical doctors who can prescribe medications if they feel that is the root of your problem. If not, you will be referred to a person to talk with in a therapeutic way and include psychiatrists, psychologists or social workers. FYI: in the past many people thought I was a hypochondriac, including me. Turned out I had a wide range of hard-to-diagnose physical problems. Good luck, I know the pain you are going through. There's nothing to be ashamed about even hypochondria is a "real" problem. Get help and stop suffering.

Another step might be reading the book, "The Secret," or watching the movie.

Answer 2

well, time to become familiar with searching by google.

Numbness in your left arm is a lot more likely to be due to sleeping on that side, a bad tennis swing with the left arm,
or things going on with muscles and nerves if you use the computer a lot. The odds are against heart trouble.

But the truth is, if the pain gets worse, or doesn't ease up after, lets say 2 weeks, you SHOULD talk to a doctor. It is just prudent.

I have heard that med students go through this sort of hypochondria, every time they learn of a new disease.
========
How about if you start keeping a journal of hypochondria - you now, EVERYTHING you think you have or might have. Be sure to date each fear, each worry.

I suspect than in a year or so, when you have no more symptoms of, let us say- lupus - your brain may calm down a little. But it is just an idea.
=============

second idea-- can you look at your life and see if there is any benefit that you are getting to all that worry? I imagine that your first response will be "no, of course not, i don't want to worry." but if you think about it a few days, it might be that worrying about your health takes up a lot of your time and brain so that you don't worry about something even scary, like maybe a sibling who is using dangerous drugs. ( as an example)

Answer 3

There is a disease called hypochondriasis ... and it's one of the 'psychological disorders' suffered by people all the time, and most are like you and are 'embarrassed' by it and DON'T want to 'talk about it' with others. This particular disease is QUITE COMMON when a person is 17, because as soon as you turn 18, you will be an 'adult' and legally 'responsible' for yourself. That is TERRIFYING to most people, and they get this hypochondriasis in response to that fear.
You do need to have a 'long talk' with your mom ... but NOT about your hypochondriasis. Talk with her about your 'approaching adulthood' and your 'fears' surrounding that. Will you still be able to live at home? Will your parents want to 'throw you out and ignore you' when you turn 18? WHAT WILL HAPPEN to you and especially where your family is concerned?
Also tell your mom if that 'numbness' in your left arm continues for more than two more days. There are some really 'terrible' things that have that 'numbness' in one arm as a symptom, and while you may be 'worried about your heart' it could be another thing that does need to be treated. ANY NUMBNESS that goes on for more than four days does 'need to be seen' by a doctor ... it may be JUST a 'symptom' of your hypochondriasis ... but in case it's something that can be treated, you'll need to tell your mom so she can make a doctor's appointment for you. SHE IS STILL YOUR MOM and you do love each other, and THAT is what all Mom's DO!

Answer 4

You don't seem compulsively. Just a regular worrier. I'm the same way and it doesn't help that I watch Mystery Diagnoses. If you honestly believe your obsessing is extreme, you should seek out some therapy. You may not have to take medicine if talk therapy can help.

Otherwise, learn to rationalize with yourself. If a symptom shows up that scares you...give a minor nature imbalance the benefit of the doubt. Maybe its the weather, allergies, an upset stomach that is making a temporary change in your body. I'm not saying you should've worry, but you shouldn't freak out. Keep it under observation. This way you aren't denying the way you feel, you are simply acknowledging a chance.

Then if after two weeks, that symptom still remains...THEN make a doctor appointment. Otherwise, whatever you have will usually pass naturally.

Answer 5

First ...don't label yourself before seeing a professional. There are lots of people (including myself) that sometimes may become paranoid or obsessed with certain things. I too, have experienced that numbness and so called symptoms of heart "problems". First go to the doctor and make sure you are ok. If you continue to feel the same symptoms, explain to your doctor exactly what you are feeling. You doctor will be able to diagnose if its mental or physical.
If mental, then you can see a therapist or psychologist so that you can discuss these paranoid feelings. Sounds like there could be something else there. What worked for me is several things. I am a mental health social worker and I have read lots and lots of literature on anxiety, panic attacks, etc..and really those symptoms are very common. I educated my self about those symptoms and I have learned that truly do not have any thing to worry about. I got checked out and my heart is ok. So I trained myself to remember when I am feeling that way, to tell myself that I am perfectly healthy and its only mental. Trust me it works. I know its scary when you are going through it, but like you I started getting those symptoms when I was your age.

Anyway....go see a professional. Counselor or physchologist at school. There could be lots of things going on in your life that are causing you stress, worry, anxiety, or depression. So get help soon.

Answer 6

I am a little like this too. The best thing you can do IS talk to someone about it. I can't even imagine how tough it is to keep this to yourself. Talk to your mom. Don't be ashamed. Explain to her that you worry about your health a lot, and you don't know whether or not your fears are unfounded. She might take you to the doctor to check out your arm, and if there is nothing wrong, you might want to see a psychiatrist, because constantly worrying about your health, especially if you are healthy, is no way to live.

Good luck and don't be ashamed. As long as you are open about this, and acknowledge your situation there is nothing to be ashamed of!

Answer 7

I can't imagine how difficult that must be to live with. It must drain alot of your energy. I don't know much about hypochondria, but I know that people who suffer from it tend to think of the worst that can happen.

These thoughts are often irrational. Perhaps if you keep a diary, and write down your anxieties, and what you believe is going to happen, you may find that things are often not as bad as you first imagine them to be. It may take a while, but if you do this, you will understand that your initial feelings may not be entirely accurate.

I hope this helps, if it doesn't please seek help from a doctor. You have nothing to be ashamed about. The fact is you've been very brave in sharing this with us.

Answer 8

You seem like you have a firm grasp on your personal health. Right there is the first huge step to being a healthy individual. You eat right, exercise and sleep well. Add regular doctor and gynocological visits (usually once per year) and you should be in good shape.
However, you are the moderator of your own body, and you know better then anyone what is normal and abnormal. Usually most symptoms have to persist for more then one day to be anything serious. A tingling arm can mean a lot of things, not all necessarily life threatening.
Also, keep in mind that its been proven that worrying about your health and actually negatively affect your health. Reduced stress is a huge factor in having a health body. Trust in your doctors to know if something is wrong and rest assured you are not in any trouble.
If you are too scared or ashamed to talk to your mom, try researching you symptoms online. Ask your teachers for a few accredited medical websites. You don't have to let them know WHY you want the websites, however they can point you in the right direction for simple cause-effect symptoms and what is causing them. The reason I tell you to ask your teachers is because there are a vast number of websites that was full of crap, so they'll know the good ones to go to.
Trust me, the media sells things with two main angles: sex and fear. Media makes us fear everything is wrong with us, so we go buy their products to be healthy. Don't believe everything you see or hear. If you feel crappy one day, it doesn't mean you should be on zoloph for depression, if you can't sleep sometimes, that doesn't mean you should be on Lunesta for insomnia. Media likes to play on our insecurities to get us to feel we NEED to buy their products.
Trust me that I know from experience. Recently i was bitten by the most poisonous spider in north america and ended up in the emegency room. All I could think of was all the horror stories I heard about the Brown Recluse spider and how people lose limbs and have to be on treatment for years. My doctor gave me some literature and websites to read on it and turns out the RARE serious cases of such a bite occur in children, elderly and people with weaken immune systems. Two weeks worth of an antibiotic and I still have all my limbs and a small scar on my arm. Turns out I freaked out for no reason, just because I believed the media.
Moral of my rambling is that media (internet, TV, etc) all want us to think we are sick so we feel the need to buy their products. Be confident that you are keeping yourself more healthy then most people and be proud that you are conscious enough to maintain a beautiful, healthy self.

Answer 9

I am the same way. I think that the solitude makes it worse - meaning the less you talk to others about your problem, the worse it's going to get. I suggest talking to a therapist about it, and possibly asking about a very low dose anti-depressant like Zoloft.

It's about learning to overcome the feelings of panic and dread and also to ignore (well - not IGNORE, but at least not to freak out when you get them) the worries about your health. It is possible - and you CAN do it!

Answer 10

You are too self conscious. Just imagine the catastrophes that are happening around the world. The big Fire in Greece. The cyclones in America, The tsunami in Japan, Indonesia., The earthquakes... so on and so forth. Death can occur at anytime to anybody. Do not think of tomorrow. Live today. Come what may, learn to face things as they come. Have periodical check up. Then be rest assured that you are OK and there is nothing wrong with you. Even if there is something wrong, you are prepared to face it because there is nothing you can do about it. Cheer up. you are healthy. Do not think about your health all the time. Think about somebody Else's matters. Every time you start thinking about yourself, repeat in your mind that you are becoming selfish and you have more responsibilities and so you should think about others more than you. I think, if you develop will power, you can overcome this problem.