Does anyone else's mind work like this?

Mental health
1

Dear friends, Does anyone else's mind really lock on to a bodily area or part that is causing worry ? Example: You are getting bad headaches so from waking up to going to bed your thoughts are mainly on your headache and you notice every twinge and ache that you may have missed if you were not so focused on that area. Or a joint is aching and your mind just locks on it and you notice every little ache and twinge and the worry (health anxiety) is all consuming... ? If you do, how do you get past this please? Thank you

2

sadly yes i do

3

Haha alllll the time. This is VERY common with health anxiety sufferers.

  • I was experiencing cluster headaches around this time last year. They lasted about a month or so. It felt like sharp stabbing pains on the left side of my head, behind my ear. I’d get them even when sleeping too… I googled and of course it said I had a brain tumor or another brain issue lol. Gotta love google.
  • I freaked out so bad, I was a complete wreck, constantly anxious and in pain. I ended up going to the Dr for an MRI and it came back completely normal. As soon as I heard that I started to calm down, and as soon as I calmed down the symptoms disappeared completely. I haven’t had them since haha. It’s amazing what your mind can do to your body physically.
  • Unfortunately I’m onto other physical symptoms now though, like generalized itching and stomach pains. It’s like as soon as I figure out one symptom is nothing serious, it goes away and a new one pops up ready to get me nervous all over again.
4

Ditto with my mind games. It’s amazing when you feel better you dont focus on your ailments as much.

5

Thank you so much for your very helpful reply Philly. . .

I too had bad head pains which after MRI brain scan and all the anxiety that goes with it was diagnosed as cluster headaches, I was prescribed ‘Naramig’ which worked every time, they have got less and less to virtually none now over the years.

Why do we do this to ourselves ?

I watched a few really good vids by
The Anxiety Guy
On YouTube yesterday who provides some very insightful information on how the brain and body is affected by Anxiety and how to stop it.

Maybe take a look ?

Best Wishes

6

Hi Will,
Absolutely, keeping busy or distracting the mind can help sometimes :slight_smile:

7

It’s not nice is it :frowning:

8

it really isnt living in constant hell

9

Oh cool, I will take a look! Thanks =) Idk why we do this to ourselves haha, it’s so frustrating :frowning: