Hi I'm 22 years old and I always think I've got a brain tumor or that one day Il get one it's really ruining my life as every day is a worry I don't have any symptoms that would suggest a brain tumor but my health anxiety believes that i have I need some reassurance, I've been on sertraline for 3 days now I was on it before but stopped them 6 months ago and they worked really.well for me so I'm hoping they work this time
You would really benefit from.cbt targeted at health anxiety.
Theres no point fearing the unknown.
Even if the worst things happen we are amazing at dealing with it at the time.
Cbt, deep relaxation, mindfulness.
The worst thing youre doing right now to your health is worrying.
Please seek some help.
Please don't do what I did which is waste over 25 years of my life worrying about getting some disease that I never had symptoms of. What a waste! I am fine and a very healthy person aside from some anxiety every now and then.
I would like to share something with you: sorry it's so long but it's important.
After visiting your doctor and getting things checked out, you need to get this anxiety managed. Over the years I have learned how to manage it.
1. what I did was first of all speak with a counselor. They see this on a daily basis and have the tools to help you manage this. Anxiety and stress is difficult to manage on our own and it really helps to talk to someone else. I keep going even when I start to feel better because it's like a lifeline for me. Find a counselor you feel comfortable with. Some counselors will use CBT which is cognitive behavioral therapy. That helps you see the anxiety for what it is and it helps you manage it.
Remember....FEAR stands for false evidence appearing real. Which means sometimes when we have symptoms or even no symptoms, we think they are related to some terrifying disease, when in reality the odds are much higher that they are not. Our minds will go to the negative if we let it, so we must be in control.
Don't let fear take you over! Be a fighter for yourself!
2. Secondly, I go to Google or YouTube and look up detachment from overthinking meditation. I put in my earbuds and lie down and listen to them. They teach us to separate our thoughts that are negative from ourselves. This is something I think could really benefit you!! They completely calm down my brain and body to the point where I almost feel like I'm floating. This is such a great thing to do for your brain and overall health. I do this a couple times a day specially when I'm laying down to sleep. There are many to choose from just pick the ones that you like. There's also positive affirmation ones that are helpful too. I play them in my car and when I'm going for walks.
it will just calm everything down when you are having an acute anxiety attack
3. Stay active! The worst thing you can do is sit around and think too much about all this. It will bring on more anxiety. When I exercise my body completely calms down and the symptoms often go completely away.
4. Stay social! This helps keep your mind off your worries. The less you are alone the better at least until you manage your anxiety. Just do things that you enjoy.
5. When feeling anxious or anytime you'd like, do deep breathing. Breathing through your nose for about five seconds and make sure your stomach rises. Then exhale through your lips as though you're blowing out a candle slowly for another five seconds. Do this as many times a day as you need to. It helps if you're lying down but you can also do it's sitting.
6. Eat healthy! Stay away from processed foods especially sugar. Sugar has an inflammatory response including in the brain. This will just increase your anxiety and can possibly bring on depression.
As horrible as anxiety symptoms are, if you get them, they CANNOT hurt or kill you! I have had them for many many years on and off and now I pretty much ignore them but I do try to stay as healthy as possible and do those things I listed above. The meditation audios really are excellent please try them and do them often !
You will be fine once you get this under a little control. You will have a long great life and you deserve peace and happiness.
I hope this helped you a little bit at least.
Don't let fear take you over! Be a fighter for yourself. Fear is based on non reality.
Just a sidenote to my last discussion: I have also learned that worrying and negative thinking is actually harmful to our physical and mental health. It can literally make you sick.