Hi everyone! If you managed to fight or are fighting with health anxiety, what's helped/helping you? Mine slowly becomes intolerable, it affects my studying and relationships. Unfortunately, I can not afford a therapist.
Hello!
I’m currently battling health anxiety as well.
I’ve found that certain events trigger my anxiety. For me, most recently, I lost my beloved cat suddenly about two months ago and that made me hypervigilant about my own and my family’s health.
I’ve also observed that I only experience even the mildest symptoms when I’m alone and overthinking everything. I don’t feel anything when I’m with friends and family, on holiday, or when I’m exercising.
I’m still battling it, but here are some tips that have been helpful:
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DON’T GOOGLE ANYTHING. If you have this habit, resist the urge to Google the smallest symptoms. I used to Google every single thing and if my self-diagnoses were accurate, I’d have every ailment imaginable by now. I fought against the urge to run to Dr. Google and trust me, your mind will be much more at ease if you stop.
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Don’t obsessively monitor yourself. I had a habit of constantly monitoring my heart rate and freaking out when I sensed any irregularities. Even when everything was normal, I noticed that I would be anticipating something abnormal to show up
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It’s been affecting my studies and my relationships as well
but I’ve realised that when you immerse yourself in your studying, and really do your best to ignore your nagging thoughts, you will feel completely fine. -
Occupy yourself with things you love doing. Go out for a walk in nature, hang out with your friends, or watch a few movies.
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This hasn’t really been effective for me, but it might help you: treat your anxiety as an over-dramatic friend. Whenever you get distressing thoughts, try to tell your ‘friend’ to chill out, and tell yourself that it’s an uncomfortable and horrifying feeling, but it WILL pass.
Have you gone to the doctor? If you have, that should put your mind at rest. I still haven’t because I’m kinda afraid, but I guess I will if anything worrying pops up again.
I really hope you overcome this 
I’ve been struggling with it on-and-off for a few years now, but it WILL get better. Sending you all my love and support.
Oh my God, it is so accurate, experiencing the same!
Thank you so much, actually it is a really useful piece of advice, I’ll save it just not to forget.
The thing is, I jump from one to thing to another, when the previous problem is solved and this way I’m in constant distress which is super exhausting and annoying. And the following ‘problem’ seems more real and more serious and scary than the previous one, it’s like ‘Oh, this time ■■■■ is real!’ It doesn’t help also that usually the stuff I google is confirmed by doctors but it’s minor and not as scary as I think it is. Just something that’s gonna go away and normal for a young adult to have sometimes.
Thank you so much for your kind words and the piece of advice. We should just start enjoying life, overcoming the things that seem scary but in reality just nothing or never gonna happen. Hope you gonna feel better really soon, cause you seem to be such a nice person 
Health anxiety can also bring on depression. I am waiting for professional therapy but I have been told there is a 6 month waiting list which is ridiculous
Yup, it was seriously reassuring to read about everything you’re going through, because I finally don’t feel so alone anymore!
I totally understand jumping from one issue to another 
I do the same. My own concern a few years ago were my lungs when I would find myself struggling to take deep, proper breaths. After many tests, doctors told me it was harmless, and that it could be resolved with lots of water and exercise. It’s known as sighing dyspnea, though I probably thought it was some lung disease.
Then I remember, for a while I was obsessing over every headache and was convinced that I would have a stroke. And boy were those thoughts frightening.
Now I’m scared about my heart, but I’ve been fighting this anxiety a lot better as of late. I’d recommend watching The Anxiety Guy or Dr. Tracey Morgan’s videos on YouTube - they’re really helpful! They understand exactly how it feels and you’ll find some comfort in that.
I wish you good health always, and I hope you overcome this nightmare soon! And yes, it’s crazy how heath anxiety can convince you of so many things that have a high unlikelihood of ever happening. I’m sure you’re a nice person too and I’m glad I could help.
thank you very much this is exactly how im feeling thatnk you so much
I suffer with health anxiety too. Currently I’m worried about something called numb chin syndrome and I’m not sure if I am really feeling the symptoms or I’ve just convinced myself that I have them. I pray constantly but I just can’t get peace with it. It all started back in november and I go back and forth between feeling like I’m gonna die soon and feeling that all of my fears are irrational. I’m stalking your post for advice too. Prayers that we all get some relief soon. It’s such a miserable thing to deal with.
Hi! I’ve had health anxiety due since I was 14 (I’m almost 16 now). I’ve been ways to help my health anxiety, nothing I do seems to be really working. The thing that really helps me right now is to hang out with my friends or get out of the house. When I’m alone, I just start googling stuff and that makes it worse. Health anxiety sucks:( but I hope you get better!
I have it too. And my anxiety has gotten so bad about my health no thanks to Dr. Google! I’ve gotten to where I can’t control it. I’ve made myself so worried it’s caused me my appetite and basically my life rn.