Hi, i suffer from health anxiety like the rest of us here since i was 18 and I am 61 now. its been a long road of worrying about my health and its worse now that I am older. I am on medication, see an amazing therapist, practice meditation and practice all the hollistic ways to help yourself, and i have come along way... but still, the minute an ache or pain comes to me, all logic is gone. my question to all of you, is, how can you determine what is symptoms from anxiety and what is actual medical symptoms? when do you need run to the doctors? I learned enough to identify when a trigger sets off my anxiety and then symptoms start and logic tells me its my mind giving me them, but my other side says no... its real and it is something bad!!! just wondering your thoughts. thank you for your time. LINDA
what sort of symptoms are you talking about i suffer health anxiety and really struggle
I’ve heard some people recommend the 3 day rule…like if it is still bothering you in 3 days, make an appt with the doctor. Now granted, depending on the symptom, you may need to modify this. For instance, chest pain you might say “if this is still bothering me in 3 hours i will call the doctor.”
Well Carl,
Last January i had some dull pain under my right breast going around my back. ER had me have an MRI (was scared to death) all was fine with liver but found a cyst on pancreas. told by Gi doctor it was totally benign and not to worry about it but should be checked to be sure it stays the same. 2 weeks ago i had a colonoscopy & endoscopy. GI dr called me to give me results and i asked him when i needed to be re-checked for the pancreas cyst. he says end of January when its been a year. no big deal right? oh no, a few days later I start with the upper right stomach pain and into my back. 4 days now… so my question… how fo you know if symptoms are from anxiety or needs actual medical attention.?? 43 years suffering with health anxiety and I still cant tell. thanks… LINDA
HI there have you taken any medication, antidepressant in your life many thanks ,
Over the past 3 years with health anxiety and COUNTLESS physical symptoms lol, I’ve devised my own way of deciding whether it is medical or anxiety… here is what I consider:
- The BIGGEST indicator: Does your symptom lessen and/or disappear when you’re distracted (out with friends, busy at work, sleeping, etc.). I’ve realized that almost every physical symptom I was worried about would at least lessen, if not go away totally, when I was distracted and not focusing on it.
- Is it debilitating?: Is the symptom just uncomfortable and annoying or is it seriously effecting your everyday life? If it is seriously effecting your day to day life then you need to see a Dr.
- Does it keep you up at night?: Someone once told me that if something was seriously wrong with your body, you would not be able to sleep peacefully at night. If the pain/symptom goes away when you’re asleep and returns as soon as you wake - it is probably anxiety.
- Has the symptom gotten worse quickly?: If something was seriously wrong with your body, the symptom would escalate quickly. I usually wait a week or so and see if it gets worse. If it remains the same then I can tell it’s obviously not serious.
- Check this Anxiety forum: Has anyone else had this kind of symptom from anxiety? I come on here and ask people lol. If people say yes I’ve had that from anxiety too, then it’s obv not anything serious.
Hi Philly,
Thank you so much for your very helpful response!! i really appreciate you taking the time to response.
in going thru your checklist i would say my symptoms sound like anxiety.. my logical side thinks
that, but my irrational side still keeps whispering “what if, what if”…honestly health anxiety is hell!!!
i will keep trying to fight the fight… thanks again! LINDA
Yeah no matter how logical you are, that health anxiety still creeps in the back of ur mind 
I started seeing a therapist for my anxiety and it also helped me a lot