I'm really worried

Mental health
1

Hi I'm Charlie I'm 23 I suffer with health anexity been coping well recently,but at the moment I'm really worried about this cough I ha a cold about 3/4 weeks ago and I still have a cough it just won't go and Obviously the first thing on my mind is lung cancer I'm so scared I don't know what to do,I tried lempsips,cough medicine but still no luck, I do smoke  and my cough seems to getting worse please help 

2

I would say its because of the smoking if its not going away.

3

Hi Charlie94'

It sounds like you have somekind of upper respiratory infection. There is a strain of it going around and the cough can linger for months. It also might be bronchitis. It's always a good idea to get it checked out. Put your mind at ease. All you know for sure is that you have a cough. Nothing more.

I know it can be terrifying but getting it checked out will make you feel so much better.

I remember going to the ER because my throat was red with white patches. That was a symptoms of AIDS. Went into a major panic refused to find out If was HIV positive. The fear was great over a period of years I was admitted to the hospital. That night they convinced me to have the HIV test. It was negative. I was so convinced I was dying of AIDS that the terror governed my life. Another time I found a small lump around in my pubic hair area. I was so convinced that I had cancer I wouldn't even masturbation. Finally after months of terror I went to a doc who said I had an ingrown pubic hair. The fear can drive you crazy.

4

Hi Charliee,

You should always be concerned about a cough that want go away. It could be the smoking that is the cause. You really need to stop smoking. You should see a doctor about that cough. Good luck!

5

Hi peter thanks for the reply just really scared it's not all the time just threw out the day coughing occasionally but like a chesty cough just scaring I'm going to give it a week of more meds then I'll go and get it checked out if it's not gone 

6

Hi Charlie, 

Know first of all that there are LOTS of people with lingering coughs, especially in winter, and an EXTREMELY small percentage of them have lung cancer or something similar. So, you'll be one of dozens of people your doctor sees to help get the right prescription to clear up whatever is going on for you. Also remember that stress can take a physical toll on your body -- if you are very anxious, you're also being hard on your body, which might make it harder for your body to snap back into place. As others mentioned, smoking also irritates your lungs and throat, which might be extending your recovery time as well. I recommend going to a doctor not because something dire is wrong, but because this is almost certainly something very easily fixable. You can prevent it from turning into something more serious (like pneumonia, which still probably won't seriously injure a 23-year-old, but is unpleasant), and can also put your mind at ease. 

7

edit: maybe even one of dozens of people just today

8

Thanks abo225

Just seems to be always on my mind like I'm dying of cancer or I'm going to get it soon I'm having therapy for it but it's not working 

9

Hey Charliee94

When it comes down to it is Cancer your greatest fear?

Do you have friends or do you pretty much keep to yourself?

10

Hi peter 

And yeah cancer is pretty much the fear tbh and haven't really got a social life it's pretty shocking if I'm honest