[Ladylucy]

Hello there,

I am a 31 year old girl who has been suffering from i suppose you'd say Health Anxiety on and off for about 7 years.

It all started back when i was 25 on a plane to England i had my first scary Panic Attack!

I went through a really rough time for about 6 to 8 months when i first started suffering from Panic and anxiety attacks.

I didn't know what was happening to me and the physical symptoms almost paralysied me both mentally and physically.

I went to my doctor who gave me a full medical and told me i was suffering from Anxiety. I didn't take any meds instead i went to a stress clinic and CBT for a couple of months.

I also bought a lot of books about panic and anxiety to try understand it.

I became agraphobic for awhile, the things i once loved doing i now began to dread.

Anyway 6 years on i'm still here but suffer relapses every now and then, i am going through a bit of fear and anxiety at the moment.

I got sinuses about a month ago and the pain in my head was really bad so i went to the doctor and he put me on antibiotics after about 2 weeksw i started to feel a little better but felt i had a tumour more than sinuses so my anxiety started to get worse.

I also worry so much about loosing my hair because i fear all this anxiety and fear can make me get alophecia. Sometimes when i'm rational i think if i was going to loose my hair i would of done so by now but still the fear can be overwhelming and when i brush my hair i can get a bit panicky. I usually go through this fear once a year about my hair.

When i first went through my anxieties my hair did become dry broken and thin and then i tried to exercise more and eat better and my hair grew a bit thicker.

Anyway i don't want to take meds i really am against them but i am wondering if anyone can give me some advise of what to do about my GAD and Health Anxieties???

I read many symptoms of GAD and Anxiety and i never see Hair loss on any of the lists. Why do i fear so much loosing my hair???

[bellatrix]

Welcome! It is amazing how much we have in common! I am also 31 and my panic/anxiety have gotten worse in the last few months.
About 2 years ago, I had terrible migraines that were brought on by sinuses and I also freaked out about a tumor. After a CT scan, that was ruled out. (So don't worry - been there, done that...)
I have an MRI scheduled for Tue b/c I am having tingling/numbing sensations in various parts of my body. (Once again... freaking out.)
I am in the middle of paralyzing panic attacks that are coming and going right now, so if you need someone to talk to, shoot me a message. I keep coming here for support as well!

[Ladylucy]

Hello there,

Thank you for your kind post. What are we like? I am from Ireland where abouts do you live?

Sorry to hear you are getting tingling and numbness. I do believe that this can also be one of many anxiety symptoms.

I fear a lot about my health and my familes. i really worry about loosing my hair too as that's the last thing i need.

Do you take meds or go to councelling at all? IF so what do you recommend to help me? I don't want to take meds so the natural methods would suit me better.

I'm here too if you ever need to talk

Take care and thanks again for your post x x

Originally Posted by bellatrix

Welcome! It is amazing how much we have in common! I am also 31 and my panic/anxiety have gotten worse in the last few months.
About 2 years ago, I had terrible migraines that were brought on by sinuses and I also freaked out about a tumor. After a CT scan, that was ruled out. (So don't worry - been there, done that...)
I have an MRI scheduled for Tue b/c I am having tingling/numbing sensations in various parts of my body. (Once again... freaking out.)
I am in the middle of paralyzing panic attacks that are coming and going right now, so if you need someone to talk to, shoot me a message. I keep coming here for support as well!

[JOSH L]

Hi thier. I'm here too!

[billieJ]

Anxiety can be overwhelming and can escalate into a type of paranoia about various things such as losing your hair. But you are right. If anxiety was going to cause you to lose your hair, you would be losing it by now. You have good insight, and I admire you for battling this out without benefit of meds. I hope you don't rule it out altogether, however, in case you should come to need it. You are a true trooper! billieJ

[Ladylucy]

I'm not a trooper i am a coward! Scared of life and hence why i get so worked up and panicked! I do have anxiety and i fixate it all on my health! If i really think back to being a child i can see that even then i probably had the anxiety in me too. I was bullied in primary school and went to see a child psychologist in order to overcome the fear and panic of going to school each day.

I also used to fear my dad too. He left the family home when i was 2 and never really had a great relationship with him. I saw him as a bully and a mean man that used to come around to give out to my mum and myself and my brothers.

I do know why i have anxiety but when i have little anixety/panic attacks i get more and more afraid of the symptoms.

I want to not let this effect my life anymore and i want to be able to look forward to rest of my life and hopefully be able to start a family next year too.

I have white coat sydrome too and when i went to my doc last week my BP was 140/102 but i was very anxious.

Does anyone else here suffer with Health Anxiety??

How long does most of your anxiety last?
I've been worried about a brain tumour for past month and now i'm scared that i'll loose my hair because i worry and stress myself out.

When i read the many symptoms of panic and anxiety attacks i don't see hair loss is this a uncommon thing that can happen to people without anxiety and panic?

[Ladylucy]

I wish i felt brave i feel like i'm a coward and that i'm going insane. All the normal things in life that people look forward to like holidays etc i fear and always have some anxiety about traveling away from home, going on planes, meeting new people etc.

I know its something i will always have and if i think back to my childhood i always have had worry and fear.

I was bullied in primary school and never really got on with my dad. He used to scare me. He left the family home when i was 1 and always used to come home and argue with my mum and give out to myself and my brothers if we had been bold.

I have been worrying about a brain tumour for past month and now my fear has subsided to loosing my hair! Its not an unfamilar fear with me as i always go through the fear of loosing my hair.

I don't want to symptom search about Alophecia but i hear most people get it from worry and stress and i can't help worrying sometimes i guess its in my make up.

I did go to CBT for a few months 5 years ago but she moved away after about 3 sessions and i thought i could get through it but i'm tired of giving months up with worrying so i want to try end it once and for all.

I'm 32 next week and really want to start thinking about starting a family next year, i'm not sure it can be possible as i am anxious about Needles, Blood Pressure etc.

Do many of you guys have high BP at the docs surgery? I had a reading 2 weeks ago and it was 140/102 think that's the highest i've ever had but i have been anxious past month!

Do any of you suffer from Health anxiety and if so how long would you usually worry for?

I've read many symptoms about anxiety and panic but don't see hair loss in any of them. Would that be because alophecia is uncommon or what?

[bellatrix]

At this moment, i have an appointment with my psychologist. Since the panic attacks have been this bad suddenly, I have not seen her about them yet. (I do recommend you find a professional to talk to, though.)
As far as meds, I have taken Xanax for the past 2 days just b/c my panic has been to the point where I can't sleep and was awake the other night begging my husband to take me to the ER.
I understand where you are coming from about not wanting to be medicated. I have refused meds for years for my anxiety, but 4 days of panic in a row is not worth it to me.
I am going to try natural methods and therapy & I'll keep you updated.