I'm new and always scared I will have a....

Hi All,
I'm new here and have never been officially diagnosed (seeing doctor for 1st time in a while next week) but I'm always convinced I am going to have a heart attack, a blood clot, a stroke, an aneurysm, deep vein thrombosis, cancer (that's my new one) or any other death causing illness.
I am 35, with 2 beautiful girls and a great husband - no cause for worry there - but I EXHAUST myself with this constant worry.
I am so happy I found you all - who know what I'm going through!
Has anyone found any treatments that help other than medicine?

Hi and welcome to PC ...I use to have all the same worries and THEN some that you have...the health stuff and all..I went to the doctors a lot from my teen years on sad but true....I do not fear this stuff anymore but do get tense over new meds like a new antibiotic and all....I do exercise a LOT that helps..Also a good book to check out is
The Anxiety and Panic Workbook...A therapist would help too. Best of luck

Hello Freddie, welcome to PC.
Congrats on going to see a doc. That's a huge step.
I believe therapy is the most helpful for long term results, but sometimes our anxiety thoughts make it hard to even focus.
Meds are great to calm the anxiety/obsesive thinking. And they can make therapy possible, and easier.
Low doses have practically no side effects. But I understand some people wanting to do it without them.

Keep us posted

Hi Freddie,

Yes, it is possible to reframe your thinking away from the worries. I started to make progress out of the woods when I realised that it wasn't the thing I was worrying about, but the mental state of worrying that was upsetting me.

Now, when a fear clicks in I can recognise it and send it to the wastebin. It's a strategy that can be learned.

Therapists and behaviourist counsellors have to deal with this stuff every day, and I believe that the results are pretty good.

Cheers, M

<font color="purple">The only thing I can offer at this moment is my understanding of what you are feeling... ((((((freddie))))))) There are great poeple here that have a lot of wisdom to share. </font>

Freddie,

Welcome. This is a really great group.

Have any of your relatives died of any of the health issues you mentioned?

Jane

Therapy will help... but medicine can do that quickly while you work on the thinking behind it. Are you open to trying herbs for calming? Valerian and passion flower can help.

IMO everyone visits their own mortality from time to time. Having it forefront in your thoughts must be a terrible thing to deal with.

Welcome to PC, btw... you've come to a good place in your life!

Thank you for the warm welcomes!! Jane-cancer runs in my mom's family but after 50 - so all my concerns are a bit irrational - my head knows that but it doesn't seem to matter because it still thinks I could be THE ONE!
I used to take Paxil and it help immensely but weaned during my 2nd pregnancy - I found a website that totally freaked me out about the Paxil so I'm nervous again.

Wow, is all I can say. I was 34 and having a great but busy year when I started the exact same thing. It took 8 Dr's to convince me I was healthy and just having panic attacks. I can't tell you the countless dollars and tests spent reassuring me I had no tumors, no cancer. I felt like I've been to lucky with my health and something had to go wrong. I went on zoloft for 2 years and it did help. Now I have a 4 year old daughter and I am having attacks all over again. I also feel just like you. I managed them without drugs for the better part of 5 years but now feel the need to be back on the meds. The people here are great and have given me really good advice and support. I also am new so I can only offer words of comfort and comradarie. You are not alone.