A few years ago I began worrying that I would contract a certain disease.

Then all of a sudden it seemed to me that I had, because I had certain symptoms.

Over the next 8 months I worried I had this disease, as well as others. I noticed that during this time, and after, I didn't care for myself like I once did. My personal grooming was poor, I didn't shower often, i didn't wear socks, and I didn't plan for the future.

Eventually it turned out that I didn't have that particular disease, and I was clean of any concern. But years later I still have the worries, and the associated lifestyle problems because of it.

What are your thoughts? Simple hypochondriasis or PTSD?

Hello Toilet,

When it comes to PTSD it wasn't easy for me to hear the diagnosis, let alone understand I'd have to live with it. But in brief, PTSD is the result of psychological trauma, it could be something such as being bullied at school to having someone you love die. Have you experienced traumatic events in your life? Sorry to ask, don't really follow many forums but this one and abuse.

What I go through is basically walking into triggers everyday of painful memories that remind me I once nearly died, and how much physical pain aggravates me due to the abuse, or things that would remind me of the trauma and it presents itself in episodes that you just can't think clearly and it is like you live that horrible moment over and over in your head. Flashbacks, nightmares, depression is also part of this whole deal and of course acute stress, given that it is part of a normal bodily function to become so tense and aggravated in situations you fear unsafe.

I believe the doctor mentioned that it is normal for victims of abuse, or even people who suffered car accidents and whatnot have some sort of struggle with these things and the thing that may make it just a traumatic event in your life and a long life of PTSD is how long you endure the symptoms. Allegedly longer than 3 months it may be PTSD. But this is all text book.

So, if you've experienced something that changed you completly (whatever it may be) and from there on you have recurring traumatic challenging episodes with acute stress then yes, you may be suffering of it. However, what you just described up there sounds like depression itself but depression as it is seems to be the most common result out of any mental health out there.

If I remember correctly, these things are not so easy to diagnose and it'd be best for you to get professional help in the matter because PTSD is the bane of my existance and I swear it's killing me. From tumors to chronic pain, to sleepless days and never ending sickness can potentially destroy whatever little left of life you've got. Anyone around here can share with you how detrimental anxiety disorders are and how it doesn't affect your mental health but also everything else you can possibly think of, so take good care of yourself and get someone to confirm you doubts.

[Nammu]

Nobody here can tell you what diagnoses you have. If you have an illness you can get support here though. If you think you have an illness you can talk about your symptoms but no one here is a doctor and able to tell you if those symptoms mean anything you will have to go to a doctor to get an official diagnosis.

Originally Posted by Illegal Toilet

A few years ago I began worrying that I would contract a certain disease.

Then all of a sudden it seemed to me that I had, because I had certain symptoms.

Over the next 8 months I worried I had this disease, as well as others. I noticed that during this time, and after, I didn't care for myself like I once did. My personal grooming was poor, I didn't shower often, i didn't wear socks, and I didn't plan for the future.

Eventually it turned out that I didn't have that particular disease, and I was clean of any concern. But years later I still have the worries, and the associated lifestyle problems because of it.

What are your thoughts? Simple hypochondriasis or PTSD?

((((IT)))) Please see a T or Pdoc for a proper Dx. We are all different.

It took me FOR-EVER to get a proper Dx. I was just treating symptoms and putting band-aids on things.

Once I did get it spot-on, it was like a light went off over my head and a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.