Re: How do you deal with health anxiety?

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@house_cat wrote:
DH and I are in our mid-60s, and health issues are popping up more and more frequently. I have a tendency to catastrophize and turn every little question or concern into a major one.

I'm wondering how others deal with the health anxiety that sometimes comes with aging.

Thank you in advance for your responses. I'll be working today so I can't acknowledge any of your comments until this evening.

@house_cat

I don't think there is such a thing as "health anxiety". It's just anxiety and you're focusing on health today. Maybe last year it was something else?

Consider this: Worry is vividly and emotionally picturing life as you DON'T want it to happen.

Honestly, what do you get from "worrying in advance" of something that may never happen? Seriously .... what do you get from that?

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

I'm 66. I can overreact and stress about certain things as good as the next guy or gal, but I don't stress about my own health, just deal with what comes as it comes. I was ten years old when I started my relationship with my Savior and I've relied on Him ever since. DH and I have experienced some big things over the years but He's walked each step of the journey with us. I'm having major surgery in a couple of weeks and haven't had a moment of fear about it. Shock and surprise, yes, but no fear.

KathyM23 · ‎11-20-2010

@reiki604 Agree about stay away from Google. I lightly mentioned something I read on Google to my Dermatologist and he gave this disgusted look and said stay off Google. He doesn't think much of patients going to Google I guess.

Boomernichols · ‎11-22-2013

@house_cat I too am in my 60's as well as my husband. We go to church, try to take care of ourselves and socialize with friends. My momma was a wise soul in her mid 80's when she passed.

She told me that "worry will give you something to do but will get you nowhere," Do not fixate on what if's but keep up with health checkups so issues can be dealy with in a timely manner.

Luvsmyfam · ‎11-26-2019

@QVCkitty1I am the same way and wish I wasnt

conlt · ‎03-16-2010

Well, I am 65 and a RN. My thoughts about my health is it is always best to be preventative rather than have to treat an illness. I go to my doctors as scheduled, get my tests done, GYN, Mammogram, my primary MD, Endocrinologist, Ophthalmologist, Dentist, GI doctor and Podiatrist.

That is a lot of doctors I know but things can happen anytime in life and I have learned that. When I was 43 they thought I had a bowel tumor and I had my first colonoscopy. Even though I had no problems, I am grateful that I had a screening that early in life. I had a friend die at age 50 of colon cancer. She was 49 when diagnosed and to young for a screening. She died only 9 months after diagnosis. I always think about her when people complain about doing a colonoscopy.

I had another friend die at 43 of liver failure and my best friend at 61 from blood clots. I feel grateful to be alive.

In 2015, I was diagnosed with Prolactin Secreting Microadenomas on my Pituitary gland. I went through a battery of tests, I have 2 tumors on my Pituitary and they are benign. They did secrete prolactin which made my body think it was pregnant, my body was all screwed up. Prolactemia can make a person go blind and that is why I am covered by insurance to go to the Ophthalmologist.

When I was diagnosed with Prolactemia, I educated myself on it and did a crash course on Endrocrinology. I talk to and listen to my doctors.

I am up-to-date on all my vaccines, and tests, I do not smoke or drink, try and live my best life and try to eat good. I am doing my best. Things happen as we age. I handle the anxiety about health by praying and expressing my gratitude to God for my health and doctors. Old age is denied to many, I try and live my best life and be grateful for all that I have. I am not afraid.

If I was you, I would go to counseling. What are you afraid of? My sister has health anxiety and it just consumes her. Since she turned 70 she thinks of herself as old. She did have a health care this summer where she had Urospesis and almost died. She does not listen to her doctors though. She was denying she needed a Cpap but she has severe sleep apnea. I explained to her how the cpap works and how it's use can help prevent heart disease and strokes. She listened to me and now wants the CPAP.

Me in contrast I an 5 years younger than her and was diagnosed with sleep apnea 12 years ago and have been wearing the cpap for 12 years. That is because I knew that I had a sleep problem and sough out help.

Lottapaws · ‎12-06-2010

I agree with those saying that anxiety is it’s own health problem. I am very pragmatic about my health issues. I assume I am because my mother was. I am almost 70, and I just had surgery for stomach cancer in October. I have strong faith, and God says to give ALL our troubles to Him. I do! Ironically, it used to drive my mother crazy that I didn’t let things (other than health) upset me, but life is too short. Don’t waste a minute of it worrying, because worrying never solved a problem. It CAN create them, like ulcers and anxiety. My doctors were shocked that I was so positive and excited about the surgery. To me, I couldn’t wait to get the big tumor out! I had named him Rocky, lol, and he needed to go. I had had a gall bladder full of stones that had never once caused any pain nor trouble. I knew about them for over ten years. I did ask to have my gall bladder removed during the same surgery. Had I worried even once about that gall bladder, it would have been in vain, because it never caused a problem. I record office visits, the audio, so that I don’t have to worry about remembering everything. I write down all questions I want to ask, and I do a lot of research. I am one who feels better the more I know about something. I stay upbeat, because I don’t want to waste one minute if my life needlessly worrying. My husband had a quadruple bypass six years ago. Because I stayed positive, so did our sons and so did he. He is doing fabulously, as am I. I’ll have a toe tag one day, but until then, like the meme on social media, I want to be sliding into home base right up to the end, lol. I get this from my mother’s sister who died just shy of her 103rd birthday. She could run circles around me right up to the end, and was sharp as a tack, still active, and beautiful, inside and out. I think we learn how to handle stress as children.

Group 5 minus 1 · ‎03-11-2010

Hubbs says"My blood pressure goes up". LOL

Sassycoco · ‎08-05-2023

@rockygems123

I couldn't of said it any better 👏

I agree 👍 💯 ❤️

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

I'm quite a bit older than OP. Stuff happens as we get older and OP is no exception. I also know that most things are resolved by talking to my doctor.

OP needs to relax and come to terms with her age and ailments. They don't stop one from living.

Stop focusing on what might be wrong instead of all that is right. Worrying ages someone faster than dealing with life and making the best of it.

I still do all I can do. I've noticed my stamina isn't the same as it used to be but I can still mow, plow snow, have a garden, walk my dog, have a great social life, exercise, and live life to the fullest.