Over-reacting to symptoms?
Discussion
Anyone else do this to any extent? i.e. reading too much into anything that's not quite right in themselves.
I've noticed there's been a few threads on here about various ailments, and the posters generally seem to be not too worried (or at least they're not letting on that they're overly concerned), even when the symptoms are fairly serious, and I wonder whether they're genuinely not too worried about it, or just not wanting to say so.
I've noticed there's been a few threads on here about various ailments, and the posters generally seem to be not too worried (or at least they're not letting on that they're overly concerned), even when the symptoms are fairly serious, and I wonder whether they're genuinely not too worried about it, or just not wanting to say so.
Edited by ThatBloke on Wednesday 30th October 12:12
I am terrible with searching on google. I suffer from anxiety on an off, and it usually triggers when there is (or I think there is) something wrong with me. I get my self worked up to the point of convincing myself there is something really up (which escalates my anxiety). You might think I am crazy, I think I am crazy and I know I am working myself up and it's probably nothing, but I can't help thinking it. I believe it's called "Health Anxiety". Without sounding too corny, it does worry me.
Last Friday I bumped my head whilst shuffling some stuff around in the back of my van at work. It made me feel sick and dazed, that type of bump and left me with a golf ball sized lump on my head. That's gone down but I've been having to wear my glasses (only usually wear them occasionally) and my ear feels blocked, which has made me feel light headed ever since. I convinced myself it was the bang on the head that did it, so I googled it and have ready things like bleeds on the brain etc.. if you could see my search bar (ignoring the free porn) you'd laugh.
Last Friday I bumped my head whilst shuffling some stuff around in the back of my van at work. It made me feel sick and dazed, that type of bump and left me with a golf ball sized lump on my head. That's gone down but I've been having to wear my glasses (only usually wear them occasionally) and my ear feels blocked, which has made me feel light headed ever since. I convinced myself it was the bang on the head that did it, so I googled it and have ready things like bleeds on the brain etc.. if you could see my search bar (ignoring the free porn) you'd laugh.
Not going to laugh at all, mainly as most of your post could have been written by me.
I guess how people will react to symptoms will be across a spectrum; for the same symptoms I guess some people will be absolutely terrified whereas others will think nothing of them, and everything in between. So I'd imagine there's a probably a few on here that have seen this thread, though "yes, I suppose I do a bit" but perhaps not to the extent it's an issue for them.
I guess how people will react to symptoms will be across a spectrum; for the same symptoms I guess some people will be absolutely terrified whereas others will think nothing of them, and everything in between. So I'd imagine there's a probably a few on here that have seen this thread, though "yes, I suppose I do a bit" but perhaps not to the extent it's an issue for them.
JimNotJon said:
I suffer from anxiety on an off, and it usually triggers when there is (or I think there is) something wrong with me. I get my self worked up to the point of convincing myself there is something really up (which escalates my anxiety).
I read this on a website a while back, about how the mind find things to be anxious about, and thought it might be worth passing on:++++++++++++++++++++++++
One commonly reported symptom of GAD is worry about stuff that shouldn't really be worrying at all. This happens because when you have strong feelings, your mind will seek ways to try to justify that emotion. It's as if your mind has to make a container for the feelings - something to worry about.
Sound strange? Well, consider this: If you're already, say, seething with anger about something, you can go out in the street still feeling angry and find yourself angry about the way strangers look, the little slow elderly woman taking too much time in front of you in line, the way someone speaks to you...anything. This will happen until you calm down again, at which point the things you were using to justify those angry feelings will no longer be bothersome.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder drives us to find stuff to feel worried about. It's important you remember this so you can start to put worries into their true perspective.
- See more at: http://www.uncommonhelp.me/articles/5-tips-general...
Hadn’t heard that term before, but googled it. I think its more a case of:
the Excessively worried partially un-well.
i.e. those that worry more about genuine symptoms than perhaps the extent and timescales of the symptoms would support.
That said, however, for many the symptoms are severe or persistent enough that trusted sites like NHS Direct recommend a trip to the doctors.
I mentioned before about I believe it being a spectrum and saw this chart being shown on a new book out called ‘almost anxious’, which basically deals with those who don’t experience anxiety severely enough to actually be labelled as having a condition as such, but it’s higher than the norm and enough to be having some negative impact on a person. Think it’s probably quite apt.
the Excessively worried partially un-well.
i.e. those that worry more about genuine symptoms than perhaps the extent and timescales of the symptoms would support.
That said, however, for many the symptoms are severe or persistent enough that trusted sites like NHS Direct recommend a trip to the doctors.
I mentioned before about I believe it being a spectrum and saw this chart being shown on a new book out called ‘almost anxious’, which basically deals with those who don’t experience anxiety severely enough to actually be labelled as having a condition as such, but it’s higher than the norm and enough to be having some negative impact on a person. Think it’s probably quite apt.
littlegreenfairy said:
You should try working for a bunch of medical consultants and have an anxiety issue.
Not a day goes by without me seeing an illness I'm convinced I've got.
No thanks. That sounds like hell.Not a day goes by without me seeing an illness I'm convinced I've got.
littlegreenfairy said:
Then you've got the problem that you're convinced that your anxiety is caused by a brain tumour. And so it goes on.
Kinda been there. Prolonged headache, but a strange one; one-sided, not agony but permanently there and feeling a bit 'spaced'. I don't often get headaches (or anything really) so just put it down to a cold/flu etc.
...for the first few weeks at least.
After 2-3 months, I started to become a bit more worried (NHS website suggests anything longer than a few weeks should be checked out). Eventually took a trip to the Docs who wasn't overly concerned but couldn't offer a diagnosis. Doc thought it might be migraines however I didn't think the symptoms matched (no flashing lights, not coming on all of a sudden, dark rooms didn't help at all, or anything else generally specific to migraines really)
In the end, it was being caused by a muscle issue in the back of my neck causing a referred pain headache.
The thing about the whole episode was that I was fairly rational about it for the first couple of months but when it's ongoing, and no real reason for it can be found by the professionals, I think its natural for a person to start to worry about more serious conditions.
ThatBloke said:
Kinda been there.
Prolonged headache, but a strange one; one-sided, not agony but permanently there and feeling a bit 'spaced'. I don't often get headaches (or anything really) so just put it down to a cold/flu etc.
...for the first few weeks at least.
After 2-3 months, I started to become a bit more worried (NHS website suggests anything longer than a few weeks should be checked out). Eventually took a trip to the Docs who wasn't overly concerned but couldn't offer a diagnosis. Doc thought it might be migraines however I didn't think the symptoms matched (no flashing lights, not coming on all of a sudden, dark rooms didn't help at all, or anything else generally specific to migraines really)
In the end, it was being caused by a muscle issue in the back of my neck causing a referred pain headache.
The thing about the whole episode was that I was fairly rational about it for the first couple of months but when it's ongoing, and no real reason for it can be found by the professionals, I think its natural for a person to start to worry about more serious conditions.
We both sound so alike. I am exactly like that, and yet the quacks can't find anything wrong. Prolonged headache, but a strange one; one-sided, not agony but permanently there and feeling a bit 'spaced'. I don't often get headaches (or anything really) so just put it down to a cold/flu etc.
...for the first few weeks at least.
After 2-3 months, I started to become a bit more worried (NHS website suggests anything longer than a few weeks should be checked out). Eventually took a trip to the Docs who wasn't overly concerned but couldn't offer a diagnosis. Doc thought it might be migraines however I didn't think the symptoms matched (no flashing lights, not coming on all of a sudden, dark rooms didn't help at all, or anything else generally specific to migraines really)
In the end, it was being caused by a muscle issue in the back of my neck causing a referred pain headache.
The thing about the whole episode was that I was fairly rational about it for the first couple of months but when it's ongoing, and no real reason for it can be found by the professionals, I think its natural for a person to start to worry about more serious conditions.
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