Health anxiety and constant checking behaviours

[elektriknathan]

Hello,

I have CPTSD

As soon as something happens to my mouth or any other part of my body, I immediately assume the worst and/or convince myself that it is something incredibly horrible. For example, at the time of this writing, I have a small ulcer in my mouth (it's very small, most likely caused by me burning my mouth) but I still think it is or will be cancer.

I then start googling images of ulcers in the mouth or whatever, I get an urge to go to the doctor to get him to look at it and I set deadlines for it to be healed and I get worked up and think I'm going to die and I convince myself of that

I am just wondering if anyone else has health anxiety with their PTSD or trauma?

 

[EmmaOwl]

I am just wondering if anyone else has health anxiety with their PTSD or trauma?

Sure. Especially as I have a couple of other chronic illnesses. Asthma for example- which is one reason that breathing exercises do not work out well for me. I have a panic attack if I try to focus on my breathing. One reason is that it reminds me of having an asthma attack and really being unable to breathe properly.

When I was still functioning in "the real world" anytime I was under a deadline or a lot of pressure I'd start researching PTSD itself. The internet was available but there was nowhere near what's available now. Researching each little bump and bruise can become counter-productive.

Obsessive, OCD-like behaviors are present in a lot of people who have PTSD, and it sounds like you might be experiencing something like that. It's scary to be ill. ... Feeling out of control and knowing your body or mind can turn on you in a negative way.

Do you see a therapist or psychiatrist who could help you manage your high level of anxiety, maybe with grounding techniques or other ways to cope without obsessing so much?

 

[elektriknathan]

They are already dealing with the health anxiety
I just have a lot of fear because I have had people in my life always say oh if you do X then this will happen to you
So it's the fear conditioning