https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:33:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2894945 Mon, 19 Aug 2019 12:05:15 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2894945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: Hi, I haven’t posted much lately but I still read the boards fairly frequently. Just thinking of you and hoping you’re doing ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893719 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:56:13 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2893719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.kiwi: thank you so much </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893709 Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:00:41 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2893709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: I’m so sorry- I’m praying you find the help you need. You can and will get through this 💕 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893638 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 20:08:25 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2893638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: I’m hanging there </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893636 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:40:44 +0000 pachamama 2893636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: how are you? Check in, we are worried 😟 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893633 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:42:01 +0000 crazydoglady 2893633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: You are not alone, but you deserve to be at peace and to enjoy your life with your husband and lovely girls. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893632 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:32:35 +0000 CObee 2893632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to say I’ve been there. My health-related anxiety has gotten so bad that I will literally have physical symptoms of whatever it is I am worrying about, which makes it so much harder to convince myself it’s just anxiety. Like I won’t just have palpitations, my heart will literally hurt and miss beats and then I’ll think something is terribly wrong. Or have horrible stomach pains and convince myself im dying of something else and then it’ll hurt even more. Or my hands will go numb if I am worrying about MS or something. Etc etc. It is f-ing horrible and I so feel for you. Mine seemed to be mostly hormonal off and on, now that I’m done nursing I feel much more stable and less anxious. But I also had to go to a lot of specialist appointments to convince myself I wasn’t dying too. I’m so sorry. You can get through this. But get help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893621 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 15:41:24 +0000 Jennibenni 2893621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: Please call your OB/GYN and tell them exactly what you’re feeling TODAY. If you are unable to call, please have your husband call their office and tell them how you are feeling so you can get the help you need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893617 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 15:09:54 +0000 Dahlia 2893617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: I'm sorry you're struggling so badly. I've been there and it is awful. For me, medication was what helped the most. Therapy as well, but the therapy couldn't do much until the medication could take the edge off enough that I could focus. There are medications you can take while pregnant.</p> <p>Call your OB today and get help. You're not alone and it will get better. If you are feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-8255. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893565 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 10:06:49 +0000 bhbee 2893565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the above is very good advice ... maybe even working to find someone who is knowledgeable/experienced to help during pregnancy. I’m sure pregnancy hormones don’t help and then figuring out what meds are best for you during pregnancy. </p> <p>I think it is SO important to get on top of this now and stick with monitoring it closely. For your day to day now obviously but also because, if you read the thread recently “on the fence about #3” so many of us mentioned having significantly greater pp mental health issues with 3 kids than anytime prior. </p> <p>I know this must feel so hard. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893557 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 09:37:10 +0000 DesertDreams88 2893557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: what is holding you back from regular, daily medication and consistent therapy appointments?</p> <p>Your anxiety has been debilitating for at least a year now and it's NOT a good way to live. I know you know you need to make changes. What is holding you back?</p> <p>I lived with daily overwhelming anxiety and some panic attacks April 2015 through most of 2016 and I look back and I am so, so sad that I was not brave enough to call my OB and tell him I needed help, stat. I kept thinking it would get better on its own and it did not. It hurt my marriage and my friendships, and I lost out on so much joy during the first year. of my son's life.</p> <p>@CatchAFallingStar: , it is time to get consistent therapy and though I'm not a doctor, I think you're going to need meds at least temporarily while you learn coping strategies and try out cognitive-behavioral practices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893528 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 05:33:13 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2893528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: I’m sorry to hear you had a terrible day. How are you feeling today, especially with the thoughts you had? What are your strategies for dealing with this that your therapist has recommended? Are you able to implement them? Meds? And family support? I hope today is a better day :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893518 Sun, 04 Aug 2019 21:14:05 +0000 Madison43 2893518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. Does your husband know how you’re feeling? Do you have help nearby? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2893516 Sun, 04 Aug 2019 20:53:56 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2893516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How’s everyone else doing? I had a horrible day yesterday. I’m a photographer and had to skip a wedding due to panic attacks to drive 2 hours home for a checkup for something I thought was wrong. I went back up but still couldn’t pull it together. I started feeling hopeless and nearly suicidal. I don’t know what to do anymore. :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892572 Sun, 28 Jul 2019 14:52:18 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2892572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: I have in the past been very anxious. I have in the past had the same type of bump too and I don't even know if it was biopsied. Mine hurt though. :( anyway I just have started to realize that most people go through health problems or have someone they love go through them. I just try to totally not think about it. There's only so much we can do anyway. And the people I admire the most are the people who have gone through it and still managed to live. I want to be those people. I don't know why but realizing that has helped a lot. I can't prepare for cancer, or single parenting, or Alzheimer's, or a catastrophic accident. Maybe financially but that's it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892549 Sat, 27 Jul 2019 17:37:42 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2892549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m so glad so many of you have responded. I’m still struggling. I know the cyst wasn’t cancer. I know my skin wasn’t cancer. Now I’m worried about my first prenatal appointment because I’m afraid I’ll have cervical cancer. My mind feeds on anxiety. It’s awful. It’s torture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892492 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:46:21 +0000 Ajsmommy 2892492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am going to join in, not that I have panic attacks and it's not debilitating but I def do worry more than I think the average person does. I know mine comes from losing my father at a young age. He passed away at 44.. I'm 42 so it's like a feeling of waiting for the shoe to drop out and i'll be diagnosed with something terminal and given 2 yrs to live, like he was. Plus I didn't have kids until later in life so they are YOUNG. I was 19 when my dad past but my kids are only 2 and 5. It frightens me so much that I might not be there for them! I work and commute and I don't eat right and I don't exercise. Plus my aunt just had her second heart attack last week. Anyway, I feel like it's just in my face everywhere I look and I can't help but to think/worry a little. Plus the work I do also adds to the different "scenarios" I can come up with regarding what could happen to my kids in parking lots or in cars. </p> <p>I'm glad I am not alone and I am glad it hasn't debilitated me yet... but I'll be honest in that I think i'll always be a little on the high strung end regarding this </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892415 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 08:09:49 +0000 Spinny 2892415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Although I've always been a worrier, I just recently experienced health related anxiety pretty badly. My symptoms seemed so real, but after countless doctor visits, specialist visits and tests, there is nothing wrong with me. Most of my symptoms are gone for the most part. I have also seen a therapist and I'm on anti anxiety meds.<br /> For me, it's easy to see how it started. My husbands cousin died suddenly in her sleep, leaving behind 2 young children. At the same time, my husband was being laid off from his job, and we were also starting fertility treatments for the first time. It was hard to make the connection at the time because my symptoms were so real, I was sure I was dying and terrified of leaving my son motherless. Thankfully, I'm in a much better place now, but I'm terrified of going back to that place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892392 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 23:49:02 +0000 castilrm 2892392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While I hate to hear of others suffering with this, it’s a little comforting to know its not just me. I’ve struggled with health related anxiety most of my life to a certain degree but it’s had a huge uptick since having my kids (who are now 4 and 2). I think part of it is that I have very little down time for “self care” and always feel like I’m running low on energy thanks to a high stress career and two small kids, and I’m sure that has had an impact on my over all health since I’m not eating as well or working out as much as I used to. The other part of it is the fear that I won’t be around for my children if something were to happen, and feeling like my vigilance will somehow help prevent that when in fact it’s probably keeping me from truly enjoying my quality time with my kids. This anxiety hit a peak when I had a postpartum hemorrhage and an emergency D&amp;C a week after my second baby was born, and then I’ve had a streak of random health concerns in the last year - ovarian cysts I had to monitor, skin cyst that needed removal and biopsy, irregular periods that led to a second D&amp;C thanks to scarring, weird aches and pains probably thanks to carrying babies and sitting at a desk. In a way it felt like my fears were being validated bc these weren’t imaginary symptoms and did need some treatments; however, I of course always imagined much worse diagnoses based on my “research,” and similar to you, I sought frequent reassurance that tests were truly coming back negative for these worse case scenarios. </p> <p>In general, distraction works best for me, so I’ve been trying to read more (keeps my mind from wandering or doing google research!) and want to find time to start working out more consistently since that’s helped me manage stress in the past. </p> <p>I hope you were able to connect with your therapist. Glad to have found this thread as this has been on my mind quite a bit lately! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892353 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 18:50:24 +0000 pachamama 2892353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: oooo that is an interesting perspective.<br /> @annem1990: wow such a good point. I actually got some frustrating news today (a concern about my son's circumcision that was confirmed by the urologist. Not terrible but not really what I wanted to hear.) I have spent six months thinking about it, constantly agonizing. And now that the doctor agreed with me, I'm not so devastated. There's nothing I can do. life moves on and my son will be fine. I have wasted many many many hours stressing about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892309 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 13:54:46 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2892309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: my therapist mentioned this too and it was a total Aha moment for me. And then we took it further: would obsessively thinking about this thing that hasn’t hasn’t happened make it easier on me if it actually did happen? Would it help me in any way? That reality resonated with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892251 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 10:04:28 +0000 Chuckles 2892251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have more mild hypochondria, but I'm an anxious person and I tend to ruminate on things which, of course, makes things worse. Anyways, I wanted to share something my therapist said when I was constantly thinking about losing this pregnancy- she said that I was causing my brain to experience trauma about an event that wouldn't necessarily even happen. My messed-up take on it was that I was preparing myself for the possibility. But she pointed out that every time I thought about it, I was putting myself through trauma for no reason. It didn't totally help me to stop ruminating, but it was a good perspective shift. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892249 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 09:51:30 +0000 annem1990 2892249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to suffer from extreme health anxiety. I even attended a daily program at a psychiatric hospital for several months. My life was forever changed. Googling is perhaps the worst thing you can do for yourself. You are giving yourself either 1) a false sense of reassurance that will come back with a vengeance the next time you feel anxious or 2) you will “find” something wrong and ignite the anxiety. NOTHING good will come from Googling when you’re anxious. You’re only perpetuating the cycle. You have to sit with the anxiety and teach yourself that being anxious is OKAY. The only way to get there is to go through it (be anxious and not do your triggers - Googling/calling a nurse for every symptom, etc). It’s incredibly uncomfortable to sit with the anxiety when you feel like you can Google something to “solve” it. In reality you’re setting yourself up for the anxiety to keep coming back. </p> <p>Ironically, about 2 years after my program (and with the disorder completely under control) I went throughout ACTUAL health concerns - seizures to be exact. The anxiety disorder was SO much worse than going through diagnosis and treatment to figure out what was wrong this time. You do what you have to do and life moves on! When you’re anxious, life doesn’t move on...IF something were to happen, you’d get appropriate help and life figured out. Anxiety is what’s ruining your quality of life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892186 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 19:33:32 +0000 pachamama 2892186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember the thing with your daughter's eyes bc I'm sort of dealing with something with my son like that. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I can totally really and have very similar health anxiety except never to do with me, only my children. I "catastrophize" and immediately go the the worse case scenario. My therapist has some methods like @muffinsmuffins: suggested which help (is what I'm stressing about true? What is the likelihood of it happening? Why put energy into the unlikely possibility instead of the more rational, probable outcome? And some other questions I can't remember.)<br /> Try to stay busy? Like I need a change of pace, I need to leave the house for a little bit and clear my head.<br /> Internet hugs xoxo </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892185 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 18:46:46 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2892185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>MEEEEEEE! My main anxiety issue is over health concerns and I’ve been pretty much a hypochondriac my entire life. This spiked to a bad level with our first son during the pregnancy and he was born premature. It got unmanageable when he was hospitalized with RSV and pneumonia when he was 2. It was like my worst fear actually happened and now all bets were off, that my anxiety about everything was now proven that the worst will happen. Every time he got sick, i was convinced he would die. I started seeing a therapist for CBT last year and as I got further away from that terrible incident, it started to subside and now, I find my anxiety is much improved. I also went off hormonal birth control and I think that has helped a lot too. </p> <p>I’m glad you’re seeing your therapist but in the meantime, what helps me is to run through a script of questions:<br /> -I feel this way because I’m scared I will die and this is very bad, but what would I rather be doing right now?<br /> -can I control this problem?<br /> -what would happen if this did have a terrible outcome?<br /> -what can I do right now to help with this issue?</p> <p>So for your issue: I would rather be spending time with my family enjoying the summer weather and being outside, I can’t control this, if it was cancer I will see a specialist and have chemo, etc and we will get through it, right now i need to trust my doctor and know that it is not cancer. </p> <p>Admittedly, extremely hard to think of the ‘what if the worst happened’ but it takes some of the power away from those pervasive thoughts instead of looming over me. Owning the anxiety by acknowledging that is how my brain works is also helpful. </p> <p>I know it’s so so difficult and I was in a bad place for quite a while. I feel for you so hard and send internet hugs to you! Even just knowing I had an appointment with my therapist was comforting to me so I hope you feel that way too. If nothing else helps, pick some binge tv and junk food and just distract to get through to tomorrow :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892184 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 18:42:35 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2892184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since having my third I’ve struggled with health anxiety. I am much better now. But for a while all I could think about was my health. Every sensation had me googling. </p> <p>What helped:<br /> never googling ever again.<br /> if there is something real (symptom) I would call the doctor. Basically I never had to call because the symptoms were ever changing.<br /> CBT with a psychologist </p> <p>I do worry sometimes still but it’s not all consuming like it was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-related-anxiety-and-panic-attacks#post-2892159 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 14:45:15 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2892159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m looking for someone who shares my debilitating mental condition of fear, severe anxiety and panic over medical/health issues. </p> <p>Since my first daughter was a baby, anytime anything is even remotely off or questioned about her health, I have totally lost it. There was an incident where the doctors had her see a neurologist and I was inconsolable for weeks until we got into see him. Everything was fine. I have two daughters now. After the second was born, I was convinced she had something majorly wrong with her because her eyes looked odd to me. Again, everything was fine. Her eyes now look normal and beautiful</p> <p>. A couple weeks ago, I noticed a mole on my arm looked weird, so I googled and was convinced it was melanoma and that I was going to die. I went to the dermatologist and everything was fine. Then I kept worrying that she would call me and say she was wrong and that it was cancer. She didn’t. </p> <p>Last night, I felt a weird round thing in my vagina while inserting a progesterone capsule. You probably know where this is going. I immediately thought it was cancer and that I was dying. I googled and became even more convinced. I was shaking uncontrollably and couldn’t even be around my kids. I called a nurse who helped calm me. I went in today and the doctor said it’s not cancer. It’s a mucus buildup related to scar tissue where I tore with my first birth. Pregnancy can change it and it fluctuates. As I type this, I am still worried. I asked repeatedly to make sure it’s not cancer. He said it definitely isn’t. He’s going to remove it so it doesn’t get uncomfortable. I asked it they’d have to biopsy it and he said yes but only because anything removed has to be biopsied. That scares me, too. Like maybe it’ll still be cancer. Although he said it definitely isn’t. </p> <p>I have an emergency therapist appointment this afternoon. In the meantime, I’d love to connect with someone who can relate. I just need commiseration. </p> <p> :heart: </p>