Thread Topic: How do we learn to take ourselves seriously?
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2rlyblssd
Joined: Jun 8, '09
Status: New User |
2009-06-09 07:33:41 |
| I feel like I can get over this, or at least deal. You know, kinda bat things out of the park as they come along. But what I have often wondered is how to tell when you really do need help? For instance, what if I get a shooting pain up my arm over the course of a week, and I assume I am anxious, when in fact I am experiencing warning heart attacks. Any thoughts? | |
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Unanswered Thread: Nothing wrong with paranoia. posted by IntroduckToni 1 day ago |
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disorderguy
Joined: May 5, '09
Status: Admin |
2009-06-09 16:53:05 |
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That's a tricky one. Severity of the problem would be one thing to consider. Any time you are being physically impaired by pain and it isn't going away, better to err on the side of caution and see the doctor. I suspect, though, that most episodes of hypochondria involve more subtle symptoms such as tingling or pain that doesn't interfere with your daily activity. If these types of issues do not progress and remain mild, better to give them several days to see if they pass. If the issue goes away when you aren't thinking about it, that's another sign to ignore it. Part of dealing with health anxiety is, I think, to recognize that the human body naturally acts up in strange ways from time to time. And to think back to past times when this has happened and you got stressed out over it only to find in time that it was nothing. It is sort of a relearning, or reestablishing an intuition, into which sensations are safe to ignore and which to take seriously. |
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2rlyblssd
Joined: Jun 8, '09
Status: New User |
2009-06-10 06:20:22 |
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Those are all good points...My mother has always said, "When it's important, you'll "just know" that it's time to go." It is all certainly about re-learning and understanding our body's normal reactions to things. I have also heard that you need to stop and ask yourself :have I felt this before?" And chances are, we have. |
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sammie
Joined: May 5, '09
Status: New User |
2009-06-12 18:20:08 |
| I'm the type who would "rather not know" and so I avoid doctors pretty much. I guess there are two types of hypochondriacs, those who run to the doctor all the time and those too scared to go. But of course I know if there is something really wrong by waiting I'm letting it get worse. :( | |
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2rlyblssd
Joined: Jun 8, '09
Status: New User |
2009-06-13 09:44:07 |
| I'm the exact same way, Sammie! I can't stand to go to the doctor, and I have Kaiser, so if they suspect something, I get referred to a specialist that is hours away and just the DRIVE freaks me out, much less going to a doctor's office that I am unfamiliar with! I have always said, "When I see a doctor, it will be in the ER." But everything I have read about hypochondriacs is that they run TO the doctor! | |
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Unanswered Thread: My results posted by lucky13 2 days ago |
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