Interesting thread. I wonder if health anxiety is menopause-related or is it that as we get older various bits and bobs start to go wrong and we respond by thinking our bodies are letting us down?
2009 was my annus horribilis - recurrence of a thyroid issue requiring radioactive iodine treatment, foot operation and breast cancer diagnosis. I sure kept the NHS busy for a while! For a significant period afterwards I imagined every twinge anywhere in my body was a metastatic spread. Yes, I agree with Silverlady - this is a type of PTSD and it's certainly recognised (by some) in oncology circles that the years post-diagnosis/treatment can be as traumatic as the diagnosis/treatment itself, just in a different way. I've never suffered the panic attacks that others have described and I wasn't booking frequent GP or hospital appointments. However I did find found that worrisome thoughts about my health were very dominant for a while, especially when I was still recovering from treatment and didn't have the energy to do so much in an average day. As the years have gone by and I have ensured that the necessary ongoing screening is in place, I have gained reassurance from this and am now able, I hope, to maintain a more reasoned approach to my health.
I suppose, what I'm trying to say is that, if your health anxiety can be traced back to the onset of particular symptom(s)/illness(es), then, in my experience "this too shall pass".
I hope others also find that this passes -in the meantime stay away from Dr Google - he/she never went to medical school!
