HappyPeanut

How do you calm your anxious mind?

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I have struggled with health anxiety throughout my life. It tends to come in waves; for example: immediately after graduating high school, I thought I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma because I had a couple of raised lymph nodes on my neck. Every year it's something different. The past couple of years it's been brain tumors, skin cancer, and heart problems. I feel like the left side of my body feels different than the right side...not numbness, but a different level of sensation to touch, if that makes sense. I had a CT, which came back normal. My doctor referred me to a neurologist for further review. I explained my symptoms to him and he seemed a bit bewildered. He ordered a MRI of my head and neck. I'm going this Wednesday and Friday to get those taken care of. I'm not really afraid of tumors anymore, since I had the CT scan. I'm now afraid of aneurysms, because I've had 2-3 great aunts/uncles who have had them.

I take Zoloft and Amitriptyline daily. I just want this to all go away. Any tips for calming yourself? 

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Music helps me a lot. Also for the health anxiety one thing I do is stay off Dr.Google as much as possible....I once ended up taking half a dozen pregnancy tests because I read you could test too early or that the hormones may not be detected at all. Big mistake. Since the CT scan looks okay I wouldnt be worried. The referral and MRI is just to be safe and to possibly get a clearer picture of what is going on. My tips are to listen to music, stay off of Dr.Google and try to keep your mind occupied to keep the anxiety at bay. I hope everything goes okay and take care.  

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Listening to music. Spending quality time with family. Visiting family/friends I haven't seen in a long while, if at all possible. Calling someone on the phone. Playing guitar. Tinkering with computers. Anything that brings happiness.

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When I read this I thought I had wrote it, I had to double check this wasn't my post haha. My left side feels different then my right, not numb but less sensitive. Usually it's my arm and leg but today I'm noticing it in my face. I had a ct scan last year and have an upcoming MRI. When I have talked to my doctors they don't seem to be as worried as I am but I have all but convinced myself there's something very wrong. there's a couple things that work for me sometimes, this ones a little odd but I sit and focus really hard on one part of my body (maybe my foot or a finger) and see if I can make it feel abnormal like tingly or heavy or weak. It reminds me how much control I have over my symptoms. When it's cold outside I'll go out for a bit till I'm feeling chilly and that takes my mind off of whatever symptom I'm obsessing about. Or I'll run up and down the stairs a couple times until I feel winded for the same reason. Kind of wacky but anything that stops me from obsessing over one specific thing!

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I spend time doing crafts I love like knitting or crocheting and spend a lot of time listening to Beethoven and cuddling with or walking my cat. 

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