Do you ever feel like you can “create” symptoms

[MommaWorrier 11]

Do you ever feel like you can talk your body into symptoms? I’m currently still terrified I have a brain tumor, and the fear probably won’t subside until my MRI in March.

I googled a few months ago and didn’t have many symptoms of a brain tumor. I feel like over time I had added more symptoms to my “list.” This week I started having headaches. I kept reassuring myself because I didn’t have nausea and headaches, now I have both. I swear, I can convince my body to have more symptoms and I hate it. 

[Holls 1505]

Yessss go down a few post to the topic that says the anxiety guy on Google. 

He was explaining how when you Google you plant a seed...it's so true.. 

Yes I did that with als. I started having every damn symptom. Google is horrible, don't do it. It will never help. 

[bin_tenn 1252]

I have willed myself into feeling so many symptoms. Too many times to count.

[MommaWorrier 11]

I’m so glad I found this place. Thanks all. 

[Ellebel 67]

For sure!!! I have had many aches and pains that I was soooo worried about and all of them subsided the minute tests came back clean!

[anxietymb4 3]

When thinking I have a symptom, I usually try to ignore it. But if I immediately focus on it, then it's a problem. My thoughts are that if my focus can bring it on, then less of it could make it go away. Just wanted to share a thought.

[Angelica Schuyler 217]

I "make" some of my symptoms, too. It's almost as if I'm looking for something to be wrong. A lot of you know I've been knee-deep in colon cancer anxiety for a few months. My side pain started to subside last week (awesome!) but was soon replaced by pressure near my rectum and pelvic pain. *headdesk* I used a mantra about what they probably were to calm my anxiety about them and, as soon as I was able to comfortably ignore those symptoms, they were gone. 

[jonathan123 2368]

The power of the mind!!

I "make" some of my symptoms, too. It's almost as if I'm looking for something to be wrong

You ARE! That's what anxiety is! Anxiety will mimic any known disease. But known by whom? If you had never heard of Mongolian Swamp Fever how would you know you had it? You wouldn't. But if you saw the symptoms on Google and you then planted it in your mind that particular disease would be added to your 'library' of diseases.

He was explaining how when you Google you plant a seed...it's so true.. 

Yes Holls, that is a truth. Seeds grow into big plants or even tress when watered with fear. You add fear to the seed and it flourishes. If only we could realise that the basic cause of all our problems and anxiety itself is encapsulated in one word. FEAR! A four letter word but of such immense power it can cause wars and mayhem among people. Nations go to war with each other because of it. But so many of us don't realise that it affects our lives so much that we become incapacitated by it. Fear is  friend not an enemy when used in a positive way; to protect us from danger. But FEAR that is FEARED is destructive. The old saying, 'You have nothing to fear but fear itself' is a great truth and the key to recovery.

[joy14 11]

I have done the exact same thing! It seems like I can start thinking something or if I hear someone else complaining of an ailment, I start to feel like I have the same symptoms. It is horrible. I can't go to hospitals or medical facilities because I really take on feelings that were not even there before I started seeing others or hearing about their issues. Starting to get more of a "medical anxiety" along with health anxiety. It is sad.

Oh and I never Google anymore. It was hurting me big time. I was a nervous wreck some years ago when I was googling all my symptoms.

[jonathan123 2368]

Hi Joy. Has it occurred to you that you are empathetic? You pick up the problems of others. When close to someone in trouble you pick up their feelings and emotions and take them into yourself. You could also be psychic. Now don't be alarmed by what I say. These are gifts not curses if used and understood. But in doing this without realising what's happening can be frightening. There's a big difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is feeling pity; being sorry for someone. Empathy is 'entering into another's suffering as if it were your own'. I am not saying this is true of you, but it may be if you react so strongly to seeing others sick. It's not always all HA. Have you ever been told this or have spoken to anyone about it?

I can't go to hospitals or medical facilities because I really take on feelings that were not even there before I started seeing others or hearing about their issues.

You see what I mean? If this is a gift then why be so fearful of it. Learning to control it and put it to use can be rewarding. Many in the caring professions have it. They can't get too involved, obviously, but they feel far more than others who only sympathise. Many who suffer from HA may be like that and don't recognise it. Just a thought.

[MommaWorrier 11]

Ugh, my HA is really bad this afternoon and re-reading this has been a huge help. 

[eightynine 2]

I'm completely convinced my current symptoms are real (terrified I have a brain tumor or MS), however, I also believe I have the power to create some of them. This is why: my current bout of severe HA began with mild pain in my abdomen. I also had daily fatigue and a sense of vertigo. I obsessed over it, spent every second of my free time researching it; at one point was convinced I had pancreatic cancer, liver failure, kidney disease. And the more hyper focused I became about this, the worse it became, and i started feeling it all over my abdomen instead of just the original area of pain. Sometime during this obsession I got the idea that maybe I had a brain tumor that had spread to my kidney, and I was experiencing kidney pain because of it.

Well, when I looked up symptoms of a brain tumor I found I had almost all of them (but none seemed abnormal, except pins and needles which I have often, but that could be due to my back injury). Now I have a debilitating obsession with having a brain tumor. And since I have had this new worry-- of a brain tumor -- my abdominal pain is 100% gone. Not only is it gone but it stopped THE SAME DAY that my fear turned from pancreatic/kidney/etc cancer to brain cancer. What was daily has completely disappeared as soon as my obsession with it did. And of course, 'symptoms' of a brain tumor or MS have increased.

[SighNoMore 63]

All the time. Alllllll.the.time. I was told I have a small calcified spot on a vein. Apparently, it is ridiculously common. However, because I now knew about it, I felt all the things. Swore I could feel my vein hardening, etc etc.

Ridiculous what the mind can do!

[MommaWorrier 11]

4 hours ago, eightynine said:

I'm completely convinced my current symptoms are real (terrified I have a brain tumor or MS), however, I also believe I have the power to create some of them. This is why: my current bout of severe HA began with mild pain in my abdomen. I also had daily fatigue and a sense of vertigo. I obsessed over it, spent every second of my free time researching it; at one point was convinced I had pancreatic cancer, liver failure, kidney disease. And the more hyper focused I became about this, the worse it became, and i started feeling it all over my abdomen instead of just the original area of pain. Sometime during this obsession I got the idea that maybe I had a brain tumor that had spread to my kidney, and I was experiencing kidney pain because of it.

Well, when I looked up symptoms of a brain tumor I found I had almost all of them (but none seemed abnormal, except pins and needles which I have often, but that could be due to my back injury). Now I have a debilitating obsession with having a brain tumor. And since I have had this new worry-- of a brain tumor -- my abdominal pain is 100% gone. Not only is it gone but it stopped THE SAME DAY that my fear turned from pancreatic/kidney/etc cancer to brain cancer. What was daily has completely disappeared as soon as my obsession with it did. And of course, 'symptoms' of a brain tumor or MS have increased.

I feel you!!! I start with a new counselor tomorrow, Dr appt to discuss meds on Friday, but I have to wait until mid March for my MRI. Ughhh!

[newday 49]

Yes yes yes.  I've had some weird ones.  But, after experiencing some weird ones that I am now convinced were anxiety, something interesting happened.  Sometimes little quirks I am feeling (twitch, poke, etc), my mind is willing to equally accept that that's an anxiety sensation instead of a real issue.  Once I knew the power of anxiety symptoms I became more likely to attribute the next little thing to anxiety.  That is great!  I'm not all the way there.  But it kind of makes me pause and go through a few extra steps.  "oh, weird poke in belly ... could this be anxiety?  maybe.  could it be gas?  maybe.  could it be something bad?  maybe, but first two are more likely."     Just having anxiety as a possible answer is relief.  Just letting myself self-diagnose anxiety is helpful.

[SighNoMore 63]

That is a great way to frame it, newday! I am so glad you said that. Anxiety is an answer and likely the most common one! Thank you for that.