Health Anxiety

Hi Lippyqueen, I'm exactly the same. Despite suffering from anxiety all my life I never had treatment as I have refused counselling as I don't believe it's going to help, and medication I worry about the possible side effects. So I just suffer.

If you don’t accept any kind of help then continuation of suffering is the only outcome.
I am not criticising, we all have to make our own decisions about our health and wellbeing.
bluesky I once had CBT for an issue that I had suffered from (claustrophobia) for 40 years.
I thought (hoped) that they would wave a magic wand and I would be cured. Did that happen, no. What I realised was that I had to sort this myself BUT somehow after the CBT sessions I started to think about things differently. The CBT didn’t help but it did kick start me taking active control of my problem. Am I cured, no but after 40 years I can travel in trains, tubes, aircraft and wonder of wonders, lifts. It may not help you but isn’t it worth a try?

I have seen many wonderful results from 'talking therapy' so I wouldn't dismiss it.
Sometimes an experienced counsellor might just put their finger on something you never thought of and a window open which allows you coping mechanisms you never knew existed.

I would definitely go for this before taking drugs.

I believe (and this is only my opinion) that one should try every avenue before taking yet another drug, many of which have horrendous side effect.
Not everyone experienced side effects of course but if even one person does, it's too much when they already have enough to cope with.

Have you tried any herbal remedies? I have suffered from anxiety all my life too. I was on zopiclone a few years ago and it made me suicidal after a couple of weeks. My son actually took it off me and threw it away. Now I won't take any drugs from the doctor. I take passion flower and St. Johns wort every day. I'm not really sure if they work but I do know that when I run out of them I feel much worse

That is a good idea Melbourne. I remember taking St Johns Wort in the past for another bout and it was very helpful. I think I will give it a try. Thank you for your suggestion. ?

I would also try Passion Flower too. If anything I find that better than the St John's wort. You can get it in holland and Barrett but I get it online from Higher Nature as it's only £4 and is exactly the same. Hope it helps you x

I suffer from terrible health anxiety. I am 'Mrs What If?' GP gave me beta blockers which made me feel worse. Now I just try to get on with it. Difficult though.

Same here KatyK I do take herbal when I feel particularly anxious but even that is supposed to interfere with other medication!

No easy is it BlueSky?

Hope you have a better day today Lippy.
I don’t have experience of the medication you are taking but the detailed warnings are so long because of our litigious society so they need to cover every eventuality.
I take meds fir dizzy spells and the warning inside says ‘ may cause dizzy spells’. Well that made me laugh.

Anxiety is an awful thing to live with.
I too am a "what if" person. Its such a waste of time and has a bad effect on your health. I wonder why some of us are like this.

ANyway I stay off caffeine for a start and drink calming teas.
Meditation and Rescue remedy.
People say they don't have time for meditation but its time well spent.
Medication may work for some. I didn't like side effects.
When I need to talk I have a very good counsellor. Its helpful to have this backup. I find this much better than taking pills which don't address the cause of anxiety.

please please think twice about taking Venlafaxine, there are other anti depressants around much better than this one.

It has some absolutely awful withdrawal side effects, it took me 18 months to get off this drug and had to take another antidepressant for a month to get me over the worst effects.

Google Venlafaxine withdrawals.

Omg fizzers, I have heard about people not being able to stop taking them. I have decided not to take them for the moment. I have brought some St. John’s wort which has excellent results according to MIND mental health charity and they should know!
Thank you all for your thoughts.

lippyqueen Venlafaxine (Effexor) is an absolute nightmare, it really is

Be careful with St John's wort if you are taking other medication, it can cause side effects, check with the pharmacist.