The worst part is that I genuinely google my symptoms to reassure myself, as if THIS will be the one time google will tell me it’s anything other than some very rare but also very fatal disease, that I just happen to have all the symptoms of 😒 “could be nothing but COULD also mean you have 24hrs to live!!” Lol when will I learn 🤦🏻♀️
Yes! I google symptoms to reassure my self but it's the opposite it will make me more scared and worried. But I've decided to not Google symptoms anymore. It's the best thing health anxiety person can do
Girl I feel like you’re the only person who gets what I’m dealing with. I feel like I’m in the darkest period of my health anxiety right now. 😪 I pray that I overcome this because it’s horrible living with this everyday.
I am in a very dark place with my health anxiety right now. Its consuming everything my family think I'm crazy and are scared to say anything to me. I feel so alone and your videos are getting me through this dark time. Your an inspiration. Thank you
Health anxiety changed my life, my career path, my every day routine, I got to the darkest point in my life because of it, lost 20kg in 2 months it’s terrible. Thanks for sharing cherelle.
Cherelle, your ability to dissect & analyze the inner workings of health-anxiety is the best out there. You are providing an invaluable service. Your voice is clear & believable & an enormous help.
@@cherellethinks can you speak to me please I won’t to give up today I’ve spoke to the Chrisis team I don’t think I won’t to be hear anymore can you speak to me
No I get that too. Have ever since i was about 11-12 years old. I think the specific diagnostic term for this is “Somatic Symptom Disorder” & a lot of us with HA suffer from this in varying degrees. I remember years ago when I was barely a teenager reading a story about a woman with brain tumour and after reading the symptoms and thinking, or rather, hyper-focusing on them I started freaking out I LITERALLY over night manifested the same symptoms, numbness, tinging etc. It got to the point that when I was a little less anxious I just knew not to read about illnesses because I knew what my brain was capable of doing to me. HA & the brain are a very powerful thing. I still suffer with that all these years later :(
I absolutely agree, for me it happens in waves. I can go a couple years where I feel ok, then it's like I "relapse" for a while, and the worst part is that you know you are being crazy while it's happening but not matter how hard you try you can't really control it. What I have learned throughout my life is useful mental tools to help you work through it. I've had health anxiety since I was a young teen, and the hardest part for me is to try and keep it together for others while I'm having an episode. I don't want the embarrassment, or to feel like a burden to others.
This is what’s happening with me. I was fine for a year there and Boom! I ended up with a upper uriny tract infection which was treated but because I was in and out of hospitals etc it really just cause me to “relapse” and now I’ve completely spiralled again. And when I spiral it completely consumes me. I hate living with this… but like cherelle said I really think it’s training your brain to live with the uncertainty… it’s something I really need to try but it’s just sooo hard
I am going through my darkest moments just now , I cannot sleep even with sleeping tablets & sedatives , everytime I shut my eyes to sleep I get dizzy , I feel sick , I feel a jerk , it’s hard to explain , I feel I am losing control now , it’s the first time since I’ve suffered anxiety that I can’t see a way out , I can’t see light a the end of the tunnel & it’s scary
Hi Cherelle thank you for all your honesty and heartfelt videos. I've had cardiophobia and Bp concerns for 30 yrs and have come to realize the opposite of anxiety is TRUST. When you trust in your body the healing begins. ❤
I been ok for a few weeks, but now I am obsessing over cancer. it's like every pain I have must be cancer in my mind and I can't rationalise my thoughts :(
Thanks Cherelle. You articulated what we have to go through with health anxiety so well. I’m so sorry to hear that you were so close to the edge and felt alone. I know exactly what that feels like.
I’m really struggling at the minute and can relate to everything you said. I’m in limbo and can’t do anything. Found you yesterday through my psychotic episode and listened to your story which gave me hope. Keep up the good work. 🙏
I'm lucky to have so many good days in a row, today has been really unkind to me. But i'm slowly getting my grip back. I really appreciate you being here for us, you're a hero.
EDIT: If someone ever sees this comment, YT recommended this video to me again and I clicked on it. It's been a year and I am doing a lot better - and if I could do it, so can you! There are more good than bad days, I did start working out again and managed to get back into my pre-HA shape, I no longer have stomach issues which were most likely caused by anxiety and some unhealthy coping mechanisms and I had the confidence to say yes to a very exciting job opportunity. This was the original comment - "I need to give health anxiety the same energy that I've been giving MS, bowel cancer, ALS" - the funny thing is that bowel cancer and MS are among my top 3 concerns. It's easier said than done because I keep feeling like it doesn't even matter because I have bowel/blood/gynecological cancer and am dying, but it is about finding that inner strength to do the right things, like fight the urge to google your symptoms, check yourself all the time and put more effort into healthy habits, being active, spending time with friends and family, and just trying to enjoy the present moment. 2 years of health anxiety have drained me more than doing a PhD, which was also quite awful. But HA robs you of your passions, ambitions, dreams and, ironically, exhausts you to the point where you are far less healthy than you were before (and no, that does not mean you have leukemia). I'm just so fed up with it. I used to be really into fitness before HA and want to push myself to join a gym again.
Hi Cherelle. I want to thank you for making these videos. I had a very bad bout of health anxiety at the beginning of this year. It lasted many months but your videos and guidance were so helpful and were a Godsend. I am doing so much better now and while I know I may have health anxiety thoughts for a long time, they don’t consume me anymore and I’m hopeful It will stay that way. There is always hope for anyone struggling with this. I’ve battled this for years. It can absolutely get better. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
My story is very similar to yours. I was at rock bottom, and I had same awakening where I realized I needed to address my health anxiety and whatever happened with my actual health needed to be in the back burner. When I started researching and YouTubing health anxiety I came across you and it transformed my life! I truly believe I wouldn’t have recovered the way I have without you. You were the first to real pinpoint how I was feeling and your story as I said was so similar. I’m two years post my health anxiety crash and I’m so much better. Still struggle but much shorter and less intense! Thank you times a million!
I battle with it as well, i just got over a hump where I couldn’t function. I am also getting better recently but still not 100% and still have thoughts go through my head that I have some sort of terminal illness.
Oh girl... I just commented on your water allergy video. Me and you have a lot in common haha. I have struggled so much with health anxiety my entire life but the worst episodes have occurred in the past 2 years. I had a thyroid cancer scare on top of my thyroid levels going nuts which sent me into full blown panic attacks and health anxiety.... I developed somatic symptoms and it was horrible, literally convinced myself the tumor on my thyroid was blocking my airway it was so bad!! If you ever need someone to chat with/support with this stuff Im here, because it really can feel so lonely and like you are the only one and you are going crazy!! Thanks so much for being transparent about this
My life the last few years - an absolute horrible condition to live with - you explain it so well and thoughtfully - mine is cardiophobia - i'm getting slowly better but there are days it still kicks me hard. It's a complete re-wiring of your brain - my biggest fear is dying in front of my two girls - but as mentioned, getting better thankfully - lots of exposure therapy, exercising regularly again and using mindset techniques to deal with it when i get symptoms - thank you for your very insightful video! God Bless!!
Really appreciate you and your channel - you have helped me and I simply feel your awesome. One distinction I want to share with you in case it has value or you haven't thought about it before ( I hadn't) health anxiety may not be an anxiety disorder. This health anxiety may actually be OCD obsessive compulsive. It doesn't change much its still about not listening to the thoughts and feelings. but yeah I heard it, it makes sense for me (I actually have other intrusive thoughts unrelated to health) thought I would share.
Thank you for speaking the truth to those who may not understand.. I’m a first time mom now to a two week old and it’s like my health anxiety has now turned on to him and now all I do is focus on every movement he makes looking up every symptom. It’s an awful way to live, and I’m trying so hard to cope.
It’s horrible because one of the main symptoms of a heart attack is “a sense of impending doom and panic” lol I’m just like...but I always have a sense of impending doom and panic?! 😭
Stop googling. It is what my gp ordered me and wrote it as suggestion to problem for referal to psychologist, I listened, got better, can't you see everyone here is posting they can't stop googling? Get the hint. Haha. Good luck.
I have been struggling with PVC's for a year now, they scare the hell out of me, even if doctors said its not a big deal but im getting so scared of them that my life is completely ruined
When I had it like 2 years ago I was thinking everything in the book it’s was crazy lol like I had many panic attacks from it and couldn’t sleep well. What helped me get out the cycle was just to be comfortable and present in my body and that my thoughts are just thoughts and it’s not your reality. I think I got this from seeing a person dealing with a illness and started thinking “what if thoughts” also talk to your doctor and trust him please lol it’s goes a long way trust me
Yeah - it's so crazy. The problem is that we never know if there is really something wrong with you... especially when we get bad test results and find real existing issues. It's horrible. Just living from day to day thinking that you are dying. This happened to me 5 years ago and now I don't know if I am sick or if it is happening again. This time, I have pain in my chest with a cough that is persistent (maybe from acid reflux - which is really uncomfortable) and won't go away, bad sleep (though at least I am sleeping), pains under the skin all over my body, feel tired a lot of the time. But it's just the pain in my chest - that's the one that drives me nuts! It came with the cough which may have been covid and no one has been able to explain it. The pain isn't bad, it just annoys me so often. The thing that really irritates me about this is that I believe in God, and I really believe he wants to heal me, and I just can't find a way to get it to happen, and I know I have to just accept it, no matter what it is. Truth is, when I calm down, I feel better. Anyhow - May we all find escape from this curse - whether really or self induced. God bless those who are suffering. If I ever find my way through this I will share my story. For now, it seems the best thing to do is pray and let go - stop trying to fix it, as long as the doctors say it's OK. But that is the hard part. Just to let go. In the Bible it says "They loved not their own lives, even onto death." I think that is the secret.
I’ve had this for over a decade now it feels like I am worried over everything my latest obsession is an lump behind my ear before that it was Cancer before that blood disease . I’m very tired my brain can’t take it anymore . It’s like this every day 24/7 . I can’t live my life normal anymore . I don’t have joy in my life anymore .
My health Anxiety started with a chest pain, not realizing it's panic disorder and anxiety. And I thought I had heart issues but reports were normal... And then started a loop of symptoms - chest pain tingling, chocking , stomach issues and what not.... My symptoms did subside with anti depressants but my health Anxiety is just not leaving Mee... I still think I have diabetes, HIV /aids and recently I have developed a fear of skin cancer.... There was some blood on my toilet seat... Maybe that was spotting before my periods.... I don't know what it was...... But now I'm scared that I colon cancer...... This is devastating
Did you experience constant dread and fear all day, intensely for months at a time (no heart palpitations included, just head sensations and dread/fear)? If so, did it die down over time?
A psychologist asked me once “do you feel suicidal or feel like driving into a truck?” I replied “I’m afraid of dropping dead, so suicide is the last thing on my mind to be totally honest!”
Is here anyone who is/was also hesitant with the covid vaccine? I do not know, my fear of the vaccine is higher than my fear of getting covid. I accomplished 3 years without having to get the jab but now it is necessary. I am anxious.
I want everyone to know this is a very treatable condition and you are going to be OK you just need to have some love and compassion for yourself! What she said around 6 minute mark. Shifting the focus from your fears to the condition you actually DO have , namely health anxiety, and putting all your research into THAT (and refraining from the Googling the other stuff). Another way to put it is just realise your bad condition at the current time is real but is a mental disorder a not a physical one and you do need to treat it, but with psychological therapy work and not a medical surgery, lOlOl I read your story online on an article and was like omgosh someone I can relate to it's so similar to my story! Haha. Hi-5 to you! God bless
I’m 20 years this September. I experienced something like this back in 2017 I was about 15 years at that time. I used to masturbate so it got to a point where I was scared that I hurt my kidneys, liver, bladder, balls, heart it was really hard for me at that age but after a series of tests I got better the symptoms lasted for a few weeks and I forgot about them up until this year april again. The same thing happened again with the masturbating and heart and everything but it was a lot tougher to deal with because It’s like I’m much older and smarter and it’s like really difficult to forget things. I’ve even gotten to the darkest point where I was gonna swallow a handful of benzodiazepines lol. I been twitching everyday for the past 2 months. I’m not even worried about sleep no more if there’s just a way this stupid twitching could stop. Hoping for Gods intervention
I’ve had muscle twitching and soreness for the past 9 months and of course I googled twitching and saw ALS, MS & other stuff and I’ve had health anxiety ever since. I had panic attacks last year where I would go numb in my hands and head and couldn’t speak one time and I went to the hospital twice. These videos are great things like this help me to not feel alone through it. I’m now able to work out again and go out and do things again and after a bunch of tests I thankfully don’t have any of those diseases. The mind is so powerful it’s crazy what it can do.
Exactly like me. Legs constantly sore and tired. Calf twitching. There are times where I feel exhausted even after a good nights sleep. HA is absolutely diabolical
Thank you for this Cherelle, you described this condition so well. For about a year I thought I had MS and it was one of the worst years of my life. After doctor visits and MRI's I was cleared and although I am doing a lot better now. I still have residual physical symptoms like pain in my hands, shakiness, body pain and muscle tremors and spasms. You helped me a lot during these times. Thank you for everything, you've saved lives believe it or not. B)
Hi lonestar I'm currently going through the same fear at the moment....I've pain in my hands, lower back pain, pin and needles in feet etc.. I've had a mri on my brain and lower back wuth no signs of anything serious (I've a bulging disc in lower nack). can I ask what tests they did to eliminate MS diagnosis? I seem to think that my GP didn't take me seriously.... sorry if that's too personal or inappropriate to ask
@@Ilovechicken25 No, you're fine I various test done by my GP including blood work and physical and coordination tests. However, nothing seemed out of the ordinary all the while my anxiety was killing me at home I couldn't even read I remember because my anxiety was replacing words w8th things I feared. I was in a pretty bad place. I also had trouble speaking from time to time and the pain in my hands was sometimes unbelievable. Burning sensations all over my body mostly thighs and bottom of my feet and hands. In the end my gp sent me to get an MRI scan of my lower and upper spine and then he sent me a different time for a brain MRI with contrast. Unbelievably once I was told everything looked normal aside from some minor arthritis in my upper neck area my symptoms started to decapitate. Crazy now I don't have many symptoms aside from the few mentioned from time to time. You will get better I hope you can reach that final confirmation that you're OK honestly that is the only way your body will begin to actually heal.
@@lonestar313 thanks a million for your reply. that's extraordinary that you have the burning sensations on your thighs too. I used to get them alot. I've only one concern- that I didn't get an MRI with contrast. this seems to be a better way to eliminate MS diagnoses altogether... I know it's my health anxiety just nibbling away. I hope you continue to do well...keep watching these videos. they are my saviour at times
@@Ilovechicken25 I'm sure you're OK trust me I was fully convinced I had MS and I has all of the symptoms I would see in videos. It almost felt like every symptoms was related to MS. I'm 99 percent sure you're OK even after another MRI I'm sure you will be OK and look back and maybe laugh that you were so worried. Please be aware that all symptoms can be caused by anxiety, it works in very real and scary ways. I wish you the best and I hope you heal well in these next couple of months. Don't allow this fear to keep you down you are more than this.
Hi Lonestar . I have the same symptoms as you atm burning on both my feet and thighs and pins and needles sensations iv had this now for 9 months . I had a brain mri 3 years ago and everything was clear . Now im scared thinking i should have another one but my doctor wont do it as she doesn’t think it’s anything serious. Is there anything you did to make the burning go away ?
Hi,do you believe total recovery is possible if you are follow a treatment for anxiety and also do exposure or you have to quit pills in order to recover?I hope you understand my question, sorry for my English 😊.
i've had a very bad episode of anxiety for the last month. Getting better now i'm worried about my digestion. Can it alter digestion even after a long episode? Feel like now my digestion track is trying to trick me....
Did you struggle with palpitations/pvcs? I’ve been to the cardiologist and have had all the tests done, and all come back normal. I still experience them , and the last few months I get them every day and I’m always scared the doctors misses something and I’m going to die 😩 Any tips ??
I'm now sixty four years old. Throughout my twenties & thirties I had frequent periods of all sorts of erratic heart rhythms, palpitations, & even sudden, dramatic, heart "squeezes". My mother died at 43 of a massive heart atteck. So- needless to say, I was 100% convinced that I was obviously going to die from these irregularities. Tests showed nothing wrong, but I could not be persuaded. I lost probably a total of 5 years of life-progress obsessively focused on my heart & rhythm irregularities. At one point I timed my pulse probably every three-five minutes. It was a living hell. I was terrified. Well, nothing ever came of it. The doctors had been right. My heart thumps & bumps were simply nervous reactions that slowly faded away.
Hi Julie, I also have them almost every day. Also went and did all the tests which came out normal. I just learned to accept it and not fight it. I comprehend that I have palpitations because of my anxiety and they are soo uncomfortable and scary, but palpitations won’t kill you. Try to lay down or sit in a quiet place and try to focus on your breathing. Focus on how your breath is going in and out like big waves. Try also a grounding exercise by using all your five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing) Ask yourself what can I see, smell right now? Touch something and feel what texture/temperature this object is? Drink something or eat something, does it taste sweet/salty/ bitter? Do you hear any sounds at the moment? Being in the present moment and telling yourself that it’s okay to feel palpitations, it’s okay to feel stressed, it’s okay to take sometime to calm yourself down and let the world wait. Allowing yourself to feel all the feels! You are not alone and it’s just temporary! Hope that helps 🙏
Hello, and potential trigger for some people. I recently discovered something called sudden death syndrome, and it has terrified me. I don't know what to do.
I think doctors need to have more mental health training especially health anxiety bc in my experience when I tell them about my fears they always dismiss me bc I'm young. it makes me feel invalidated and misunderstood
Okay hear me out i want you to react to this So like i am 15 and ever since my dad seriously fell ill (he had a minor stroke) i developed health and death anxiety. Because i first got heart palpitations i searched up on Google and i convinced myself i will die due to heart attack in three days Then i got muscle twitches so i convinced myself i have als and i will have seizures and now that i had headache and my head felt heavy i searched up on Google again and it said it might be brain tumor and i watched your video and the fact that my headache was just for a day i am still convinced i have brain tumor idk how to deal with and because i am a teen i live with my parents and can't actually just go to the doctor alone and ask for a mri or ct scan. So like here's comes the main thing, i can't get mri or ct scans so how do i convince myself that i dont have a brain tumor? Like what to do if you can't get checked up by doctor?
When we are under severe stress, we often get tension headaches and that is perfectly normal. There are other symptoms when you have brain tumor and the headaches are persistent and can be really bad. There is no way one headache can mean you have a malignant tumor and that's coming from someone who can link just about anything to some type of cancer
I’ve always suffered with anxiety but since I’ve been around 1 of my uncle who passed away quickly from “C” my health anxiety as gotten so bad. I overthink symptoms until I start feeling them. I’m constantly on Google as I see a change in my body. I av had a panic attack about absolutely every type of illness u can think of! Once I see an ad or hear of a illness I immediately Google symptoms then start to think about them. Going to the dr to check up doesn’t even help anymore as now I start to question what if the drs are wrong what if they are missing something….. i saw a young girl on tiktok who has “CC” and documents it and I stay up watching her videos from then started googling symptoms ….I now have a fear of going to the bathroom I obsess over my bowel movement and my poop. So now I have extreme morning anxiety as this is the time I usually go the bathroom each time I go the bathroom I’m worrying is my stool too light,is it too dark, is that blood , is to thin ,is it too watery. Then of course Google will leave me thinking ur not normal……I constantly stay checking my body parts….the part tht made me cry was when u spoke of the suicidal thoughts…..this is the part I don’t tell ppl about which frightens me I feel like I’m trapped….
The worst part is that I genuinely google my symptoms to reassure myself, as if THIS will be the one time google will tell me it’s anything other than some very rare but also very fatal disease, that I just happen to have all the symptoms of 😒 “could be nothing but COULD also mean you have 24hrs to live!!”
Lol when will I learn 🤦🏻♀️
Yes! I google symptoms to reassure my self but it's the opposite it will make me more scared and worried. But I've decided to not Google symptoms anymore. It's the best thing health anxiety person can do
So me 😮
@@nikithaaaa i have pain all over body and i am going towards depression
Ye you gotta break the cycle but it's worth it you'll thank yourself later
Girl I feel like you’re the only person who gets what I’m dealing with. I feel like I’m in the darkest period of my health anxiety right now. 😪 I pray that I overcome this because it’s horrible living with this everyday.
You are NOT alone!
@@shawndellhudson4983 yess!
It’s okay your doing great remember your thoughts are just your thoughts it’s not real life
We are all in this together. Everyday is a battle to make it through the day.
Same here!
I am in a very dark place with my health anxiety right now. Its consuming everything my family think I'm crazy and are scared to say anything to me. I feel so alone and your videos are getting me through this dark time. Your an inspiration. Thank you
Health anxiety changed my life, my career path, my every day routine, I got to the darkest point in my life because of it, lost 20kg in 2 months it’s terrible. Thanks for sharing cherelle.
I lost 2kgs in 1week due to this horrible feeling. Im generally a petite person so you can imagine
A frien of family list 8 stone in s month and us voice all stress
Me too, can’t even recognize myself in the mirror.
@@brijeetinapod1654 i lost 4 kg in a week.. im so sorry you are going through this
Cherelle, your ability to dissect & analyze the inner workings of health-anxiety is the best out there. You are providing an invaluable service. Your voice is clear & believable & an enormous help.
Thank you so much! That means a lot. I’m so pleased to be able to help!
@@cherellethinks can you speak to me please I won’t to give up today I’ve spoke to the Chrisis team I don’t think I won’t to be hear anymore can you speak to me
People without it doesn't understand why we suffer in my darkest moments I can easily relate to this video
Am i the only one that feels symptoms when i think about it??
No I get that too. Have ever since i was about 11-12 years old. I think the specific diagnostic term for this is “Somatic Symptom Disorder” & a lot of us with HA suffer from this in varying degrees. I remember years ago when I was barely a teenager reading a story about a woman with brain tumour and after reading the symptoms and thinking, or rather, hyper-focusing on them I started freaking out I LITERALLY over night manifested the same symptoms, numbness, tinging etc. It got to the point that when I was a little less anxious I just knew not to read about illnesses because I knew what my brain was capable of doing to me. HA & the brain are a very powerful thing. I still suffer with that all these years later :(
@@motownkitten9212 ohhhh im experiencing it rn too!! Hope we heal soon!
Have you got constant pain
@@tomsale5142 Yeahh especially my neck.
@@Idkidkidkidkidkidkidkkid everyday
I absolutely agree, for me it happens in waves. I can go a couple years where I feel ok, then it's like I "relapse" for a while, and the worst part is that you know you are being crazy while it's happening but not matter how hard you try you can't really control it. What I have learned throughout my life is useful mental tools to help you work through it. I've had health anxiety since I was a young teen, and the hardest part for me is to try and keep it together for others while I'm having an episode. I don't want the embarrassment, or to feel like a burden to others.
This is what’s happening with me. I was fine for a year there and Boom! I ended up with a upper uriny tract infection which was treated but because I was in and out of hospitals etc it really just cause me to “relapse” and now I’ve completely spiralled again. And when I spiral it completely consumes me. I hate living with this… but like cherelle said I really think it’s training your brain to live with the uncertainty… it’s something I really need to try but it’s just sooo hard
I am going through my darkest moments just now , I cannot sleep even with sleeping tablets & sedatives , everytime I shut my eyes to sleep I get dizzy , I feel sick , I feel a jerk , it’s hard to explain , I feel I am losing control now , it’s the first time since I’ve suffered anxiety that I can’t see a way out , I can’t see light a the end of the tunnel & it’s scary
Sister it will get better, talk to ur dr. To change the medications. How are u now?
I understood this so much 😔
How are you
Same 😢 i can't see a way out, all this jerks, twitches and insomnia 😢
@@karenfaustino3793 I know it’s hard to think but I’m a bit better not totally but a bit , so please keep pushing and hopefully you feel better soon 💜
TRUTH!!!!!!!!
The SHAME you spoke of, I just shared with my wife. My 'old self' seemed flawless & impervious." Now, look at me," etc.
Hi Cherelle thank you for all your honesty and heartfelt videos. I've had cardiophobia and Bp concerns for 30 yrs and have come to realize the opposite of anxiety is TRUST. When you trust in your body the healing begins. ❤
Thanks so much for this comment, it helped me!
@@crunchysscorpion your so welcome wish you the best and trust in your body !!
What heals me is when I stop caring about my symptoms and say to myself oh well if I die, I die.
I been ok for a few weeks, but now I am obsessing over cancer. it's like every pain I have must be cancer in my mind and I can't rationalise my thoughts :(
I’m so glad I found you!!! Thank you ❤
Thanks for opening yourself!
Thanks Cherelle. You articulated what we have to go through with health anxiety so well. I’m so sorry to hear that you were so close to the edge and felt alone. I know exactly what that feels like.
This video helped me immensely. Thank you!!! And me too 100% 😢
Thank you Cherelle❤️🙏🏼
I’m really struggling at the minute and can relate to everything you said. I’m in limbo and can’t do anything. Found you yesterday through my psychotic episode and listened to your story which gave me hope. Keep up the good work. 🙏
I'm lucky to have so many good days in a row, today has been really unkind to me. But i'm slowly getting my grip back. I really appreciate you being here for us, you're a hero.
EDIT: If someone ever sees this comment, YT recommended this video to me again and I clicked on it. It's been a year and I am doing a lot better - and if I could do it, so can you! There are more good than bad days, I did start working out again and managed to get back into my pre-HA shape, I no longer have stomach issues which were most likely caused by anxiety and some unhealthy coping mechanisms and I had the confidence to say yes to a very exciting job opportunity. This was the original comment - "I need to give health anxiety the same energy that I've been giving MS, bowel cancer, ALS" - the funny thing is that bowel cancer and MS are among my top 3 concerns. It's easier said than done because I keep feeling like it doesn't even matter because I have bowel/blood/gynecological cancer and am dying, but it is about finding that inner strength to do the right things, like fight the urge to google your symptoms, check yourself all the time and put more effort into healthy habits, being active, spending time with friends and family, and just trying to enjoy the present moment. 2 years of health anxiety have drained me more than doing a PhD, which was also quite awful. But HA robs you of your passions, ambitions, dreams and, ironically, exhausts you to the point where you are far less healthy than you were before (and no, that does not mean you have leukemia). I'm just so fed up with it. I used to be really into fitness before HA and want to push myself to join a gym again.
How old are you? If you are under 40 u shouldnt even think about ALS
Hi Cherelle. I want to thank you for making these videos. I had a very bad bout of health anxiety at the beginning of this year. It lasted many months but your videos and guidance were so helpful and were a Godsend. I am doing so much better now and while I know I may have health anxiety thoughts for a long time, they don’t consume me anymore and I’m hopeful It will stay that way. There is always hope for anyone struggling with this. I’ve battled this for years. It can absolutely get better. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
I’m dealing with health anxiety and it’s not easy . I pray that everything gets better 🙏🏽
My story is very similar to yours. I was at rock bottom, and I had same awakening where I realized I needed to address my health anxiety and whatever happened with my actual health needed to be in the back burner. When I started researching and YouTubing health anxiety I came across you and it transformed my life! I truly believe I wouldn’t have recovered the way I have without you. You were the first to real pinpoint how I was feeling and your story as I said was so similar. I’m two years post my health anxiety crash and I’m so much better. Still struggle but much shorter and less intense! Thank you times a million!
I battle with it as well, i just got over a hump where I couldn’t function. I am also getting better recently but still not 100% and still have thoughts go through my head that I have some sort of terminal illness.
Love this girl ❤
Oh girl... I just commented on your water allergy video. Me and you have a lot in common haha. I have struggled so much with health anxiety my entire life but the worst episodes have occurred in the past 2 years. I had a thyroid cancer scare on top of my thyroid levels going nuts which sent me into full blown panic attacks and health anxiety.... I developed somatic symptoms and it was horrible, literally convinced myself the tumor on my thyroid was blocking my airway it was so bad!! If you ever need someone to chat with/support with this stuff Im here, because it really can feel so lonely and like you are the only one and you are going crazy!! Thanks so much for being transparent about this
My life the last few years - an absolute horrible condition to live with - you explain it so well and thoughtfully - mine is cardiophobia - i'm getting slowly better but there are days it still kicks me hard. It's a complete re-wiring of your brain - my biggest fear is dying in front of my two girls - but as mentioned, getting better thankfully - lots of exposure therapy, exercising regularly again and using mindset techniques to deal with it when i get symptoms - thank you for your very insightful video! God Bless!!
Really appreciate you and your channel - you have helped me and I simply feel your awesome. One distinction I want to share with you in case it has value or you haven't thought about it before ( I hadn't) health anxiety may not be an anxiety disorder.
This health anxiety may actually be OCD obsessive compulsive. It doesn't change much its still about not listening to the thoughts and feelings. but yeah I heard it, it makes sense for me (I actually have other intrusive thoughts unrelated to health) thought I would share.
Thank you for speaking the truth to those who may not understand.. I’m a first time mom now to a two week old and it’s like my health anxiety has now turned on to him and now all I do is focus on every movement he makes looking up every symptom. It’s an awful way to live, and I’m trying so hard to cope.
I too have struggled with intense health anxiety over my son. It's even worse in some ways!
@@katiesfarmhouse I totally agree!!!
It really is horrific. I did some nonstop googling and now I'm obsessed that my panic attacks are partial seizures cause I never stopped googling 😭😭
It’s horrible because one of the main symptoms of a heart attack is “a sense of impending doom and panic” lol I’m just like...but I always have a sense of impending doom and panic?! 😭
@@nyceexo53 When u have a heart attack u Will know, way scarier then a panic attack
Stop googling. It is what my gp ordered me and wrote it as suggestion to problem for referal to psychologist, I listened, got better, can't you see everyone here is posting they can't stop googling? Get the hint. Haha. Good luck.
I have been struggling with PVC's for a year now, they scare the hell out of me, even if doctors said its not a big deal but im getting so scared of them that my life is completely ruined
Same bro they are scary af.
Same here. The last few months they are daily and i hate it so much. Have had all the tests done and came back normal, but they are still so scary
I’ve gotten them on and off for years. I’m still doing well. If they happen I simply take a break and do some breathing exercises. They’ve helped me.
@@Juliiebee what test did you have
I've had them for 30 yrs and sometimes they still bother me but im still here and they have never caused a problem other than mental. Take care
When I had it like 2 years ago I was thinking everything in the book it’s was crazy lol like I had many panic attacks from it and couldn’t sleep well. What helped me get out the cycle was just to be comfortable and present in my body and that my thoughts are just thoughts and it’s not your reality. I think I got this from seeing a person dealing with a illness and started thinking “what if thoughts” also talk to your doctor and trust him please lol it’s goes a long way trust me
Had exactly the same , unbelievable!! Hypochondria .I know exactly how it feels !
I've had health Anxiety for years aswell but my issue is I can't move past normal body symptoms/sensations.
Cherelle, Do you have tinnitus? - do you do private consultations - would like tips on how to manage this ?
Yeah - it's so crazy. The problem is that we never know if there is really something wrong with you... especially when we get bad test results and find real existing issues. It's horrible. Just living from day to day thinking that you are dying. This happened to me 5 years ago and now I don't know if I am sick or if it is happening again. This time, I have pain in my chest with a cough that is persistent (maybe from acid reflux - which is really uncomfortable) and won't go away, bad sleep (though at least I am sleeping), pains under the skin all over my body, feel tired a lot of the time. But it's just the pain in my chest - that's the one that drives me nuts! It came with the cough which may have been covid and no one has been able to explain it. The pain isn't bad, it just annoys me so often. The thing that really irritates me about this is that I believe in God, and I really believe he wants to heal me, and I just can't find a way to get it to happen, and I know I have to just accept it, no matter what it is. Truth is, when I calm down, I feel better. Anyhow - May we all find escape from this curse - whether really or self induced. God bless those who are suffering. If I ever find my way through this I will share my story. For now, it seems the best thing to do is pray and let go - stop trying to fix it, as long as the doctors say it's OK. But that is the hard part. Just to let go. In the Bible it says "They loved not their own lives, even onto death." I think that is the secret.
This video really helped me
I’ve had this for over a decade now it feels like I am worried over everything my latest obsession is an lump behind my ear before that it was Cancer before that blood disease . I’m very tired my brain can’t take it anymore . It’s like this every day 24/7 . I can’t live my life normal anymore . I don’t have joy in my life anymore .
My health Anxiety started with a chest pain, not realizing it's panic disorder and anxiety. And I thought I had heart issues but reports were normal... And then started a loop of symptoms - chest pain tingling, chocking , stomach issues and what not.... My symptoms did subside with anti depressants but my health Anxiety is just not leaving Mee... I still think I have diabetes, HIV /aids and recently I have developed a fear of skin cancer.... There was some blood on my toilet seat... Maybe that was spotting before my periods.... I don't know what it was...... But now I'm scared that I colon cancer...... This is devastating
Did you experience constant dread and fear all day, intensely for months at a time (no heart palpitations included, just head sensations and dread/fear)? If so, did it die down over time?
A psychologist asked me once “do you feel suicidal or feel like driving into a truck?”
I replied “I’m afraid of dropping dead, so suicide is the last thing on my mind to be totally honest!”
Is here anyone who is/was also hesitant with the covid vaccine?
I do not know, my fear of the vaccine is higher than my fear of getting covid.
I accomplished 3 years without having to get the jab but now it is necessary.
I am anxious.
Rather have covid than get that which I have no problem
your videos are so helpul! are u still taking benzos time to time?
respect to you i think your the most beautiful girl iv ever seen
I want everyone to know this is a very treatable condition and you are going to be OK you just need to have some love and compassion for yourself! What she said around 6 minute mark. Shifting the focus from your fears to the condition you actually DO have , namely health anxiety, and putting all your research into THAT (and refraining from the Googling the other stuff). Another way to put it is just realise your bad condition at the current time is real but is a mental disorder a not a physical one and you do need to treat it, but with psychological therapy work and not a medical surgery, lOlOl
I read your story online on an article and was like omgosh someone I can relate to it's so similar to my story! Haha. Hi-5 to you! God bless
I’m 20 years this September. I experienced something like this back in 2017 I was about 15 years at that time. I used to masturbate so it got to a point where I was scared that I hurt my kidneys, liver, bladder, balls, heart it was really hard for me at that age but after a series of tests I got better the symptoms lasted for a few weeks and I forgot about them up until this year april again. The same thing happened again with the masturbating and heart and everything but it was a lot tougher to deal with because It’s like I’m much older and smarter and it’s like really difficult to forget things. I’ve even gotten to the darkest point where I was gonna swallow a handful of benzodiazepines lol. I been twitching everyday for the past 2 months. I’m not even worried about sleep no more if there’s just a way this stupid twitching could stop. Hoping for Gods intervention
Did twitching stop?
@@astroworld5323 nah bro still dealing with it 😂
I know it will eventually stop some time
this is me but obviously the female version… it’s shit isn’t it 😩
@@Icameforthebubbly22 Ikr 😅
I’ve had muscle twitching and soreness for the past 9 months and of course I googled twitching and saw ALS, MS & other stuff and I’ve had health anxiety ever since. I had panic attacks last year where I would go numb in my hands and head and couldn’t speak one time and I went to the hospital twice. These videos are great things like this help me to not feel alone through it. I’m now able to work out again and go out and do things again and after a bunch of tests I thankfully don’t have any of those diseases. The mind is so powerful it’s crazy what it can do.
I still have anxiety from time to time but I’m getting better at dealing with it
Exactly like me. Legs constantly sore and tired. Calf twitching. There are times where I feel exhausted even after a good nights sleep. HA is absolutely diabolical
@@ianlowe8989 How old are you? Twitching and soreness in leg are symtoms of anxiety
@@topacybits3576 I’m 42
Totally relate to this😢
Thank you for this Cherelle, you described this condition so well. For about a year I thought I had MS and it was one of the worst years of my life. After doctor visits and MRI's I was cleared and although I am doing a lot better now. I still have residual physical symptoms like pain in my hands, shakiness, body pain and muscle tremors and spasms. You helped me a lot during these times. Thank you for everything, you've saved lives believe it or not. B)
Hi lonestar
I'm currently going through the same fear at the moment....I've pain in my hands, lower back pain, pin and needles in feet etc..
I've had a mri on my brain and lower back wuth no signs of anything serious (I've a bulging disc in lower nack).
can I ask what tests they did to eliminate MS diagnosis? I seem to think that my GP didn't take me seriously....
sorry if that's too personal or inappropriate to ask
@@Ilovechicken25 No, you're fine I various test done by my GP including blood work and physical and coordination tests. However, nothing seemed out of the ordinary all the while my anxiety was killing me at home I couldn't even read I remember because my anxiety was replacing words w8th things I feared. I was in a pretty bad place. I also had trouble speaking from time to time and the pain in my hands was sometimes unbelievable. Burning sensations all over my body mostly thighs and bottom of my feet and hands. In the end my gp sent me to get an MRI scan of my lower and upper spine and then he sent me a different time for a brain MRI with contrast. Unbelievably once I was told everything looked normal aside from some minor arthritis in my upper neck area my symptoms started to decapitate. Crazy now I don't have many symptoms aside from the few mentioned from time to time. You will get better I hope you can reach that final confirmation that you're OK honestly that is the only way your body will begin to actually heal.
@@lonestar313 thanks a million for your reply. that's extraordinary that you have the burning sensations on your thighs too. I used to get them alot.
I've only one concern- that I didn't get an MRI with contrast. this seems to be a better way to eliminate MS diagnoses altogether...
I know it's my health anxiety just nibbling away.
I hope you continue to do well...keep watching these videos. they are my saviour at times
@@Ilovechicken25 I'm sure you're OK trust me I was fully convinced I had MS and I has all of the symptoms I would see in videos. It almost felt like every symptoms was related to MS. I'm 99 percent sure you're OK even after another MRI I'm sure you will be OK and look back and maybe laugh that you were so worried. Please be aware that all symptoms can be caused by anxiety, it works in very real and scary ways. I wish you the best and I hope you heal well in these next couple of months. Don't allow this fear to keep you down you are more than this.
Hi Lonestar . I have the same symptoms as you atm burning on both my feet and thighs and pins and needles sensations iv had this now for 9 months . I had a brain mri 3 years ago and everything was clear . Now im scared thinking i should have another one but my doctor wont do it as she doesn’t think it’s anything serious. Is there anything you did to make the burning go away ?
Hi,do you believe total recovery is possible if you are follow a treatment for anxiety and also do exposure or you have to quit pills in order to recover?I hope you understand my question, sorry for my English 😊.
i've had a very bad episode of anxiety for the last month. Getting better now i'm worried about my digestion. Can it alter digestion even after a long episode? Feel like now my digestion track is trying to trick me....
Yes I am facing health anxiety and it's such a worst thing in the World
I'd be interested in the text support cherelle - I can't find the link you mentioned xx
Hello, i know im not cherelle but i have knowledge and now all about hypochrondia. Ask me anything u want ill help u
I wake up mind thinking of stroke an heart attack my body always tight
Did you struggle with palpitations/pvcs? I’ve been to the cardiologist and have had all the tests done, and all come back normal. I still experience them , and the last few months I get them every day and I’m always scared the doctors misses something and I’m going to die 😩
Any tips ??
Ive had the same you will not die, it will go away eventually, look for the trigger, eyes, blood sugar, stress, ect.
I'm now sixty four years old. Throughout my twenties & thirties I had frequent periods of all sorts of erratic heart rhythms, palpitations, & even sudden, dramatic, heart "squeezes". My mother died at 43 of a massive heart atteck. So- needless to say, I was 100% convinced that I was obviously going to die from these irregularities. Tests showed nothing wrong, but I could not be persuaded. I lost probably a total of 5 years of life-progress obsessively focused on my heart & rhythm irregularities. At one point I timed my pulse probably every three-five minutes. It was a living hell. I was terrified. Well, nothing ever came of it. The doctors had been right. My heart thumps & bumps were simply nervous reactions that slowly faded away.
Hi Julie, I also have them almost every day. Also went and did all the tests which came out normal. I just learned to accept it and not fight it. I comprehend that I have palpitations because of my anxiety and they are soo uncomfortable and scary, but palpitations won’t kill you. Try to lay down or sit in a quiet place and try to focus on your breathing. Focus on how your breath is going in and out like big waves. Try also a grounding exercise by using all your five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing) Ask yourself what can I see, smell right now? Touch something and feel what texture/temperature this object is? Drink something or eat something, does it taste sweet/salty/ bitter? Do you hear any sounds at the moment? Being in the present moment and telling yourself that it’s okay to feel palpitations, it’s okay to feel stressed, it’s okay to take sometime to calm yourself down and let the world wait. Allowing yourself to feel all the feels! You are not alone and it’s just temporary! Hope that helps 🙏
@@katiesfarmhouse I’m sorry you suffered for so many years. I hope you are doing well now, thank you for sharing :)
@@GanyLil thank you so much
I’m in Nigeria don’t know how to
Pay
How much is the texting service?
Hello, and potential trigger for some people.
I recently discovered something called sudden death syndrome, and it has terrified me. I don't know what to do.
I think doctors need to have more mental health training especially health anxiety bc in my experience when I tell them about my fears they always dismiss me bc I'm young. it makes me feel invalidated and misunderstood
Okay hear me out i want you to react to this
So like i am 15 and ever since my dad seriously fell ill (he had a minor stroke) i developed health and death anxiety. Because i first got heart palpitations i searched up on Google and i convinced myself i will die due to heart attack in three days
Then i got muscle twitches so i convinced myself i have als and i will have seizures and now that i had headache and my head felt heavy i searched up on Google again and it said it might be brain tumor and i watched your video and the fact that my headache was just for a day i am still convinced i have brain tumor idk how to deal with and because i am a teen i live with my parents and can't actually just go to the doctor alone and ask for a mri or ct scan.
So like here's comes the main thing, i can't get mri or ct scans so how do i convince myself that i dont have a brain tumor? Like what to do if you can't get checked up by doctor?
When we are under severe stress, we often get tension headaches and that is perfectly normal. There are other symptoms when you have brain tumor and the headaches are persistent and can be really bad. There is no way one headache can mean you have a malignant tumor and that's coming from someone who can link just about anything to some type of cancer
cherrelle did you ever experience chronic fatigue along with brain fog or eye fatigue ..anyone ??!
Tell me about it love shits horrible literally feels like I’ve been given a death sentence out of nowhere
How do I sign up for texts ?
Hey Danielle! If you go on my patreon here >
www.patreon.com/healthanxietymanagement
You’ll find the texting tier :)
Everything you are saying is how I feel 😌
Did your health anxiety cause any kind of weight loss?
Mine did😖
Yes. I’m so anxious I’m not eating. Therefore I lose weight and that in itself is a symptom of cancer and the whole cycle is vicious
I’ve always suffered with anxiety but since I’ve been around 1 of my uncle who passed away quickly from “C” my health anxiety as gotten so bad. I overthink symptoms until I start feeling them. I’m constantly on Google as I see a change in my body. I av had a panic attack about absolutely every type of illness u can think of! Once I see an ad or hear of a illness I immediately Google symptoms then start to think about them. Going to the dr to check up doesn’t even help anymore as now I start to question what if the drs are wrong what if they are missing something….. i saw a young girl on tiktok who has “CC” and documents it and I stay up watching her videos from then started googling symptoms ….I now have a fear of going to the bathroom I obsess over my bowel movement and my poop. So now I have extreme morning anxiety as this is the time I usually go the bathroom each time I go the bathroom I’m worrying is my stool too light,is it too dark, is that blood , is to thin ,is it too watery. Then of course Google will leave me thinking ur not normal……I constantly stay checking my body parts….the part tht made me cry was when u spoke of the suicidal thoughts…..this is the part I don’t tell ppl about which frightens me I feel like I’m trapped….