Question: I would like some self-help recommendations for health anxiety.

This is my first time using this service, and I see it says a specialist is working on my question. Is someone there? Or is this an automated response to my question?

Hello Dr. Bishnoi, and thank you for answering. I would like some relief from constant worry and apprehension and fear about serious health problems which may arise in the future based on trigger thoughts that can be anything I see on TV or hear in a conversation.

I believe the problem started when I took care of seriously ill parents at home until they passed away. It was overwhelming, and I worried about their health, naturally, and after they died, I worried about my health and the health of my loved ones.

Much of my fears have to do with contamination, not entirely unreasonable, but when there is a remote chance of something serious that might occur, I tend to expect the worst. Reassurance (which I understand only gives temporary relief) is the only relief that helps me until the next time. For example, if I scratch my finger, I worry that I might come into contact with blood (not visible to the eye) and possibly hepatitis c.

I have never taken medication and don't want to do so.
Just some additional information: I took care of my parents and other sick relative for about ten years without relief. I had to leave my profession and work from home in order to take care of them. They were very difficult, and I did not get much sleep as they demanded constant attention.

I wanted to be vigilant to be sure I did not overlook anything with regard to their health, and I was always on the alert for any "symptom" that might be significant. Not having a medical background, it was hard for me to discern what was important from what was benign, so I erred on the side of caution and everything became worrisome. This became a way of thinking, and after they passed away, (about ten years ago) I continued this pattern with myself and others dear to me.

Some of my health anxieties resolve when, for example, there is an incubation period that passes. I worried about tetanus from a clean wound even though the chances are remote. The worry was resolved when the incubation period passed. However, when there is no incubation period or one that can be decades in the future, and the disease can be asymptomatic, these are the worst of my worries.

Have I provided enough information for you to respond?

Will you be replying soon? Otherwise I would like to get some sleep as it is 5:30 AM where I am.

Thank you very much for your reply. I do believe I can be reasonable but this affliction seeks certainty. My mind will always think of some remote risk and focus on the possibility that it can theoretically happen, and then the thoughts become obsessive, and I will typically Google compulsively, which more often does not help. I take Omega 3 and B12 in moderate doses. I will try your other suggestions, thanks. Do you think this forum can serve as a sort of "therapy" for me?

I am going to get some sleep now. I was excited about finding this site, and stayed up way too long. I will look for you answer later in the day. Thank you.

Thank you Dr. Bihnoi. I will take your advice regarding a better perspective with regard to mild or minor symptoms. In large part, however, my anxiety has to do with believing that I have caused harm to myself by exposure to toxins and contaminants in the past and it will show up in the future, and my rational side trying to convince myself that "the dose makes the poison". For example I have had terrible anxiety regarding asbestos shingles that were removed from my home improperly (I was reassured by an expert on another forum that this would have been too little to be concerned about) or that I may have dropped a bit of grape jelly that I hadn't noticed and grapes being toxic to cats, that they may have ingested it. I might read something regarding an association having been found between a product or something I used decades ago and a serious illness. My memory is always not in my favor due as I wrestle with trying to recall what happened in the distant past. There are many, many similar things. The irony is that I am in apparent excellent health and people assume I am many years younger than my age.

Do you have any ideas as to how to counter these types of contamination fears?

Do you think that despite the severity of my anxiety (very high until I am reassured, and often the resolved anxiety about a specific thing can return, and I have to be re-reassured) and the length of time I have suffered with this affliction are less prognostic that I can get better than what I believe is in my favor, that is, I am capable of being rational and my fears can be quieted if I am convinced by an expert who I trust knows more than I do about what constitutes real risk and who reassures me?

Thank you for your reply. It is helpful to me. Actually the asbestos was broken shingles, and I did find after speaking with a few experts in the field that it would not be a significant exposure, so I stopped worrying about it, but it was after a great deal of, as you say, over-analysis and spiraling anxiety. When there is a triggering thought, I immediately react as if I am in great immediate danger, and then to try to relieve the anxiety I usually compulsively Google which many times works against me.

You say that it is a good step that I acknowledge the problem, and that is encouraging. Once the thought is there, and the anxiety it creates is so severe, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to focus on anything else as I believe I am in danger. Sometimes, these thoughts occur in a chain, one leading to another. I am trying to arm myself with as much information from experts in the field as possible in an effort to help myself, and I appreciate your suggestions very much.

One of my health anxieties was that I stuck myself with a lancet when taking my father's blood sugar, and since he had transfusions before stricter testing, I worried about hepatitis c. I asked my brother to ask his doctor about this, and he said someone checked the chart and he didn't have hepatitis. I recall he phoned that day and said, "Good news" regarding this. Yet, in my mind, the fear has returned over the years that what if my brother was mistaken or the person who read the chart was mistaken. I am finally accepting that my brother was certain and am usually not as anxious about this. Then I worried that I got my ears pierced in a mall with a piercing gun, and that could have not been sterilized. Trying on a dress that was being altered and had pins in it, I thought I might have scratched myself on the pins that could have scratched someone else. Once I thought someone might have intentionally scratched me with something in public that put me at risk. On and on... I got reassurance from doctors on another site regarding these issues, but mentioning of the topic is a trigger, and the anxiety returns, but to a lesser degree. Should I use the same techniques in a situation like this? Distract myself and reason out that I already received answers from people I should trust?

Thank you, Dr. Bishnoi, Your reply was helpful to me. I had my ears pierced over 30 years ago. The earring was put in a gun and shot into my earlobe (one in each ear). Another MD expert told me not to worry about this. I hope you agree.

Your are right. Got it! Thank you!

I see there is a button to close discussion, and I hesitate to do so because you have been so helpful to me. Yet, I would think there is a limit to the number of questions I can ask in one thread. Would I be able to request you again?

Shall I close discussion now and request you? Or shall I leave it open? I apologize, this is my first experience with the site, and I am not familiar with how it works.