Anxiety and Stress Forum - Brain Tumor or Hypochondriasis/OCD?

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Q: Brain Tumor or Hypochondriasis/OCD?

asked by: Jcool23 on July 10th, 2008

New User

i'm an obsessive type of person and have been obsessing over various diseases for as long as i can remember. i'll go through a brief history of it all: when i was young, i thought i magically contracted aids from someone's blood that touched my skin, thought i had diabetes for the longest time because i magically started going to the bathroom 20 times a day, thought i had cancer at one point, a few weeks ago i thought i had breast cancer (no symptoms whatsoever), and now: i have a slight headache in the back of my ear and my ear feels bit like there's warm water flowing in it. for the past few months my hearing has been "zooming" in and out. ( my mom says that that is due to my wisdom teeth growing in.. she had the same thing apparently) and let me just say.. the whole slight headache and clogged feeling in my ear ONLY occured when i started worrying about a brain tumor. could i have one? or am i just a hypochondriac or have OCD? i've been focusing so much on my head for the past few days.. it seems like the headache magically appeared there. could it maybe be sinuses? this morning i woke up with a runny nose and sore throat... i don't have it anymore, though. i do have a post nasal drip-type thing going on, though.

i'm just so confused and i feel so ridiculous. my mother thinks i'm crazy. she says i definitely do not have a tumor. i've been so tired lately, though, too. i think it's from an iron and vitamin deficiency though.

can someone just tell me i'm okay or something. i'm tired of worrying. i'm not going to a doctor either because the machines they use to check for tumors/cancer leak radiation and aren't healthy. so i just don't even know what to do.

Replies(12)

Georgia59

replied on July 10th, 2008

Especially eHealthy

First of all, if you're tired and you think it's from iron and vitamin deficiency, take a multivitamin! Easy fix.

The thing is, it seems like you take what might be a small legitimate problem, and turn it into something bigger in your head (which is common with hypochondria). So you get a little headache, and you think it's something much worse, when in actuality, it's probably just a passing headache or small sinus problem that will go away on it's own.

How often do you get feelings like this? Is it something that bothers you on a regular basis?

Jcool23

replied on July 10th, 2008

New User

i never get headaches or anything like this and the one i have now, i don't really know how to explain it. i've had it since yesterday, it hurts slightly and feels like pressure on the side of my head. it feels warm and like there's liquid in my ear. i started worrying a few weeks ago because of my hearing "zooming" in and out... and confused it with tinnitus (which is a symptom of a brain tumor.) so i kept worrying and worrying and now my head actually hurts. that's how the head pain started. i don't have any dizziness, nausea, hearing problems or anything really associated with a tumor. i can walk correctly and am balanced. i guess i just want to know what that watery feeling is in my ear as of now. i was actually on a plane last tuesday and i had an excruciating pain in that ear 10 minutes prior to landing.

Georgia59

replied on July 10th, 2008

Especially eHealthy

Ear problems like that are pretty common, really. If there is fluid in your ears, it could cause things to sound weird, you might feel dizzy or nauseous, etc. Taking a decongestant might help, or see a doc and they could clean it out for you.

I used to get constant ear problems, I know how you feel!!

Jcool23

replied on July 10th, 2008

New User

how could fluid have gotten in there? and why does it feel warm?

hillary213

replied on July 10th, 2008

New User

I know exactly how you feel! I'm only 16 and I believe I suffer from being a hypochondriac because I always think there is something horribly wrong with me. I also thought I had a brain tumor once in 8th grade and for 3 months complained of a constant headache but it eventually went away when I stopped worrying about it. Although you may have sinus/ear infection possibly I would get it checked out but I don't think it is a brain tumor. Try not to focus on the headache...mine were just like that! Hang out with friends, watch movies, do something with your family, read a book, play a sport, anything to get your mind off of it. It took me a while but I finally got rid of the headache by essentially un-focusing my mind on it! Hope you feel better soon! Smile

Georgia59

replied on July 10th, 2008

Especially eHealthy

Jcool23 wrote:

how could fluid have gotten in there? and why does it feel warm?

Fluid can back up in your ears for lots of reasons... just like when your nose gets runny, etc. The plane ride would probably worsen it. It could feel warm because it's irritated or because it's infected.

Jcool23

replied on July 10th, 2008

New User

now that area on my head feels really hot.. like a burning sensation...... and i just read that that could mean an aneurysm. uhh?? i definitely am freaking out atm. Sad

Jcool23

replied on July 10th, 2008

New User

i'm thinking maybe it is an infection, but in my head?? that seems kind of strange to me. do you think it's due to my wisdom teeth? or maybe i'm imagining things. so there's the weird, warm watery feeling in my left ear, weird burning sensation on my head in the back of my ear, my hearing zooms in and out... i'm not drawing any conclusions other than an infection in my head or ear.... or maybe i just have really bad anxiety/hypochondria and made myself feel this way.

or... i just read that it could be from straining my neck due to anxiety?

Georgia59

replied on July 11th, 2008

Especially eHealthy

You need to stop reading things online!!

What you are doing is taking small sensations and (your anxiety) is turning them into bigger problems.

If you can calm down and relax, and think about your symptoms, and they still seem worrisome to you, you can go to a doctor. However, if you do, tell the doctor that you think it could be an anxiety issue as well. I know you said you didn't want to go to a doctor, but they won't just order an x-ray or anything, they'll think about your symptoms and tell you that you don't have a brain tumor. Then they can help you address your anxiety issues.

Jcool23

replied on July 11th, 2008

New User

i calmed down and went to sleep. i feel a whole lot better now. my head doesn't hurt and that weird burning sensation isn't really there anymore. thank you Smile

Georgia59

replied on July 11th, 2008

Especially eHealthy

That's good. I really hope you are able to control this anxiety you've been having. Have you thought about seeing someone for it?
doctor

Jcool23

replied on July 11th, 2008

New User

i've thought about it, but i just don't want to be put on any type of medication. i can't afford to see anyone either. once i get a job, i'll probably go to a psychiatrist or something.

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