Anxiety and Stress Forum - Health Anxiety / irrational fears

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Q: Health Anxiety / irrational fears

asked by: eccentricnotinsane on May 19th, 2009

New User

Hi,
I'm on a strong course of antibiotics for an H.Pylori (stomach) infection yet the glands in my neck have just swollen up and my ear is itchy inside so I now have an ear infection. I normally don't worry about ear infections but I'm taking A LOT of Amoxicyllin at the moment which is what they usually treat Ear Infections with so I'm confused how I could possibly have got one now.

The upshot of this is that I have leapt to the ridiculous conclusion that I have HIV. I think I'm feeling guilt from having slept with a few men last year unprotected, which is unlike me, and my habit of leaping to unrealistic conclusions. I'm heterosexual female in the UK and out of the three men I slept with (I always ask for a sexual history) one had just come out of a 7 year relationship but had had one unprotected one night stand before me, one had never had unprotected sex before, and the other had just come out of a three year relationship. So statistically the probablility of me having caught the infection is enormously slim. But I'm still really worried. At least it's a change from me waiting to have a heart attack (I always keep my mobile switched on and by my side so that I can call an ambulance immediately WHEN I have a heart attack!) I'm a healthy, slim, fit 22 year old and I haven't had anything worse than mild flu since I was 16. I know how stupid I'm being but rationality can't seem to dissuade me from my worries. I'm going to go for an HIV and syphilis test tomorrow (I was tested for all other STDs recently) because that's the only way I can think of to stop me from worrying. But I'm getting so sick of these irrational fears. I've spent loads of money on pregnancy tests even when I haven't had sex for months, have an IUD and haven't missed a period. When I was 19 I actuallly convinced myself I was going to physically disappear! Just cease to exist!

I'm already seeing a psychotherapist, a psychiatrist and I have just been put on mood stabilisers after an exhaustive list of anti-depressants just made me feel worse. So I'm looking for self-help advice if anyone has any!

Thanks!

Replies(1)

Dr. Jeff Bailey , Ed.D.

replied on May 24th, 2009

You are demonstrating an elevated level of stress that is causing you to have unnecessary fears. With regard to the infections, consult your physician. It is a good strategy to TAKE ACTION when you are feeling anxious - so good see about the STDs. You also seem to have unnecessary fears about dying - this level of anxiety needs the services and attention of an experienced psychologist. My orientation for the symptoms you describe is sustained Cognitive Behavior Therapy. What happens is that we experience some stress, we engage in negative self-talk and dysfunctional thinking, we magnify the fear and blow it out of all proportion, we lose perspective, and the fears multiply. Then we feel as though we can't control our thoughts and so on ... Get the picture? A qualifed CBT psychotherapist will help with this irrational thinking. Sharing your thoughts is a very healthy start for you.

Thank you.

Dr Jeff

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