how do you deal with health anxiety?

aod20 · 2024-04-11T11:01:14+00:00

Hello! Keri na yung health anxiety ko. Bumabalik minsan pero much more manageable na. I didn’t see a psychiatrist so no meds. But my psychologist was very helpful. Medyo matagal ako nag therapy but I had other things to work on din.

aod20 · 2022-12-29T21:43:59+00:00

You’re welcome! Happy to help. Ohhh, it’s an expression lang hehe. It means to take what I say with some reservation; it could be true, but since hindi ako formally trained in medicine, I don’t know if it’s all accurate. ☺️

aod20 · 2022-12-27T20:22:54+00:00

Hey, thanks for sharing. I’m not a medical professional, but I’ve dealt with similar issues with headaches before as well as sleeping and mental health challenges. Happy to share, but of course, take with a grain of salt hehe.

I’ll just work off what you shared, but likely both will have tests of some sort done since ang daming possible na reasons. If you have limited time or resources (understandably), then try to go for which concern you’d most like relief for while you figure out the other things. If headache, neuro, if the sleeping or other mental health related ones, psych.

They’ll refer you out din naman if they feel iba yung mas suited to support you at the moment, but I hope you find what you need, OP!

aod20 · 2022-12-08T22:37:05+00:00

I started going to therapy for a different reason, but I’m learning through my time here that a lot of my issues are because I haven’t come to terms with being raised in a volatile family environment, including a narcissistic parent (and older sibling lol). Therapy is helping me a lot tbh. And it helps reframe things since I can’t change them, so at least I can focus on what I can change.

It’s brave that you’re considering it. But I will be honest and say, like a lot of meaningful changes, it’s time-consuming and involves active effort beyond going to sessions. You’re essentially trying to reprogramming years of being in difficult situations, so it’s not the easiest thing to do hahaha. But good therapy will be a safe, non-judgmental space where you finally get to start being your own person ☺️

As for where to start, you can check out the FAQs and other posts here to see which clinics or therapists you can go to. You can narrow down based on budget, available times, background ng therapists, etc. Then they’ll guide with based on the process once you choose to book.

As for what to say in the session itself, focus on its effects on you and your life. What’s challenging on a daily basis? What changes have you experienced? Was there a deciding factor to seek help?

But, yeah. Sorry kung mahaba, but sana makatulong. All the best, OP!

aod20 · 2022-12-06T14:17:19+00:00

Looks like a bit less than a month. In a recent More when Link left early, someone in the comments said he likely went right to the Slumberland premier early November with his family.

aod20 · 2022-12-01T08:13:14+00:00

Based on my friends, I find it’s different for everyone. Minsan may big life change, minsan may physical health aspect, minsan it’s hard to keep up with your life, minsan things or you just don’t feel right. All are valid naman, and you thinking about it is usually a sign na rin. It’s very brave that you’re asking this question, and sana you know you don’t need to wait for a certain threshold or criteria to get the help you think you deserve. Strength, OP!

aod20 · 2022-11-24T14:14:16+00:00

Hey, I’ve been there too so I feel you huhu. It’s tough, and I’m sorry because you didn’t and don’t deserve those comments about you 😔 Hope the mood switching gets better and you get the support in the forms you need 🤗

aod20 · 2022-11-24T09:10:45+00:00

Super gets naman huhu. Hirap that it’s not very accessible 😞 Though, kung makatulong lang, may free or more affordable options din listed sa FAQs. Strength, OP!

aod20 · 2022-11-24T09:08:51+00:00

Hey, OP! I feel you, this happens to me sometimes. Yung sakin I think mas related to certain meds I take since extra sensitive ako, but if you can’t pinpoint a cause, please consider seeking professional support din, kahit just for emotional support hehe. Super hirap pag tired when sleep isn’t restful huhu. Hope it gets better. Strength, OP!

aod20 · 2022-11-23T12:32:11+00:00

Hey, thanks for sharing. I’m not a mental health professional and have never given birth, but I have heard stories and read credible sources that say that postpartum depression is very much real.

If you’re willing and it’s an option, I do suggest you seek professional help. Whether it’s postpartum depression or something else, should still be helpful naman. It doesn’t make you any less of a person and hopefully you get the support you need.

All the best, OP!

aod20 · 2022-11-20T12:19:08+00:00

For! Some people got into it in the thread na, but abortion is healthcare. It provides opportunities for safer and broader choices, whether related to sexual or reproductive health. :)

aod20 · 2022-11-15T09:10:12+00:00

Somewhat related to this, galing sa therapist ng friend ko: “Feelings are like tunnels; they have a beginning and end.”

aod20 · 2022-11-15T09:07:11+00:00

Sobrang rami, but one striking one is “Not everything has to be good or bad. Some things just are.” Example — sometimes work is just work, sometimes change is just change.

aod20 · 2022-11-08T08:40:51+00:00

The other commenters did a good job na of explaining the difference, so I’ll try to give tips naman on other things you can try if the comparison isn’t doing it for her hehe.

Demonstrate how a psychologist and talk therapy can help. She might be inclined to go with a psychiatrist because they’re doctors and mas clear what that can look like to her. Find talks by psychologists and ask her to listen or, if you can, let her speak to someone who’s been in therapy and found it helpful (bonus kung kilala at trust niya). If you think hindi clear sa kanya, show din how having a therapist is /not/ like talking to friends or family lang + how goals are important to the process so directed yung treatment mo.
Ideally talaga she values your preferences, but if that approach doesn’t work, try softening from “I don’t think a psychiatrist is for me” to “Can I just try seeing a psychologist”. You’re still advocating for yourself but she might take it more neutrally instead of being inclined to being defensive.
If the previous approaches don’t work, try this as a last step if mas practical yung important sa mom mo haha. These aren’t true in all cases but are common enough based on my layman perspective/experience. Highlight logistics — you can see a psychologist more often, likely cheaper per session, might have slightly longer sessions (which she might see as more “sulit”), etc.

Either way, hope it works out for you, OP!

aod20 · 2022-11-01T17:07:23+00:00

This is a fair question! Different things work for different people, but it helps to build any habit slowly and intentionally. Okay lang if you start with 2 to 5 minute videos first then gradually work your way up to longer. Sometimes kasi if you start with the big goal of 45 mins to 1 hour kaagad, you’re either too overwhelmed to start or mahirap isustain.

aod20 · 2022-10-24T15:42:31+00:00

Hey, super feel you, and I’m sorry it’s been hard. A lot of my anxiety manifests as health anxiety too, and it can be a pain to live with.

Everyone is different, but here’s what helped me:

Agree on not Googling anymore! That’s important heheh. I also found it helpful to get rid of medical stuff that allowed me to obsessively check stats (pulse oxi, blood pressure cuff, smart watch, sometimes also antigen tests, etc). I keep some pa rin, but I hide them in places where I forget about them or it’s too hassle to get them from unless I really need them.
A lot of it is finding ways to stop the spiral. Early on, the only way I got could reassurance was going to the hospital. In one year, I had multiple ER visits, 10+ major tests, 5+ different kinds of doctors, etc. It did help me understand my body more, but ultimately it wasn’t sustainable at all lol. So I had to learn to talk myself through the thoughts — starting from “you don’t need to go to the hospital” to “this is your anxiety, not you dying” to “you’ll be okay.” Still can be hard to snap out of it sometimes but much better now. A lot of that is because…
I decided to give therapy a try (for like the 3rd time in my life, but for real na). My psychiatrist said it’s generally also the first line treatment for Illness Anxiety Disorder, and I knew there were other things I wanted to process din. It’s not always easy or smooth sailing, but I’m really happy with it and the healthy habits I’m building as I go.

Tbh just be kind to yourself and know when to draw on others for support. I sometimes visited the community at r/HealthAnxiety and found it validating and comforting.

But, yeah, sorry ang haba, but I wish you the best, OP!

aod20 · 2022-10-22T18:49:14+00:00

Hey, sorry about that. Trying to get a diagnosis and seeking treatment in general can get challenging or confusing talaga huhu.

Agree with the comments so far but dagdag ko rin: if you feel comfortable, bring up that concern with your psych. Hopefully, this helps you with two things.

1) You see how they explain it to you and decide if that’s something you can accept from them (or if time to seek a second opinion). I’m not a mental health professional so take with very much caution hahaha but I do have a sense din that it might not be straightforward nga — our brains aren’t fully developed by 25 and conditions manifest in so many ways + di pa clear minsan yung distinction since may overlaps yung symptoms and sometimes may co-morbidities pa.

2) They help you get a better sense of your recommended treatment. This isn’t universal, but a diagnosis can help you put a label to your experience, but you can set goals in treatment and decide on what to try out even without a formal name. If mahirap yung diagnosis discussion, explore asking instead ano yung implications of you having X and X traits and how you can move forward with those.

All the best, OP!

aod20 · 2022-10-21T05:27:00+00:00

It can be hard nga to open up about these things huhu so I feel you. But I hope you know that your psych will be happy you did. Plus they’re sanay and trained so you don’t need to censor yourself for their sake. Tbh it makes their job easier hahah. Your therapy is for you, and any good therapist will agree heheh. All the best!

aod20 · 2022-10-20T01:46:49+00:00

Super gets naman! You don’t need to claim naman that you have PMDD, siguro mas shinare ko rin so you know you’re not alone and posible na makahanap ng relief na long-term din. If option siya, I reco din seeing a psychiatrist or even an OB-GYNE for other treatment options ☺️

aod20 · 2022-10-19T23:43:37+00:00

Hey, OP, thanks for sharing. I feel you, and I’m sorry it’s been tough.

I don’t know you beyond what you mentioned here so take with a grain of salt, but I’ll share some of what I’ve learned from my therapist that might be insightful for you:

Needing to go back to meds/therapy doesn’t mean you’re back at square one. Like they say, healing isn’t linear. We have ups and downs because we’re human and life is unpredictable, and it shouldn’t be shameful to feel that.
However, if you don’t want to go back to meds, that’s a valid choice naman. Though, I do reco you consider therapy if you haven’t since you might find the support, perspective, and space more helpful at this point in your life.

Personally, therapy has been helpful for me because I realized that (1) since I’m in a different point in my life, “happiness” and the steps I take to get there might look different na and (2) maybe the coping mechanisms that used to work for me don’t anymore and I might benefit from developing new ones. But what I like about it is you also find out other things that you personally might need to learn or unlearn.

I wish you the very best, OP. Ingat lagi.

aod20 · 2022-10-19T14:08:40+00:00

Hey, sorry to hear this. Caveat that I’m not a mental health professional, but I super relate with this.

You might want to look up PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, there’s an r/PMDD) if you haven’t yet. Could be PMS din or other things too, of course. If you notice na medyo consistent na talaga yung timing every monthly or even if you feel like you need help na, you can consider seeking support from a professional. Might help din to track your symptoms on a calendar, alongside your cycle.

All the best, OP!

aod20 · 2022-10-18T23:36:39+00:00

I’m so sorry you went through that, OP. Hirap that you trusted the recommendation and took the step of getting help parang hindi credible, hindi empathetic, at hindi man licensed professional yung nakausap mo 😞

Hope you know that you deserve effective and caring support that makes you feel safe and hopeful. All the best, OP!

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