Am I a hypochondriac or mid life crisis?

[Lilo&Stitch]

Hi everyone
I am in my 40s and lately I have been consumed with thoughts of things wrong with me, every little thing I feel in my body, I think cancer, sometimes I feel so anxious and worried that my body shakes and I can't concentrate on anything else. Let me tell you that up until this last year I was the most "together" and confident person you'd meet, I don't know why this has happened to me, I thought maybe it's a phase? mid life crisis? I don't know, I can't talk to my family about this, I am embarrased by these feelings.
Is there anyone else out there that has had this happen to them? any advice you can give me?

 

[Cindyluwho]

Yes, yes, yes! I'm in my mid-forties and I've had those same thoughts. If I have an achy neck I must be having a stroke, etc. I think for me it is because my father had a quadruple bypass last June and my stepmother died young (59) about 13 years ago from colon cancer. Now I'm getting older and a little paranoid. What worked for me is that I went to the Dr and told her about my fears. She sent me for all my bloodwork, for a coronary CT scan (like on Oprah) and next I'm going for a Colonoscopy. So far the tests have all been perfect, nothing to worry about. We're at that age when these things should be ruled out anyway, so you might as well have the tests to alleviate the fears - less stress in the end. I'm not looking forward to the colonoscopy, have some serious issues with it in fact, but I'm going to see if they can put me out or something. Good luck, and no - you're not crazy!!

 

[HaleyB]

Is it just thoughts or do you feel unwell?

Sometimes I do get fairly morbid thoughts, and worry because there is a history of cancer in my family. It keeps me awake every now and then. If every little thing, like a sore neck or stiff joint brings it on, then you may need to seek help to overcome the fear. On the other hand if you feel unwell, but can not pin point it, you should talk to a doctor about it. I let myself feel sick for way too long, in part because of fear about what it was. Don't do that. Mine was just a low thyroid, very treatable.

I guess either way I would suggest you seek the help of a doctor. No one needs to know. You could even go see one you have never seen before and will never go back to. I find I feel much less embarrased with women doctors. If nothing else see if there is a nurse line you can call. When ever something gets in the way of living a normal life it is time to seek help.

 

[Jpgirl]

Could be hormonal changes that are messing with your brain chemistry. WhenI was in my early 40's I was so depressed I didn't know what to do. I was so tired every day I could barely get out of bed-this was so unlike me. I thought I had a brain tumor. I went to ob/gyn for checkup and he said that while my hormonal levels wee in the normal range they may be low for me and that I was definitely perimenopausal. I just turned 48 and feel fantastic again-guess my body go used to the lower levels of estrogen. Good luck

 

[Lilo&Stitch]

Thank you for your replies! Physically I feel completely fine, mentally is another story

 

[Christine]

You are having "health anxiety." They are getting away from calling it hypochondria! I would doubt that this is a mid-life crisis; however, anxiety like this can be brought on by hormonal changes which you could be having due to being in your 40s.

I have gone through periods of health anxiety all of my life. I am having a VERY BAD time of it right now. Mostly due to all the stress in my life, I'm tired a lot, and I'm 42 and probably having many hormonal changes myself. I often go for YEARS without an issue and then something will happen to kick it off and I will go into a downward spiral that will last months. Right now I am in one that was started back in October/November when I had some breast lumps removed. It wasn't so much the breast lumps that sent me over the edge, but moreso in how the medical community treated me.

Anyway, I would suggest that you talk to you family physician about this. Just come right out and tell the doctor your issues. Maybe, if you are truly feeling bad, they will run some tests to put your mind at ease. Or maybe you need to have some therapy to try to rationalize these fears.

 

[Tiggeroo]

yep me too. I"m 41. Recently I've had a health problem. Abdominal pains that they can't find the source of. I"ve had several ultrasounds, a ct scan, colonoscopy, upper endoscopy and am scheduled for a hida scan and allergy testing.
The dr keeps telling me that all the tests have shown no problem. It's most likely IBS, plus they found a hiatal hernia, gastritis and esophogitis. He says they are all connected and a minor problem. I've been obsessed with it being cancer. I make daily deals with God and sometimes I get really worked up over this. I look at my kids and worry that they would be lost without me now.
Before all this I never gave my health a second thought. It never occured to me that there would be something serious wrong.
I've found that the solution for me is planning a disney trip. It's for the end of August. I love planning and making res's etc. This is giving me something to do instead of worrying. It's a good outlet for the negative energy.
I think it's brought on by a sort of mid-life crises. A sudden realization that we are mortal and time is limited on this earth.

 

[Christine]

plus they found a hiatal hernia, gastritis and esophogitis.

Tiggeroo, those three things alone would make most people feel pretty bad. Add to that the IBS and no wonder you have abdominal pain.