Best products from r/HealthAnxiety

It Starts With Food is a phenomenal book to start with just to understand how food affects us. Another one that covers autoimmunity is The Immune System Recovery Plan. Both of these books revolve around diet and not anxiety, but it is my firm belief that in order to find what is triggering the anxiety, you must work on other areas of your life first. If diet, exercise, and sleep do not subdue your symptoms, then keep searching. I’d be willing to bet if you tried the elimination diet, whether Whole30 or Dr Blum’s Recovery Plan, this will help you.

I’d love to hear about your progress. Please feel free to follow up. You’re so young!! You have so much potential!! Don’t let something like this control you. Initially, you might find yourself resistant to try new things, so it will take what I call ‘just making the decision’. This means that if you want to find peace with your health, you just have to decide to do it and push through whatever doubt (or anxiety) you might have.

It’s one thing to make the decision, so how do you stick with the decision you might be thinking? Especially when the stress really peaks. Three things.

1. Know the why. If you do not have a ‘why’ to what you do in life, regardless of what it is, there is no way you’ll stick with it. The why gives us guidance. It gives us dedication and strength. When part of you says who cares, the part that knows the why will say, I do. Really think about this. Take a few days and literally write down a mission statement for yourself. When the anxiety is really affecting you, go to wherever you have this hanging up and read it. Breathe! Deep breaths! If you have to, say, Progress, not Perfection! to remind yourself that it’s okay to feel the way you because you have a plan to get to a better place. This is merely a bump in the road, not a road block.
   
2. Once you have the why, make some goals. The rules about goals: they must be measurable, have a time of completion, and they must be assessed regularly to see if they are still effective.
   “I will work on being less stressed”. This is not a goal. It has none of the components of a goal. “This week, I will take 10 minutes each day to meditate before starting my day.” That is a proper goal. It’s measurable, it has an end date, and at the end of the week, you can measure its effectiveness. Write these goals down to make them real and tangible. Put them with your mission statement and at the end of each week, assess your progress. This might sound time consuming, but after a couple weeks, this new habit will take very little time.
   
3. Make the goals small! So many people who make goals want to go for the gold immediately. Perhaps the person wants to lose 50 lbs. so their goal is to lose fifty pounds, within 6 months, working out 6 times a week. That meets all the requirements of rule #2 technically, but if the person has never worked out or has no idea what diet they should be eating, what’s the likelihood of sticking to this goal? Instead, maybe some goals should be, pick up 3 different whole foods I have never ate before to cook with at the grocery this week. Boom. Small, obtainable, measurable, and can be assessed. Smaller goals also give us the chance to start getting some momentum. They build optimism and positivity, which, in and of itself, can work wonders for anxiety.
   
   For you, being anxiety free might be the ultimate goal, but to reach that, you will need to make smaller, more focused goals to reach that bigger one. You can do this. You might need to enlist the help of someone you trust. Find an accountability partner so when you do hit rock bottom (and that’s okay if you do!), you have someone to lean on who can help you stay on track with your goals.
   
   Again, feel free to reach out if you have more questions. Patience is going to be your friend here. However, just on elimination diets alone, people have made sweeping recoveries to all sorts of illnesses. I won’t go into the details but look at those books I suggested to see how food can truly affect us.
   
   Life is a journey. No one lives your life but you. Make it yours. Make it awesome!

A few things. I've made some changes in my religious life as a Christian that I think have been very helpful. I started going to therapy, and was fortunate enough to get setup with an incredible therapist. I started taking medication, but I'm already weaning off one of the pills! This was a process though. They didn't get the right medication combo for me right away. I've increased the amount of time I spend at the gym. That burns a lot of nervous energy and is associated with a lot of other mental health benefits. Also, I got setup with a primary care physician who is quite special and who I really trust. He let me share with him all of my health concerns and let me set up a patient portal account to talk with it. This is a lot better than strangers in the ER and urgent care centers. I've also benefited from this book: https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Health-Anxiety-Letting-Illness/dp/1572248386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498246765&sr=8-1&keywords=overcoming+health+anxiety

Let me know if I can be of further help. I've recovered enough to the point where I am really eager to give back. I'm grateful for all the help I've received on this subreddit. Sorry for the late reply!

Thanks for the nice reply. Yeah, last few years in addition to losing a buncha weight I've really gotten into supplements - I take flaxseed oil for the omega 3's, multi vit, magnesium, Beta-sitosterol and a golden paste thing I do with curcumin, ginger, coconut oil, black pepper, honey & cinnamon.

Wanted the best bang for the buck re anti cancer/ heart disease and found curcumin extract (from turmeric) is among the best. I also take clove as a supplement for it's anti-viral/ bacterial properties. Don't remember the last time I've had a full blown cold. Last physical, my cholesterol levels were in the normal range.

Anyway, before I'd get a blood pressure test taken I would take like magnesium & hawthorn berry supplements hoping to off set it but it was still high along with the typical anxiety.

The one time I got a relatively normal reading ~126/ 70 or so, I did what you said with the breathing; really had to concentrate on a peaceful thoughts like listening to waves crash. Once I heard the nurse say those numbers I almost broke down; like a huge relief- couldn't believe it. If I were to say something like that to them they'd look at me as if I had 3 heads.

I wish I could get to the point of just not caring what it is - just another thing you do like brushing your teeth.

How did you get to the point where yours is consistently normal where you're no longer anxious? Mainly breathing techniques?

Haha, yay for another person who is both fascinated and frightened by sickness! :)

I think my favorites are prion diseases because of how completely godawful they are. Being super sick is a thought that scares me, but at the same time, I'm amazed at the weird stuff our bodies are capable of doing.

If you're more of a book person than an ebook person like I am too, these are some of my favorite reads:

101 Diseases You Don't Want to Get which lists a pretty big variety of conditions - not all are fatal, some just make you feel like crap.

The Strange Case of the Walking Corpse This one discusses really nasty conditions, old-timey remedies, weird fetishes and just plain bizarre illnesses.

Flu: The Story Of The Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Caused It Title's pretty self-explanatory on this one. :)

Sleepwell Sleep/Snore Internal Nasal Dilator for Snoring Relief, Congestion Relief, Restful Sleep, Restorative Sleep, Increase Airflow, Soft, Comfortable, Latex Free, Drug Free, Nasal Strips, 12Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKYMK1C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wMUHDbBD9099R

Also, and sorry for the late reply, I meant to type more earlier and got sucked into a meeting. This product is what I feel did me the most good. Twitching stopped, also, magnesium is a natural anti-anxiety and promotes restful sleep. I've never felt better since using it. A word of caution, it can also act as a laxative (gross, I know), so if you try it start with a low dose (like half a teaspoon in water) then work up. Your body will adjust. I currently take about half a tablespoon a night. Work up and give it about two weeks. The "unflavored" kind tastes like poo, this is my favorite flavor. Hope this helps!

Natural Vitality Natural Calm Plus Calcium Raspberry Lemon, 8 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K9FF4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bnkuybK0QMETA

1. Talk to a therapist about this. This is some thing that could be helped with the right person to talk to.
   
   
2. You need to eat. You're hurting yourself to avoid your period. This isnt okay.
   
   
3. Look into birth control to eliminate your period. I can personally attest that the Mirena IUD stopped my period (2 years strong, only light spotting at the first 2 months). I've also read about BC pills that can reduce/eliminate your period. A doctor is a good place to start for help with all of this. Note: IDK how old you are or what country you're from, but in my opinion if you're old enough to have a period you're old enough to use birth control. I hope this is accessible to you.
   
   
4. If its touching the blood, look into using tampons and getting a bidet ( https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00A0RHSJO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MrGRCb6X5PXPM ). This washes off your private-bits after you go or have your period and you just pat dry when done. No need to touch a lot of blood. Talk to a doctor or gyno on how to use tampons. Here is also a pretty good guide https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/menstruation/how-do-i-use-tampons-pads-and-menstrual-cups .
   
   Bottom line is you need to eat. Talk to someone about how you're feeling and about accessing these supports until you've dealt with the psychological root of your menophobia.

I think you’re ok. I experience the same symptoms with my anxiety and much more. You will start to feel better as soon as you start taking care of your anxiety. Try reading about it. There are a couple great books to help you like this

Just chiming in to say that I too have had neck pains the entire time I’ve had my face soreness and tension headaches. The doctor and my masseuse have both said repeatedly that they’re interconnected. And my masseuse always says people who use computers all day come in with that same set of issues (esp. if your monitor setup isn’t ideal or you stare for too long). Apparently even using your mouse for extended periods can lead to neck stiffness - she could tell which hand I use by feeling my neck muscles.

Anyway, if you have neck/back tension I couldn’t recommend this thing higher - it has been a lifesaver - FIVE S Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager with Heat

I can empathize with having a severe and debilitating fear, because I have been there. Also like you, I am badly psychosomatic and this is something I still struggle with daily. I have had various health issues/focuses since I was young but the past few years have by far been the worst. I won't go into detail on what my problem is, but know that I also fear an undiagnosed or missed medical condition that may kill me suddenly. I too have been to the doctor, ER, and urgent care multiple times. And I too have been told there is nothing wrong with me.

These are the things I have done to try and help myself.

• Exercising. I began running about a year ago. I was out of shape and it was horrible but I am now able to run 3 miles 4 to 5 times per week. This has greatly helped me with my anxiety.
  
  
• Therapy. After years of knowing that I had a mental health issue, I finally said enough and found myself a therapist. He also referred me to a psychiatrist. Both of these individuals have had a positive impact on my life and have helped me cope with this disease.
  
  
• Books. The two that I recommend most for people like us are It's Not All in Your Head and Hope and Help for Your Nerves
  
  
• Meditation. The books I mentioned above discuss meditation. It's a simple thing to do and it takes a minimal amount of time each day. At first I felt it was silly, but it has truly helped me.
  
  You may have already tried all of these things without success, but I would give them another shot if you have. I felt hopeless, like you. There were days I feared even leaving my bed. I'm in graduate school, as I believe you are as well, and I know that we are both under a lot of stress and the expectations are high.
  
  We have over-analytical minds, which help and hurt us. I hope that this is helpful for you and please reach out to me if you ever need advice, need to vent, or just want to talk.
  
  Best wishes my friend.

I've had that strobe light EEG too! Isn't it so uncomfortable? If that didn't cause a seizure, then worrying definitely won't either. You'll be okay. In the meantime, you should read this book. It's really helpful

http://www.amazon.com/Worried-Sick-Exaggerated-Physical-Illness/dp/0981484344

So I know a lot about this. I've been dealing with acid reflux at night for 10+ years and I have a pretty good handle on it. So first of all, if you can sleep on your back, it's the best position for acid reflux and noticing palpitations. What works for me also is to create a wedge incline with several pillows so that my head is elevated above my stomach. I also drink Calm mixed with Benefiber and that helps to aid with digestion, especially heavy meals (I sometimes drink Kefir as well). What I've noticed over the years is that once my stomach empties, maybe 3-5 hours after eating, I can usually sleep however I want, but sometimes you just eat really late and it can't be helped (maybe eat a lighter meal is this instance). So basically, try not to lay down or at least sit upright until it's time for bed. The last advice is to try and avoid foods that you know bother your stomach, for instance, I know that I can eat Whole Wheat Bread, because I get horrible heartburn and reflux. Good luck.

Yep! There's an entire chapter about Health Anxiety OCD in "The OCD Workbook," which is one of the first books that my therapist recommended that I use early in my therapy. https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Obsessive-Compulsive-Harbinger-Self-Help/dp/1572249218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511722537&sr=8-1&keywords=the+ocd+workbook

For what it's worth, she also recommended the book "Coping with Anxiety" https://www.amazon.com/Coping-Anxiety-Simple-Relieve-Worry/dp/1626253854/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1511722618&sr=1-1

Acesulfame potassium doesn't have any known safety issues, so you shouldn't worry about that. Lighter color pee is generally just a sign that you're well hydrated. Obviously this is something that's causing you anxiety so what I would suggest is just alternating between the flavored water and regular water. Moderation is key.

For longer term solutions you could look at one of those water bottles that has a container/strainer section to put fruit/vegetables in so you can make your own flavored water. If the potential unknown effects of using the sweeteners daily is freaking you out then you can just cut that out. Here's an example

Honestly, if you're staying hydrated then your pee is going to be lighter colored, full stop. Urine health and sugar intake can be related but I would only suggest going to the doctor if you're diabetic, or if you're obese and potentially pre-diabetic (because obesity is strongly correlated with developing diabetes), or if you have had serious issues with your kidneys in the past. If none of those apply to you then just switch up your hydration habits and skip the doctor.

Is there anyway for you to see a therapist and be put on meds? It sounds like this could really help you if your health anxiety is this high. I wouldn't want anyone to live through this sort of stuff -- it's horrendous. I'm reading a book I found on Amazon about health anxiety that's helped me a LOT: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572248386/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1