Question:
Hi! I’m 42 yrs old. Running my own business. Suffered from panic attacks between 1990-1994. not so much now anymore. What is really costing me time, energy and money is my Hypocondria. Now that summer is coming up, I’m reading about black spots and fear Melanoma. I have visited a few dermatologists and they tell me not to worry. My small black spots are nothing malignant they say and they have not changed. Nevertheless there’s a irrational part of my brain that gets gravitated towards all info about melanoma. I get anxiety and look through a redaing glass on my spots etc. etc. Then I get tensed and feel pain in my chest muscles etc. etc…. Anyone out there who knows how obtain good info about how to get rid of Hypocondria. It’s very energy consuming and it takes too much of my life today. Thanks in advance for your support! John (living in Scandinavia)
Response:
: What is really costing me time, energy : and money is my Hypocondria. Now that summer is coming up, I’m reading : about black spots and fear Melanoma. I have visited a few dermatologists and : they tell me not to worry. My small black spots are nothing malignant they say : and they have not changed. Nevertheless there’s a irrational part of my brain : that gets gravitated towards all info about melanoma. I get anxiety and look : through a redaing glass on my spots etc. etc. Then I get tensed and feel pain : in my chest muscles etc. etc…. John, I wish I could help you with the hypochondria. Among all the other symptoms of panic disorder I’ve had, that hasn’t been one of them, although I haven’t really *tried* yet! <g Have you tried "paradoxical thinking"? That’s when you *think* you’re sick, you try to really, really, really convince yourself that you *are* sick. If you push yourself hard enough, you might find all the anxiety going away. It’s occasionally worked for me with panic attacks. Perhaps I could help calm you down a bit — because I *am* at high risk for melanoma, and have known that since I was a teenager, when my mother was diagnosed with it 18 years ago (and she’s *fine* today). As long as you’ve been looked over by dermatologists twice a year, check yourself once a month, and wear a really good sunscreen when you go out, you should be just fine. You’ve done *everything* you can, and even if — God forbid — you *should* have a melanoma, you’ll have caught it *so* early that it won’t be a problem to treat. And perhaps it might help you to know that what you consider hypochondriac behavior is merely rote for me — I do have semi-annual check-ups by my doctor, monthly self-checks (and my mother and I check each other), and wear an spf-50 sunscreen when I spend time in the sun. Humor helps a bit too. I’m rather fond of saying that if my moles ever got *really* organized, I’d be black. <g Take care and stay calm, Myra
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i understand. the only thing i ever panic about is the possiblility that i might be suffering from a disease. any symptom sends me into a panic. it pretty much controls my life, and nothing has helped. i also have an obsessive fear of throwing up. : Hi! : I’m 42 yrs old. Running my own business. Suffered from panic attacks between : 1990-1994. not so much now anymore. What is really costing me time, energy : and money is my Hypocondria. Now that summer is coming up, I’m reading : about black spots and fear Melanoma. I have visited a few dermatologists and : they tell me not to worry. My small black spots are nothing malignant they say : and they have not changed. Nevertheless there’s a irrational part of my brain : that gets gravitated towards all info about melanoma. I get anxiety and look : through a redaing glass on my spots etc. etc. Then I get tensed and feel pain : in my chest muscles etc. etc…. Anyone out there who knows how obtain good : info about how to get rid of Hypocondria. It’s very energy consuming and it : takes too much of my life today. : : Thanks in advance for your support! : John (living in Scandinavia) : If you’re REALLY concerned (and I think you are), insist that they : biopsy one of your `black spots’. Ask for a copy of the pathologist’s : report. : Unless you have years of experience looking at black spots, you won’t : be able to discern anything from visual examination with a reading : glass. But you can measure their diameter, and follow-up with routine : measurements (every month or so). If they don’t grow, you don’t have : a problem. And even if they do, chances are good that they won’t be : malignant melanoma, and you could be treated successfully with : surgical excision, or cryotherapy, or lasers, etc. : Malignant melanoma is quite rare, accounting for less than 5% of all : malignancies, I think. If you are afraid of tumors in general, you do : have more to worry about, but not any more than the rest of us. Keep : in mind that you are only fearing the potential of getting a disease. : When you think of fearing something because of its potential, try to : remember that really anything is possible. Some things have greater : probability of happening, but until they actually HAVE happened, you : are worrying about nothing but the potential. : You probably know that it’s possible to prevent the likelihood of : cancer risk by altering your diet and by exercise — it’s all pretty : much common sense — don’t eat too much fat, get plenty of fiber, and : eat foods high in vitamins A, C, and E. And exercise for 20 minutes : at least three times a week. Not only will you be reducing cancer : risk, you’ll feel better in general. : Hope this helps. Look for more concrete things to worry about — that : should take the edge of your hypochondria a little bit. : Greg : — : he: maybe you ate something : she: but I eat every day
You may not have panic disorder but Hypocondriasis which many experts now believe to be closly related to Obsessive compulsive disorder. It may well respond to the same treatments as OCD which include antidepressants that affect serotonin reuptake and cognitive behavioral therapy. — Jim Claiborn Ph.D. ABPP This is a test, only a test. If this had been your real life you would have been given instructions on where to go and what to do.
Response:
i understand. the only thing i ever panic about is the possiblility that i might be suffering from a disease. any symptom sends me into a panic. it pretty much controls my life, and nothing has helped. i also have an obsessive fear of throwing up. : Hi! : I’m 42 yrs old. Running my own business. Suffered from panic attacks between : 1990-1994. not so much now anymore. What is really costing me time, energy : and money is my Hypocondria. Now that summer is coming up, I’m reading : about black spots and fear Melanoma. I have visited a few dermatologists and : they tell me not to worry. My small black spots are nothing malignant they say : and they have not changed. Nevertheless there’s a irrational part of my brain : that gets gravitated towards all info about melanoma. I get anxiety and look : through a redaing glass on my spots etc. etc. Then I get tensed and feel pain : in my chest muscles etc. etc…. Anyone out there who knows how obtain good : info about how to get rid of Hypocondria. It’s very energy consuming and it : takes too much of my life today. : : Thanks in advance for your support! : John (living in Scandinavia) : If you’re REALLY concerned (and I think you are), insist that they : biopsy one of your `black spots’. Ask for a copy of the pathologist’s : report. : Unless you have years of experience looking at black spots, you won’t : be able to discern anything from visual examination with a reading : glass. But you can measure their diameter, and follow-up with routine : measurements (every month or so). If they don’t grow, you don’t have : a problem. And even if they do, chances are good that they won’t be : malignant melanoma, and you could be treated successfully with : surgical excision, or cryotherapy, or lasers, etc. : Malignant melanoma is quite rare, accounting for less than 5% of all : malignancies, I think. If you are afraid of tumors in general, you do : have more to worry about, but not any more than the rest of us. Keep : in mind that you are only fearing the potential of getting a disease. : When you think of fearing something because of its potential, try to : remember that really anything is possible. Some things have greater : probability of happening, but until they actually HAVE happened, you : are worrying about nothing but the potential. : You probably know that it’s possible to prevent the likelihood of : cancer risk by altering your diet and by exercise — it’s all pretty : much common sense — don’t eat too much fat, get plenty of fiber, and : eat foods high in vitamins A, C, and E. And exercise for 20 minutes : at least three times a week. Not only will you be reducing cancer : risk, you’ll feel better in general. : Hope this helps. Look for more concrete things to worry about — that : should take the edge of your hypochondria a little bit. : Greg : — : he: maybe you ate something : she: but I eat every day
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi! I’m 42 yrs old. Running my own business. Suffered from panic attacks between 1990-1994. not so much now anymore. What is really costing me time, energy and money is my Hypocondria. Now that summer is coming up, I’m reading about black spots and fear Melanoma. Melanoma is fairly slow to develop. My father in law spent years and years out in the sun and refused for years to go to a doctor when strange spots appeared. He finally did go and sure enough the spots were cancereous. But, despite his delays, they just burnt the spots off and he went right out in the sun gardening again. As long as you get regular checkups, your spots won’t kill you. Have you spent tons of time in the sun? Not in Scandinavia I bet!
<rest snipped to save bandwidth Gary, You can’t generalize about melanomas, because there are several types. First of all, there is lentigo maligna melanoma, which is characterized by a long period of development, and is the most benign of the cutaneous melanomas. Then there is superficial spreading melanoma, accounting for approximately 70% of all cutaneous melanomas. Third, there’s nodular melanoma, which is the most malignant type. These lesions develop quickly. There is one other type called acral lentiginous melanoma, which is worse in prognosis than superficial spreading melanoma but not as severe as nodular melanoma. Melanomas indeed pose serious health risks, and shouldn’t be summarily dismissed with a statement such as, "Melanomas is fairly slow to develop." As you can see, there are several types, and the prognosis depends on the type. Of course, it’s not healthy to be obsessed with melanomas, and regular checkups should assuage any fears the previous poster may have regarding melanomas. Andre – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Gary
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi! I’m 42 yrs old. Running my own business. Suffered from panic attacks between 1990-1994. not so much now anymore. What is really costing me time, energy and money is my Hypocondria. Now that summer is coming up, I’m reading about black spots and fear Melanoma. I have visited a few dermatologists and they tell me not to worry. My small black spots are nothing malignant they say and they have not changed. Nevertheless there’s a irrational part of my brain that gets gravitated towards all info about melanoma. I get anxiety and look through a redaing glass on my spots etc. etc. Then I get tensed and feel pain in my chest muscles etc. etc…. Anyone out there who knows how obtain good info about how to get rid of Hypocondria. It’s very energy consuming and it takes too much of my life today. Thanks in advance for your support! John (living in Scandinavia)
If you’re REALLY concerned (and I think you are), insist that they biopsy one of your `black spots’. Ask for a copy of the pathologist’s report. Unless you have years of experience looking at black spots, you won’t be able to discern anything from visual examination with a reading glass. But you can measure their diameter, and follow-up with routine measurements (every month or so). If they don’t grow, you don’t have a problem. And even if they do, chances are good that they won’t be malignant melanoma, and you could be treated successfully with surgical excision, or cryotherapy, or lasers, etc. Malignant melanoma is quite rare, accounting for less than 5% of all malignancies, I think. If you are afraid of tumors in general, you do have more to worry about, but not any more than the rest of us. Keep in mind that you are only fearing the potential of getting a disease. When you think of fearing something because of its potential, try to remember that really anything is possible. Some things have greater probability of happening, but until they actually HAVE happened, you are worrying about nothing but the potential. You probably know that it’s possible to prevent the likelihood of cancer risk by altering your diet and by exercise — it’s all pretty much common sense — don’t eat too much fat, get plenty of fiber, and eat foods high in vitamins A, C, and E. And exercise for 20 minutes at least three times a week. Not only will you be reducing cancer risk, you’ll feel better in general. Hope this helps. Look for more concrete things to worry about — that should take the edge of your hypochondria a little bit. Greg — he: maybe you ate something she: but I eat every day
Response:
Hi! I’m 42 yrs old. Running my own business. Suffered from panic attacks between 1990-1994. not so much now anymore. What is really costing me time, energy and money is my Hypocondria. Now that summer is coming up, I’m reading about black spots and fear Melanoma.
Melanoma is fairly slow to develop. My father in law spent years and years out in the sun and refused for years to go to a doctor when strange spots appeared. He finally did go and sure enough the spots were cancereous. But, despite his delays, they just burnt the spots off and he went right out in the sun gardening again. As long as you get regular checkups, your spots won’t kill you. Have you spent tons of time in the sun? Not in Scandinavia I bet! Generally, IMHO, irrational fears are best eliminated through desensitization. But how to desensitize to hypocondria? By visualization and writing it out. Try writing out your deepest fears about sickness. How that one little missed spot behind your big toe spreads until they have to chop off your leg… but too late! It infests all your organs and you die the most horrible death ever died. You’ll be on the right track if this writing out induces anxiety. Then do this once or twice a day over 3 weeks, slowly exaggerating things to the point of absurdity and humor. This will tend to bore or laugh the fear out of you. Prudently get annual checkups, but cause yourself not to examine your spots for 3-6 weeks. You are in control of your muscles. Cause your eyes not to gaze on your spots, especially during the period where you are writing out just how horrible and infested you’ll be. Do the above process with any new disease you might think you have. Don’t fight your fear, accept it and face it as above. Take the attitude that "I’ll get around to dying later, and it will be most horrible, but for the next month or so, I’m going to enjoy before the cruel and bitter end". This worked for me, give it a real shot for 6 weeks and see for yourself. Gary
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