Health Anxiety

Health anxiety is fear and concern with the belief that one has, or is in danger of developing, a serious illness or an additional illness.

Many people who have lifelong health issues can experience Health Anxiety or other types of anxiety. For me, anxiety has been something I have dealt with for the past 10+ years. I do not hide the fact that I am an anxious person and take medicine to help me manage it on a day-to-day basis. There are times when medication and coping skills are not enough for me, and the anxiety can create some challenges.

I recently met some people for lunch a few blocks from the Birmingham Medical Center. As I left, I drove through the Medical Center on my route home. I felt concerned, knowing how many nights I had spent within the walls of the hospital, the many surgeries I had experienced, and the multitude of diagnostic tests that I had had. It did not help that I had some procedures and tests scheduled for the coming weeks. These times are always stressful.

There have been times when I thought I was doing very well, but the tests proved otherwise. This can be very challenging as my health conditions do not become symptomatic very often. Now, every time I walk through the doors of the hospital, I wonder if I will be able to walk out of them. This is not easy for me.

For whatever reason, many of us try to downplay when we are not okay and normalize it. Over the past decade, I have realized that it is okay to be not okay (thank you, Jelly Roll).

If you are like me in these situations, please know you are not alone. When I need to calm my mind and the things around me, I lie on the floor and look at the ceiling. You may ask, ‘Why would you do that?’ Simple when you look at the ceiling, it is simple. There is little clutter (maybe a ceiling fan and lights), and it is quiet. This calms me, and it may be a good tool for you to try.

Even with the anxiety, I can still find some hope to move forward, love to give, and gratefulness for the people I get to love.

Let’s connect!