How to Stop Your Excessive Health Worrying

Over the last two months, I have experienced a lot of fear. I was facing problems in succession, one after another, without a break. Due to my inability to understand my medical situation, I was experiencing a lot of anxiety. People always say that I run to the doctor for “small problems,” but this was no small issue. I felt utterly alone, drowning in a pool of my own problems, without anyone to help. As time passed, I realized I couldn't control the situation anymore. I didn't want to live in depression and fear any longer, despite my difficult circumstances. How did I manage to overcome this emotional hurdle? I'll show you some ways you can stop excessive worrying when life has got you down. 

When my health problems began, I noticed my mental health collapsing as well. My motivation was gone. There was nothing I wanted to do. I just wanted to lay in bed and sleep; everything seemed dark and lonely to me. I felt like nobody understood me or even cared about what I was enduring. It was an isolating battle. Every time I brought this up with someone, they either assumed I was overreacting or tried to help me figure out what the real problem was. Friends and family were always telling me to stop doing this or that in order to have a better life going forward. I feared running to yet another doctor because I was afraid of what people would think of me. After about two or three weeks of worrying, I knew it was time to get up and start moving again, to take action to improve my life. 

I had a specific medical health problem. My aim was to self-medicate and use Google in order to find out what was wrong with me. Please learn from my mistakes: you should never search for health information on Google. It will only multiply your worries by a million! If you think about going on Google, turn off your phone and fight the urge. You could go to an urgent care facility or find a doctor online to do a telehealth visit if you are really concerned, and want answers right away. Even so, telehealth or urgent care may not be able to provide you with all the answers right away. They can, however, recommend a path forward for your problem until you see a professional or specialist. Compared to finding the answers on Google, they definitely will do a better job! 

When you start to feel worried about your health, I recommend taking a deep breath. I know, it’s a common tactic, but it really works. You can relax your mind by closing your eyes, and following the movement of your breath sounds. Repeat affirming mantras in your mind: I am here. I am alive. I am breathing. I am safe at this moment. 

When things go wrong, consider activities and people that make you happy and help you stay calm. Are you a reader? Do you write to get your mind off the world? When you are having a hard time, is there a TV show that brings you joy? Is there a best friend who always helps you laugh away your worries? If you know there is nothing you can do to immediately solve your medical problem, you should use one of your outlets to keep yourself from ruminating. Worrying does nothing but make things worse, as you play out every possible negative scenario. 

Nobody has all the answers. It might even take time for doctors and medical professionals to truly come up with the right answers for your situation. Finding peace through your struggles is the best self-medication. Take a walk. Visit your best friend. Have a date with your partner. You should do whatever makes you happy and brings you joy, so you don't live life in the anxiety of “what if.”  This doesn’t mean to neglect your health. Always advocate for your needs and concerns. However, in the meantime, make sure you are living life, and embracing every moment, and of course… staying off of Google!

Written by: Audre Arnett