I thought I'd bring this topic up for discussion.

Recently, there have been several posters asking about symptoms of OC and expressing fear concerning cancer. This is totally natural and understandable. We all went through a period of worry and anxiety when we were in the diagnostic stages of our cancer.

However, when anxiety reaches a level of fiction, it takes on another form. Hypochondria, or health anxiety is a mental illness that affects more people than we realize. It can be and is debilitating to many people.

The definition is: A state in which a person continuously worries about their health, even when they are not ill.

My understanding of health anxiety is that there are possibly symptoms, sometimes unexplained, that affect an individual to the point that they end up blowing their symptoms out of proportion and beyond the state of average common sense and realism.

While certainly there is a chance that a person really does suffer from a disease, chances are it's not what they fear it is. Defying logic, the individual convinces themselves that they are affected with a certain disease (most often deadly) and seeks confirmation from the medical field. Making matters worse, they Google the symptoms, further convincing themselves of their self diagnosis adding to their fear and anxiety. Again, it's not unusual to do so. Personally, when it was highly probable I had cancer, I did the same thing and scared the hell out of myself. It's when it goes beyond common reason and sense that it becomes a different animal.

Personally for me, I find it difficult to wrap my mind around this. But then I find it difficult to truly understand mental illness in general. Having suffered from some mild depression after my heart surgery, I do have an understanding of that malady but beyond the basic dysfunction it caused, I was not severely affected. Severe depression, OCD, bi-polar etc. are illnesses I've seen and experienced in others but not experienced myself. Even at that I struggle to truly grasp it.

Suffice it to say, we all experienced a period of darkness upon our diagnosis and subsequent self diagnosis from Dr. Google. Most often than not however, our common sense takes over and we learn to deal with our illness in a way that is positive and constructive. Yes, we always have that "boogie man" in the back of our minds, but I would venture to say that most here cope rather well with it. We experience anxiety when being tested and upon follow up appointments and scans and sometimes an ache or pain sends us down the negativity path but most often than not our common sense and often times a doctor's "all clear" takes care of it. There are times however, when we cannot pull ourselves out of the path and that's when we need to recognize the symptoms.

For someone suffering from severe health anxiety, no amount of logic or negative test results alleviate the anxiety and panic that occurs. It's something we as survivors should be aware of as it can and does affect us too. It can affect those around us as well.

So it brings up the question. How do we recognize and deal with it ourselves and how do we recognize and deal with someone who has it? Obviously, seeking help from a mental health professional that's familiar with health anxiety as well as psychotropic drugs can help treat it but beyond that, what can we do to help ourselves and more importantly, help others?...especially in a forum such as this...

The floor is open....

"T"

To relieve anxiety or depression, it's important to realize that it is a slow process of taking small steps towards making progress in getting out of the hole that you are in before it closes in around you. We can't say "cheer up" and expect it to be instantly better. Some suggestions I've seen here when the "what-ifs" attack are:
- Keep busy
- Give them a time limit, then substitute with a positive thought
- Deep breathing
- Meditation
-Mantra (repeat a positive phrase i.e. "I'm getting better and people like me")
- Help someone else
-Volunteer someplace
-Laugh therapy (check hospitals for groups)
- Write down thoughts which releases them from the brain for a time
-Get a pet to care for or borrow neighbor's dog and walk it
-Put one foot in front of the other (literally) or, if you are lying down -
-Put one foot on the floor and congratulate yourself for the progress.
- Do exercises that increase blood flow to the brain
-Go shopping
-Get out of the house, go out with friends.
-Check w/doctor re anxiety meds or therapy
-Ask positive people for suggestions and hope
-Fake it 'til you make it (i.e. "The Little Engine that Could")

Head and Neck cancer has one of the highest rates of depression, compared to other cancers, and the 4th or 5th highest rate of suicide in cancer. To add to Ann-Marie's list, get wished every day, maintain personal hygiene, listening to music, exercise, reading, doing your favorite activity, visualization, join a support group.

1) Laughter Therapy is supposed to be very beneficial. One of the hospital waiting rooms where my son had to go for appointments had a little sign on the receptionist's desk that said "Laughter Therapy Group" but when I suggested to Paul that it might help if we both went, he said No, he didn't feel like laughing. Each time we got there, and I saw the sign I kept asking him to go and he said, No, you go if you want to. After several several appointments when Paul continued to refuse, I decided I would go and I boldly walked up to the receptionist and said, I would like to join the laughter therapy group. She informed me they had cancelled it. I was crushed. And I guessed nobody felt like laughing. What a bummer. But later, it seemed ironically funny.

2) I was trying to find something funny I had read about Rad Tx in Cure magazine. I didn't find it, but I did find this which my notes tell me was submitted by Brian, our Founder:

<<Last night, my wife and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine, and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." She got up, unplugged the TV and threw out my beer......>>

3) In my previous post above, the second to the last item, just above "Fake it". . . should have read:
"-Check with OCF for suggestions and hope". Don't know how that happened. I suppose I cannot blame it on predictive text.

The more I've researched and read about anxiety and specifically health anxiety, the more I realize there's probably nothing I/we can do for an individual suffering this crippling malady. As I read posts on forums and watch videos pertaining to it, it just makes me sad.

It truly is a mind boggling anomaly of the mind. Perhaps, for me, it would be best to refrain from trying to help and just offer a kind word and good luck.

As for dealing with anxiety on a personal level, the suggestions offered certainly are valuable. I guess for me, having faced my demise three times in the last 6 years, I'm Ok with things. I know the score. When I was in distress with my first heart attack in the ER, I felt myself losing it. The experience was tunnel vision and the next thing I knew I was awake with an oxygen mask on my face and a couple of IVs dripping fluid into me. My life didn't flash before my eyes and there was no recollection of anything other than the lights going out. There was also no fear. It was just an "Oh Sh*t" moment. And now?... other than a few night before jitters with the scan and scopes, I'm Ok with whatever God has in store for me.


"T"

Very informative information in your post, Anne Marie.

I agree with you T, there was absolutely nothing anyone could do for me a few weeks ago. I just snapped out of it one day. Crazy part for me is I have not even started radiation, It's just all this prep before hand. Yes, it's crippling and very sad.

Yes ngk,

The time it takes to put all the pieces in place is the opportune time for the mind to wander to the dark places. I admit, mine did to an extent.

However, once I started treatments, between the treatments themselves, all the doctors appointments, schedules for taking medications, checking this, that and the other, there wasn't time to dwell on anything else. You're focused on getting through the battle alive.

Tell you what... once you get through treatment, you'll have a new perspective on life I assure you. If you can face the beast and walk away, you can conquer anything, including anxiety.

Positive thoughts and prayers!

"T"

Dealing with anxiety is very personal and unique. There are so many factors involved with a person's ability to cope with anxiety that derive from all facets of one's life.

Past traumas which force one to face and deal with anxiety, one's natural disposition: some are more able to handle stress and ambiguity than others, support from friends and families, previous treatment and medication experiences, past experience and familiarity with the life event creating the current anxiety event, etc.

Much like us with HNC, we have have the same diagnosis and treatment yet our reactions can be vastly different. In that respect, one needs to learn what tools, techniques, and therapies work for others than self-discover those which might help and also then seek professional expertise if unable to resolve the anxiety oneself. don

As for me, I always tried to keep the battle in perspective. I have been otherwise healthy, and blessed with amazing family and friends. I can see a sunset, hear a beautiful pieces of music, get down on the dance floor, not worry about my next meal, etc.. There are many people in the world who are not that lucky. So, if this was my hill to climb, so be it. I'd climb it, and come down the other side, and well, if there's another hill, I'll climb that one too...