Diabetes and Health Anxiety

[Damian1991]

Hi all,

I have been a long time reader of the forum but haven't yet posted anything.

As per the title, I was wondering if anybody here has experience with Diabetes and Health Anxiety. Those of you who have, what extent do/did you suffer from health anxiety and do you have any tips to manage or even overcome it?

I have been type 1 diabetic for 10 years since the age of 22, on Novorapid and Solostar. For the first 8 years my control was always in the low 50's hba1c, which I considered good. This was with finger prick testing alone.

Then I had a panic attack out of nowhere 1 day, no rhyme or reason to it, just happened. I had all the classic sysmptoms which I came to learn about. I didn't know what it was at the time and in the moment I quite literally thought I was dying. I managed to see a doctor within 30 mins of the episode and the white coat telling me it was 'just' a panic attack calmed me down and my immediate symptoms subsided. But then the real trouble started.

For the last 2 years I have been trapped down the health anxiety rabbit hole with a side order of type 1 diabetes to go along with it. They seem to feed off of each other. I feel consumed with constant thoughts of 'health' every single day, before with just the diabetes it was tolerable but since that first panic attack and what has since come with it, it is now all consuming. Whether it's something specifically to do with my diabetes like my BG level, which I have really struggled with during this time, or if it's somewhat unrelated such as an ache in my chest and thinking it's an imminent heart attack, I just can't seem to get away from thinking and obsessing about 'health' and symptoms. I have spoken with 2 therapists, 1 specifically who specialises in health anxiety but I never really got anything from the sessions. I regularly go on youtube and listen to people who have gone through this (just health anxiety) themselves which helps but the relief is short lived and reality kicks back in.

With regards to the health anxiety, I have had reassurances several times from doctors and tests, that always show I am fine, even with the bloodwork done with the hba1c and the eye exam. This never seems enough though, even if I have good days/weeks, the anxiety is constantly there at varying levels and constantly throws up new 'symptoms' for me to focus in on and obsess over. During this time I have had some amazing life moments happen, such as the birth of my 1st child in October and moving into a new house. The health anxiety/diabetes combo takes the shine off of these moments.

I was coincidentally given a libre 2 cgm 2 weeks after that 1st panic attack which I thought would really be a game changer for me, but it had the complete opposite effect probably due to the anxious state I was in. I stuck with the cgm for about a year and a half but had to take it out in the end as it was just feeding this health anxiety. Over a 7 day period, I worked out that i was scanning the sensor 42 times a day on average. Hearing the high glucose alarm was a particular downer for me. Since taking it out, I feel my levels have been better with just finger prick testing, but time will tell when I have my next hba1c I suppose.

Sorry for the long post, but as above, does anyone have experience with this diabetes/health anxiety combo? Do you have any tips to manage or even overcome it?

Thanks,
Damian

 

[Matt2023]

Hi Damian,

No need to apologize about the long post this is what it's here for to rant or to seek advice, that I am learning.

I hear you about health anxiety and some of the things you were saying in your post were familiar to me.

Mine started about five years ago when I started suffering from peripheral artery disease in my lower legs and the realization that diabetes, we'll catch up with you in the end and I am still relatively young at the age of 48.

I cannot say so that I have many anxiety attacks, but I have anxiety about many health issues that I am currently dealing with which are all related to the diabetes one way or the other. I accept it and live with it but there are times when I do get anxious about how my health will be in 10 years' time considering where I am already at the age of 48. Or if I am totally honest, if I will even still be alive.

The one time I nearly had an anxiety attack was actually when I was wearing a Libra sensor (So I could relate to this bit) and my sugars were dropping very quickly and I had obviously overdosed with insulin and I panicked because I could actually see it dropping, two arrows pointing down, alarms beeping, 4.5 mmol/L and seven units of quick acting insulin still working in my body.

What also does not help matters for me is that I find an anxiety attack and a hypo glycemia feel very similar in feelings and symptoms, the sweatiness, the color coming out of your face, the dizziness in your eyes, confusions and the very first time I had an anxiety attack I thought I was having a hypo. That anxiety attack happened straight after a car accident I was in. Not my fault I have add.

I wish I had an answer for you brother, but I just don't at this time. I personally just try and accept it that I am diabetic and that these health issues will come along, and I just need to deal with them as and when they arise, they're ugly head, money permitting of course.

Try also to look at your emotions when you are getting anxious about your health, try and take a step back and look at that anxious emotion and try and realize that it will pass as all emotions do. Emotions don't control you, you control the emotions and anxiety is an emotion. It's not easy to do at first but overtime it becomes easier. Also, the old paper bag trick does actually work so keep one handy laying around so if you feel anxious feeling coming on get that bag ready and start breathing deeply in and out into the paper bag. If no paper bag just breathe slowly in through the nose and out through the mouth and really try to concentrate on your breathing this should lower the anxious feeling at least enough to for you to realize what is happening and be able to take a step back from that emotion.

I wish you well in the future and I really truly hope that the anxious feelings subside.

 

[catinahat]

Have you tried mindfulness & meditation, you don't have to believe what you're chattering mind is telling you, anxiety is letting your mind run away with itself, making up stories of what might happen.
When I start to feel anxious I concentrate on my breath, that will stop your mind chattering, then I do a quick body scan, that helps me realise that right at this very moment, I'm fine, no immediate danger. If there is a problem a calm mind will find a solution.
If you believe the disaster movie your anxious mind is playing for you, your body will react as if its real, your heart beat will increase, fight or flight hormones will be released your blood sugar levels will rise.
Mindfulness and meditation gives you the tools to switch that movie off.

 

[wozey]

Yes I have experience with this, had to leave a good well paid job because I just couldn’t focus on the work. My big problem has always been doctor google and it’s also the reason I found my way here, people like us will always seek out reassurance from doctors the internet or friends but the effects of this are short lived and before you know it you’re down the next rabbit hole. Unfortunately no easy fix to this problem, Im on medication and also tried CBT but it didn’t seem to work. I started doing my blood sugar levels so much I used 25 strips in one day because I refused to trust the machine and my fingers were painful. That was only yesterday, I’m definitely struggling and I don’t have the answers right now but you’re definitely not alone. I think you’ve made progress because you’ve realised it’s the health anxiety talking and I think that’s probably the first step

 

[Prancy]

Damian, how are you doing? I just saw your post and could really relate. I’m going through health anxiety right now. And, I suffered several panic attacks many years ago, but haven’t had one since. My panic attacks started for no known reason. They are difficult to explain. You literally believe you are going to die. I was fortunate in my recovery. My worse panic attack sent me to the ER of a top trauma center. They could find nothing wrong, except my BG was a little elevated. I believed them and was elated I was healthy. I followed up with my primary. We discussed it being anxiety and she prescribed a med to take, ONLY if I needed it. She also sent me to a cardiologist to have a strsss test, just to rule that out and it was fine. I then read everything I could about dealing with panic attacks. A lot of entertainers suffer. I took tips from them. I read medical books about it. Armed with knowledge, I felt confident I could talk myself down, before it got too bad. I only took a couple of the pills. Eventually, I stopped keeping them with me. Eventually, I didn’t think about them anymore. I hope I never have another incident.

My health anxiety came upon me a few months ago when I suffered from a dental issue and some actual physical problems. (The kick is that I’ve actually gotten better BG control during this time) I’m doing really well, so I’m trying not to go down the rabbit hole over all kinds of things. My anxiety is not just health though, I’m also very anxious about some family matters and work. Tough decisions must be made. It’s definitely not fun. As I watch others laughing and talking about mundane things, I struggle to see how they can be so carefree. I feel like I’m in the fight of my life. I wonder if I just need a vacation.

I plan to seek counseling, start meditation and a workout routine next week. And, I’m exploring meds, though I don’t really want to take meds for anxiety. I would probably obsess about them and the side effects. Lol. I suspect there may be some genetic component to it. My mom has it really bad and she’s not diabetic.