I've been under a bit of stress lately, and I've found myself being particularly sensitive to changes in my body, worrying if I'm coming down with something serious if I'm not feeling well.
I'm actually young, in my mid-twenties, with no serious personal or family history of illness, and my grandparents and grandma and grandpa are all in pretty good health.
But when my mom had a minor surgery last year for menopause, I was constantly afraid that I would get sick too, and I often scared myself, and this anxiety pops up every now and then, and I really don't know how to cope with it.
Hi. - Hi! First of all, I'll give you a warm hug through the air. I'm so glad to see you share and I hope my tips give you some support. It's an especially great step for you to be aware of your over-anxiety and reach out for help.
Now that you realize that worrying is a bit much, it's good to embrace the emotion and then slowly become aware of the real needs behind it - such as wanting your family and yourself to be healthy, craving more companionship, or wanting to give more to your family.
When health is a common goal, you can start with what you can do, such as adopting good habits of regular work and rest, and eating a balanced diet.
Try progressive relaxation or systematic desensitization to confront your panic-inducing "sick thoughts" until you are no longer led by fear.
With practice you'll find that you're capable of coping even if something goes wrong with your health; and developing good habits early on reduces the risk even more dramatically. Right?
Occasional minor illnesses are actually the body's way of regulating itself and also activating the immune system to make it stronger.
I'm Lilly the Answer House Little Ears, the world and I love you.