My BEST advice as a health anxiety therapist

Anyone else also too scared to actually go to the doctors? Because your soo convinced they’re finally going to tell you your dying or there is something serious .. but I seek assurance everywhere else . My poor partner , has to deal with it on a daily basis

Going insane with health anxiety and it brought me here. I wish to feel normal.

It’s just so scary and so draining because you feel like if you don’t do anything you’ll lose your life and if you find out you have something and chose to ignore it because you thought it was anxiety that you’ll forever be angry towards yourself. It’s a constant struggle man.

"addicted to problem-solving". this explains so much when trying to understand my adult child with health anxiety.

This video made me cry 😭 I’m in the trenches with health anxiety right now. Thanks. This helps.

'Addicted to problem solving'. She had me instantly.

it feels like it never is the right moment to start putting an end to the worry because i always tell myself that though i was wrong concerning all my previous fears, this time i am right and it feels real, and ignoring it will cause regret in the future

what hurts the most is that somewhere inside me knows i’m ok. because i am ok. there’s always something else that i think and then that fear goes away and another one comes. i start thinking about the worst scenarios, like what if i have some deadly thing. yk, im just not gonna say it. i know that im physically ok, but mentally im broken. i’m trying to fix this anxiety, its so exhausting.

My jaw dropped and I teared up when you talked about your neurological symptoms because I have literally been struggling with the same exact symptoms since January. I had no idea anxiety could manifest symptoms like this. I literally was tested for MS, had an MRI, thinking it was my endometriosis, I had no idea what was happening. But the Health Anxiety is such a struggle for me for the last 8 years now and I RARELY hear it talked about seriously and you do it with such hope and compassion. You have no idea how grateful I am for this video and a glimpse of your story.

I never thought anyone could relate to me and how severe my health anxiety is until I came across this video. I found so much comfort in this and like I’m not alone thank you for this❤❤

I have struggled with mental illness and my mental health since I was a kid. Before I even knew what those terms were. After years of depression, anxiety, and even an attempt to take my life, I never thought I would be able to live without psych medications. I clung to them because it was the only thing that made my mind quiet, but it also made me a zombie. Microdosing has given me control of my mental health for the first time, and they essentially gave me my life back.

The worst part is that I know you're probably right. There's nothing serious going on with me. Everything is under control, except me. But I just cannot stop. Not even with help. Like you said in another video, I feel like I'm dying everyday and that the end is near. I just want to stop feeling like this and move on with my life, but I'm so afraid...

It started off so small and I have no idea how it’s spiraled this far. I just want to not be constantly worried for my health anymore, it literally just feels so miserable. The major problem is the fact that I don’t even realize it’s my anxiety, and I have no way of telling myself that it’s just my anxiety kicking in. Thank you for this video though, it genuinely helps to know I’m not the only person who’s dealt with this kind of thing.

I have just recently realized that I have health anxiety. I always thought that my research was my way “having control.” Now I know that it has the opposite effect. Your analogy of standing on a broken leg is brilliant. I am working on mindfulness of my body sensations, and to NOT fall back into the obsessive behavior…no health tracking devices, no google. I am only 48 hours into the process, and I already feel better.

Thank you for the clarity.

Thanks for this. I found you and you make a lot of sense.

Just watched some of your vidros i cant believe i have so much of what you have said i need to get on top of this thankyou so much x

I’ve gone through this for the first time in my life. And damn did it hit me really hard. I was feeling strange feelings at first and thought it was my heart. 3 EKG’s, a pulmonologist , blood test, heart monitor, primary doctor, all of it later, and it still came back. It’s anxiety. Yesterday I had a tingling by my temple and now I’m worried about it and googled it and saw aneurysm stuff and it never ends. Ever. Until we face it. Anxiety has roots in our subconscious. And it leads to living in fear ultimately. And suffering isn’t meant to be the way to live. And we know that, right? Whether it be the fear of death, exhaustion, things going on in life, etc. but it has to stop. We have to rest our minds and bodies. We deserve better. And most importantly, give it all to God. Do what you have to do for your self . It comes and goes, and I’m still fighting it. But your not alone. Keep fighting. And give it to God no matter what. 🙏💪

thank you so much. youre amazing this video truly hit home and your delivery was great, also sharing your symptoms was very helpful. i am going to watch this whenever i need a reminder! subscribed

Thank you this is really calming. I googled problems I had with sleeping and what I found was scary.

Thanks i feel much calmer god bless you for taking the time to explain to us i have health anxiety

This was so helpful, thank you so much for all of this! Do you have any tips on dealing with having health problems (like a rash, a chalazion etc) that you actually have and you’re afraid of not going away and becoming permanent?

that is so true Cherelle, thanks for posting this. Went for routine blood test and liver enzyme was high side. My problem solving kicked into action spiralled me into black hole for the week, just recovering from it today. you are right about neuro signs, i had the same crawley spirally experience on my head, A&E doc looked at my wife and started shaking his head..My legs are jelly right now as i thought i was having heart attack couple of nights ago

I want to thank you deeply for this!

Hard to swallow, but soooo necessary to hear! Thank you.

Thank you so much for sharing your story gives me the strength to endure my symptoms. I will follow your advice. I’ve been praying to god to find someone I could identify with and that is you. God bless you.

Best and most important video I have watched...thank you and God Bless you

One of the best channels and you are to the poin don’t stop posting

Thank you. I needed to hear this

No way. You described everything that happens to me. This is crazy!!!! And it’s so true about problem solving. I feel so seen! I’m watching this video with tears in my eyes.

So so helpful, thank you!

If we continue to problem solve , we drive ourselves insane “. So true 💯😢

This made me cry thank you for this advice. I’m grateful it is only anxiety and I am ready to let go of it .. or at least begin learning how to 🙏🏼

Thank you for your understanding and sharing. Your tips are helping refresh the knowledge and behaviours.

Thank you so much for what you do you are fantastic.

Thank you so much for all your help. Honestly, my brain switch has flicked, and I am starting to see that everything that I am feeling is due to anxiety and non-stop problem solving! I know it will not be easy to recover, but I will start to accept my symptoms, and just take it one day at a time. I really do not know where I would be now if I have not discovered your channel, because my health anxiety had been spiriling out of control, and there is no advice out there that I could find like yours on how to tackle the problems that come with it.

I have been suddenly struggling with this for the last 3 weeks. I have been to Emergency twice for 8 hours each time. I have also been to my Dr. I have had CT scans on my head, chest, and abdomen certain I had cancer. Nope all clear. Full blood panel including all organ functions and inflammatory response. All perfect. EKG perfect. Blood pressure…perfect. All drs said I am in pristine medical condition. The crazy thing is I think they are all wrong. I do not understand why this happened to me….I am devastated by it.

Dealing with this for a long time. Yesterday i was looking in the mirror and i noticed a lump in my throat and i know that it's because of cold that i am suffering for some days now but i couldn't convince myself and started thinking that i might have cancer and i just couldn't control my mind and the next second i started getting dizzy couldn't see anything properly, my ears were ringing , my body went numb and there was so much sweat. I thought I'm going to pass out. I sat down and focused on my breath. It lasted for few minutes. I don't know if it was anxiety attack or what i have never experienced this before. It was terrifying.

I started my KZhead channel to reduce my stress and anxiety. It helped me a little bit but I am always worried about my families and my health 😢 This video is making me realize that most of my symptoms would be from anxiety only. Thank you ❤

Dear Cherelle, I really think this is wonderful. Thank you for this lovely video. This has really helped me. All my best wishes Andy.

I had health anxiety when my toddler had a fever, from then on, with just a simple cough on day 1 I will get him checked directly. and with myself, I had undergone CT-scan and blood works because I thought I have kidney disease. and up to this day, even the slightest change in my sons behavior or movement or anything I always try to "problem solve" and there I go spiralling down again, not wanting to eat, not wanting to sleep because I just wanna make sure my son is comfortable, and it affects my health, then Ill go "problem solving" again with my sickness and its just a continuous loop! I am so glad I found this video, its so very helpful. thank you so much.

Thank you. I’m glad to know I am not alone. My daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021. She’s better now but, it was so traumatic seeing as it was the second time. So now going to the doctor and they tell me things I go from zero to one hundred. I’m literally having panic attacks. I’m so thankful to fall across this video.

I love you. Thank you for this.

Thank you so much for sharing this, there’s there health and then the anxiety- you do not get the support or compassion for for this aspect of suffering which leads to more isolation. It should be no different than any other disorder, no one wants this. Glad to hear you’ve had success and recovery.

Omg I really need this. You should start a podcast!!

I Thank you for your life path that lead you here- and for mine that lead me to your videos. I am on the road to recovery and you are an inspiration. I hope you truly know, everything you’ve been through is not in vain , but allowed you to be of a wonderful help to others that you otherwise may not have been able to be. I hope I will be in that position some day too. ❤😊

Thank you for making this video. I have suffered from health anxiety for half my life but had never considered how significant problem solving can be in sustaining this disorder. I feel that what makes health anxiety so unique and challenging from other types of anxiety is that it's so hard to accept that health anxiety is what is happening when in the midst of panic and with tunnel vision. We know we have this problem but it's like it can only be recognised retrospectively. I wonder what your take on this might be. Thanks

My first time here...this video was so helpful to me 😢🙏...I've been suffering with anxiety for several years 😢...and happy 2024🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Lovely video, thank you so much. The moment i stopped googling, seeking reassurance and screening and checking my body, my symptoms went away - there are no heart palpitations etc. Stay strong

This was so helpful. Thank you for explaining it in the way that you did. I will definitely consciously work on fighting the urge to problem solve for small things happening in our body that go away after some days. Thanks! This is actually making a difference in the world.

Thank you so much for this video

Thank you so much for making me I’m not alone. I’m 21 and have been struggling with Health anxiety since I was 16. It’s so consuming

Im having tingling sensations in my legs and feet and all through my body. Even when i touch myself i get tingling. Keep thinking and looking from answers its from a fall i had but have had tests and doctors are saying anxiety but i cant belive it is either. Im going for a councelling session to try and understand these feelings. I am doing excatly what you are saying. Thankyou for these videos. Brings me some hope.

I really needed this video. I, too, have such a hard time believing all the symptoms could really be caused by anxiety. It feels impossible. And yet there is a lot of evidence pointing to that being the truth, because doctors haven't found anything wrong with me. And I see that I have had a "problem-solving" habit my whole life!

You have no idea how these videos ( and you talking about health anxiety ) have LEGITIMATELY helped me and hundreds (if not thousands) of us!! I keep coming back to your channel every once in a while, and especially when anxiety seems to be getting a bit ahead of me. THANK YOU SO MUCH :”)

Your advice in this video really resonated with me, problem solving is exactly what I try to do constantly. I think it’s because my logic says if you can work out what’s wrong I may be able to solve it and not continue to suffer. Unfortunately the stress and anxiety that causes actually makes things worse. I do though struggle at times to differentiate between symptoms that are caused by anxiety and those that are genuinely related to the chronic health conditions I have. I am going to try to sit with my symptoms though instead of immediately needing to either seek help from a doctor or google.

Great video, thanks for sharing 🙏🏼

I am getting better… I’d say 75% better than 2 years ago when this first got out of control. That being said , a dizzy spell, a chest ache, etc….can send me back into the fear. I don’t google but it stops me from feeling like I am ok. I appreciate the “problem solving” explanation. I see it now, I get that. That helps.

I appreciate your videos 💚💚

Listen to this woman!!! She has been there. I remember she was the only solace I had because she was honest enough to put herself out there. Thankyou...oh yeah how old is the "baby" now?

I developed severe health anxiety after my dad died. I’m constantly worrying about dying and leaving my husband and son behind. I’m the breadwinner and I worry what would happen if I died. I went and bought a good life insurance policy which helped a little. I try to pray, meditate and do some deep breathing and try to accept that I’m going to die some day and my family will be ok.

I’m in tears watching this. I really hope I can fix my anxiety, it’s eating away at me.

Great explanation of health anxiety .

You’re very sensible. I’m 77 and worry all the time. This is very helpful

Guys I would say one step at a time I’m 19 and dealing with it what I have started is I have totally stopped googling symptoms totally it has really helped and always manipulate your mind into positive thinking not negative and lastly don’t give up never ever try to heal on your own rather than depending on medication

This was brilliant!!

This is the first time I’ve heard someone speak about my exact fears. Wow, I am so grateful to have found you. Do you have any advice on those of us who struggle also with the health anxiety regarding our children? That’s sort of ruining my life. Between my own health anxiety and theirs, I’m consumed in the dark

Your video really hit home. I struggle so much with health anxiety which I believe is related to the fact that I have read about, heard about, or personally known of so many people who didn't worry about their health and missed little signs of a serious illness. I am constantly worried that some little something is clue to something major. Of course, here's the kicker, I am deathly afraid of going to the doctor and doing any medical testing that might be recommended. I avoid doctors like the plague due to fear of the outcome. I'm not sure how to reconcile this and it is overwhelming at times.

It’s so reassuring reading this comments, I relate to everything everyone is saying!

Thank u for this tho. I have health anxiety and just this past week ive thought i had braininflammation, stroke, my foot is broken so i thought i broke it again and rn i thought i had sepsis but i watched this video and calmed down and all my "symptoms" got calmer

Starting a new medication which has some pretty strong side effects has got me spiralling into health anxiety for the first time in years 😔 My H.A started after I had sepsis, so thats where my mind always goes when I feel anything but baseline normal. Thank you for this video, you're absolutely right. I'll try.

That’s me 😂having a constant headache and thinking about brain cancer. I had a brain CT test last year and it was fine, even cancer probably can’t grow as fast as my unstoppable thoughts😂Now I’ve realized it’s anxiety 😭

I feel the same with the ptsd and cptsd and moving forward…but stay spinning

i love you so much, as soon as you said the left side thing i started sobbing, i thought i was so stupid and i thought it was so serious, im 18 and finding out that its probably anxiety and neurological thank you. it means more than you could ever know and you dont know how much this helps me

Thank you so much for sharing. I send all your videos to family and friends. Because you have helped me out so much. It means the world to me. Because I hate living this way. But it’s so hard not to research or look for assurances. I’m going to overcome health anxiety. I have to stop goggling. It’s insanity to keep doing the same thing with the same results.

Hey you all Health anxietians, so read this and you ll probably relate, I had a sore throat and burning sensation last week, my vision was throat cancer, had a sharp pain near my left arm and my vision was heart issues although ecg was normal, tremors and my vision was Ms, parkinsons and so many more, head aches and my vision was tumors, lower back ache and my vision was spinal lesions, migraines and my vision was glaucoma, weight loss and my vision was diabetes, dizziness and my vision was blood pressure, shaking and faint and my vision was vertigo. Im probably half a doctor cos I read a lot of medical articles in the past to educate myself for friends and family. Now that past is playing up for me. Eventually im a healthy individual with nothing but HA.. The trick is to untangle yourself from any thoughts other than what is needed for the present day, focus on a game like sudoko, exercise, meditate, don't overdo all these though. Talk to people, move around a lot, do idle shopping or just walk around, fill your eyes with pleasure. Im sure you all are alright and theres nothing more than a few physical changes that's bound to happen at your age...accept them and make them a part of you.. ❤❤❤❤

From last 2 years i have 4 ecg 2 echo of heart 1.hotler ecg 24h blood pressure control ct ct angiography of heart abdominal scan abdominal scanner mri of back several blood tests and everything is fine. It was hard in the beginning to accept but as the time pass after all that assurance i told myself i m ok. Accept it.. now i have good and bad days but building in confidence less afraid of symptoms learned to be patient happy to go through this in order to find my life again. So keep courage and drop the gurad.. that final words from me.

Wow!!! You said everything I’m thinking and feeling!!! Thank you! Do you do virtual counseling?

Hi thank you for posting. Very true! Did you ever take meds to handle your health anxiety and if so, what was your experience? Thx and keep doing what you do!

As a Cancer Specialist, the main thrust of what you’re saying is certainly correct, in my opinion. And I can agree with it wholeheartedly as someone who suffers with health anxiety. However, I really do think that you should have started this video with the paramount advice that if you are experiencing concerning symptoms that you do get checked by a doctor and that if symptoms persist or indeed worsen, you do seek medical help. Yes health anxiety is real and it is unbelievable just how much it can negatively impact someone but we should not encourage people to always assume it’s anxiety or we risk a ‘boy crying wolf’ situation whereby the threat may one day be real. And subsequently ignored. There are unfortunately a plethora of genuine physical ailments and it is important to rule things out before making the call that it’s anxiety. Knowing where that line is to be drawn, however, is the real catch. But great video!

i needed way too long to realise its actually anxiety that caused all this. if youre constantly worried, say to yourself okay ill give myself 2 months. in those 2 month i just live under the premise that i have anxiety and nothing more. you try everything to fix anxiety in those 2 months. at the end of the 2 months you will feel so much better and less worried that you will be sure. okay i was wrong all the time - it actually was ANXIETY all the time.

I am now living by your 7 day rule and it’s really helped so far

Thank you for this video

Hello Cherille I am a parent that has a 33 yr old daughter that has these exact problems. She cries everyday about something. It is very hard to deal with. She has been to a neurologists because she just knew she had ALS or parkinsons just everything. She is also going to a therapists and psychiatrists and he put her on medicine. She found you and I am grateful that she did. I told her to listen to you everyday. I wish she could talk to you personally but we live in West Virginia and you must be in the UK. But just listening to youseems to have helped her and I am thankful.

I love your voice ❤

omg i have same story as you...i was feeling the exact same tingling on left side of head then numbness and heaviness type of shit....i immediately googled abt it and thats where my life was ruined...google said its a symptom of stroke and what not..I FELT SO SCARED i kept irritating my mother to take me to dr but she kept telling me that you are just stressed because of studies...but all those symptoms didnt go away they kept comming back to me and made me think that "this is the end of my life i am done" i felt so stressed..i am thankful to see this video because i relate to it sm...thank you :) sorry for bad english..its nt my first language :)

Youve literly just described my last week 💀💀💀

Ive never heard someone refer to it as a de-ja-vu and literally alot of the times thats what i felt like for days on end , like a never ending dejavu feeling

I am still waiting to have my "aha" moment, it's been 23 years...sending love to all of you!

I been suffering with this for months now my only advise is to try CBD I’ve noticed I’m so much more relaxed and feel my anxiety is calming down

I’ve dealt with this about 5 years ago and with a lot of work and courage I was completely able to heal myself. It’s scary now but all emotions are temporary.

Your video was much appreciated. I had a throat rash for about 3-4 months. I was filled with worry, fear, and anxiety. I believed I was in bad health. I made a mistake by using Doctor Google, as the answers only fueled my anxiety. I stopped searching for answers and decided to leave it. I stopped checking my throat for rashes daily, which has led to a decrease in my anxiety. I stopped checking my throat for rashes daily, which has led to a decrease in my anxiety. I'm realizing that I no longer have a rash on my throat, whereas every morning I used to have one. Since I stayed calm, and as a result, I don't get a rash. Anxiety can harm you in many ways.

I am literally suffering from it. I was having back pain as always then i was scrolling through tiktok when i stumbled across a video about scoiliosis and i searched it on google and youtube and none of the systems match but i still feel that my back is curving . I know the real answer but i still can't stop trying to problem solve and this happen with appendix, diabetes , kidney failure and being blind. Ny father is also same he came back from dubai just cuz of his anxiety. I want to stop it but idk how?

This is my issue exactly. About a few weeks ago in October I was walking along and had pins and needles in the left side of my face and had it spread to my hands, fingers and upper arm. I headed home and called an ambulance thinking it was a mini stroke or a possibly a stroke. I had an ambulance come out and check me over. I went up A&E and had an ECG, bloods and a physical examination and everything was good. However, they did not do a brain scan on me to be sure because they did not think it was anything serious. They diagnosed it as a migraine with aura. Since, then I have been obsessed with thinking have they missed something and it has caused me severe anxiety. I did these things using google to look up symptoms thinking that I had a mini stroke. Since then I struggle to sleep with worry that something is wrong with me. I constantly worry about my health even though all my bloods were normal, my blood pressure is normal too. I haven’t felt right since the incident and I suffer from constant dissociation and derealisation and it scares me even more. I go out and and have in my mind something bad is going to happen, like I am going to collapse to the floor and die or my heart will give out. I get weird feelings and spams in my body. I just wish I could convince my brain that I am ok. My trigger is just thinking the doctors missed something. I convinced my brain that I had something really bad happen. 😢

I was having problems where I would pass out and faint, and ever since it stopped happening, I still have anxiety every day, I'm scared to go outside, I get anxiety when I do force myself to, and I'm just overall a shell of what I used to be.

I wish I could recover from health anxiety especially without antidepressants. I’ve been on them for the majority of my life and tried going off them twice and it was unbearable and I was not functional.

hello sherelle. I am 30, male and desperate. My last three days were the worst in my life. 5 months ago an eye doctor told me I could have a brain tumor (there was no tumor) - at this time I was standing in the hospital with my two fathers and my girlfriend and I though my life was over. 4 months later I was scared of a heart muscle inflammation, went to a cardiologist and she told me I might have an aortic aneurysm (there was nothing wrong). 6 weeks later a had a disc herniation in my lower back (I actually have it but it worsened my mental state). Prior to the heart doctor I mentioned a tingling sensation to my mum, 5 days after the disc herniation I had a long conversation about disc herniations and at the train station (standing alone) the tingling intensified. Then 7 days no mentioning, I wonder: Did I forget it? 14 days after the disc herniation I google tingling and MS and now I have it for three days. I know I have panic attacks, mental problems and I seek psychological treatment (not with medications yet).In my brain MRI they found lesions but neither two eye doctors or two radiologists mentioned it could be MS. I am just scared to death.. 24/7 for three days now

I have had rabies ocd for half a year now. I can swim in the sea and then see a dog swimming in it and think I somehow might’ve got the virus in and my vaccine, which I did twice the full batch of, would fail. I really hope to get better because this fear of potentially having a 99 percent fatal disease crawling in you is really so draining and dreadful

Felt dizzy and went into full blown panic attack and I’m never the same. A slight movement or lightheaded cause an anxiety attack. 😢

Very well explained!!! Thank you very much. What would you recommend to someone who got anxious or "problem-solving" due to a previous physical issue, and due to that, you become more "aware" or "wanting to prevent" something else from happening?