I started reading last night & couldn't put it down.

Should we go chapter by chapter?

I've got my book, too! Let's go for it.

I really need this. Someone posted something in another section today that really triggered health fears for me. I was/am so frustrated and angry about it!

In the beginning of the book, the author asks what goals the reader has. I hope that reading the book and doing the exercises (and talking with you guys) helps me finally make PEACE with this part of me that is constantly fearing some health issue. I want to stop constantly scanning my body for symptoms. I want to be able to face whatever health problems I do have with a peaceful mind and a calm body.

Julie

ok julie,

Curly wants us to wait for them to get their book. But, I'm on chapter 2.

We could start & let people jump in when they're in the same chapter.

What do you think?

That's sound great. I just started chapter 2. I so relate to this issue and to what he identifies as health anxiety syndrome. It fits me to a T, I'm sorry to say!

I have my book...but I really think we should wait for the others that want to participate..that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it..just go back when we start!!!

Hellllllllloooooooooo,
I too am I a fellow health anxiety sufferer (Sp?)
Anyway I am going to order this book tonight...even if all of you are ahead of me I'd like to participate becuase it is sooooooooooo calming to know I'm not alone with this type of anxiety. I swear my wife must be going nuts with the stupid thoughts I obsess about!

Mr.Nervball,
I often think about my poor hubby! Once I woke up with a little rash on my cheek that was stinging and I SWORE to my husband that I had anthrax.....It was during the scare....but it still cracks me up now!
I wouldn't be surprised if when death finally comes it's not as bad as I have imagined!!! I've had everything in the book already!
Blessings,
Psalm91

Hello Guys!! I started reading too, because I couldn't help it, but let's wait for everybody to have th book, and we can officialy start next week.
how r we going to do this? maybe one thread a week per chapter?

I just wanted to offer some encouragement. I think it is great you all are working hard on trying to overcome your health fears. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is recognize that there is a problem and get active on a solution, as we all know . I hope you all find the answers you are looking for. So keep up the good work and don't give up!! You CAN do it!!

(I also posted some information here on worrying about health in case you are interested: http://bbs.stresscenter.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.c...;f=1;t=010109#000000 )

I would love to suggest a great book. ITs called Ambulance Girl. Its about this old lady who at the age of 50 suffers anxiety disorder and hyprocondria. In any event she is terrified to travel in ambulances or out in public. She decides to become an Paremedic. ITs a really good book. I forget the author though.

Go get it AMBULANCE GIRL

Amethyst

I read your original post and I am glad you took the time to assert yourself by sharing the information...however I tend to disagree with what you wrote. We all have anxiety, and this is why we are here, however as a health anxiety sufferer, who is to say that my trigger (health) or your trigger what ever it may be, will make me sick with psychosomatic illnesses. If anxiety is anxiety I do not feel I will make myself come down with an illness because of my free flight anxiety no more than someone who has Social anxiety. In fact reading your original post as I'm sure other health anxiety sufferers can agree made me feel worse for a brief minute until I rationalized what it was I had just read. So....although I appreciate almost everything you write in forums, this one seemed to make me feel even worse after reading it. My final thoughts are:
Anxiety is anxiety no matter how you associate what KIND of anxiety you have. We all have symptoms; we all have fears, being a health anxiety sufferer will not make me susceptible to having an illness no more so than anyone else. The fact we are all here will help ALL of us avoid any of these problems in the future now that we have accepted and begun working on what it is we have to overcome. We will all overcome this together.

Hi Mr. Nerveball,

I agree with what you said...anxiety is anxiety and no matter what the trigger. Too much anxiety of any kind can lead to health problems or make recovery from health problems more difficult.

Curly

Nerveball:
Yes I agree anxiety is anxiety, and it really doesn't matter the source it comes from. I was just sharing the reasoning that helps me in other instances, that I felt could also be applied to health anxiety. I think sometimes we forget that worrying about something to the point of being extremely anxious actually creates more problems than it solves. This can be applied to health anxiety, social anxiety, etc. And actually my anxiety was producing health problems that I didn't have to have, if I would just relax a bit. And I was making things harder than I needed them to be. I had no idea that my thoughts could have such power over my health and emotional well being.
Also I thought maybe that some would benefit from someone else looking in on what people with the health fears are worried about and maybe give them a more objective way of looking at things, but coming from someone who could sympathize with how anxiety feels. Anyways I just thought some could benefit from what helps me. That's all.

If it wasn't helpful, then I am sorry. Never mind then, I will leave this alone.

What is the name of this book? and or auther?

got2bcharmed3,
See the new post under the Book Club area titled Lesson One for name/author and first weeks lesson....come and join us!
Blessings,
Psalm91
Tricia