Dealing with health anxiety

[Azazello]

Hey everyone, 

I've found after being diagnosed the sudden change in my life has made me think a lot more about mortality, and also how quickly things in life can go from perfectly fine to extremely debilitating with no warning. I had no warning of celiac symptoms and suddenly everything changed. I'm glad I am mostly feeling better these days since going gluten free, but every weird symptom I experience on certain days scares me that something is wrong, whether it be accidentally being glutened or the potential start of some other illness. Especially since reading the statistics that say somewhere between 15-25% of celiacs develope another autoimmune disease, it terrifies me, as most of the other autoimmune diseases seem way more horrifying.

I guess I'm wondering if health anxiety is something any of you have learned how to deal with. I wish I could feel the sense of safety in life I had before being diagnosed. But now that a 1 percent chance has hit me with becoming a celiac, nothing feels as safe anymore. Thank you. 

[patty-maguire]

Hi Azazello:

It can all be very overwhelming at first, but I think the best cure is time.  You'll get the hang of your new diet and start to realize that there is more that you can eat than what you can't.  Once you feel more in control you may find the anxiety subsides.

Also understand that anxiety may be a symptom of celiac disease.  Our gut and our brain are closely connected.  Once you've been gluten free for a while and your other symptoms are under control, any anxiety or depression may resolve too.

On the days I get feeling sorry for myself, and it still happens even after 12 years, I find a good dose of gratitude helps.  A cup half full approach if you like.  I look around me at everything I have to be grateful for.  I also notice that many have it worse than me.  My condition is managed by diet.  I don't have to be on drugs every day.  I'm not suffering through chemo.  I'm not in a wheel chair.  With some lifestyle changes and a little planning I can travel, work, socialize and everything else that makes up a fulfilling life.

Yes there are risks, but there are risks in everything you do.  Accidents happen in the home and on our roads every day, yet we don't stay in bed under the covers, we take on life, risks and all.

As for mortality, I think it was Dr. Wayne Dyer who said "If you look over your shoulder there is one thing always present, the certainty of your own death".  None of us know what day that will come.  We can allow it to debilitate us or we can use it to motivate us to live every day with purpose.

• Meditation can help
• Having a purpose greater than yourself can help
• Helping others and taking focus off yourself and your own problems can help
• Talking to a mental health professional can help

Trust yourself.  You've got this!  Live your best life.  Take care.

[Scott Adams]

I must admit that during the time of my diagnosis I was so relieved to have found out that I had celiac disease, and was just so amazed to begin feeling better again that I didn't really worry about other conditions, even though my father had Type 1 diabetes. 

The good news regarding celiac disease is that once you are diagnosed and have successfully treated it with a gluten-free diet, many of the associated health risks, possibly even including other autoimmune disorders, will diminish greatly.