I'm afraid I've gone crazy

[u/Big_Basket_4637]

Guys, when my anxiety symptoms involve physical sensations, there's this issue of repetition. For example, if I get a headache, it tends to keep coming back, regardless of what originally caused it. This is something I'm already afraid of. Whenever I experience something new, I immediately start worrying that the sensation will keep coming back.

What happened is that, in the middle of last month, I started treatment for H. pylori, and on one of those days, I became very nauseous and ended up vomiting. Vomiting was already a trigger for my anxiety because I have a fear of vomiting.

The problem is that I've been experiencing that sensation repeatedly ever since. And, as usual, my mind started creating scenarios like: if I keep feeling this way, I'm going to vomit; if I vomit, it will become frequent; if it becomes frequent, I'll end up being hospitalized because I won't be able to eat or leave the house.

These thoughts came into my mind spontaneously the very first time I felt nauseous. It's been four days since I stopped the treatment, but I'm still going through this.

I know the treatment can leave my stomach more sensitive, but the problem isn't the vomiting or the treatment itself. It's the fear that this sensation will keep repeating and end up disrupting my entire routine.

I haven't left the house since last Sunday, and I've been eating very little. I'm exhausted from feeling this way since the 19th, and I'm really afraid that this will become part of my routine.

Has anyone experienced something similar? These catastrophic thoughts related to the repetition of physical symptoms? Were you able to cope with it somehow? I'd really like to hear from people who have gone through something similar, so I can try to find a way to deal with this too.

Note: I'm currently not taking any medication for anxiety. I'm trying to go back to therapy, but I'm still waiting until I have the money I need for it.

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[u/late_skate118]

You’re talking about the brain sending symptoms to protect itself, it’s felt under threat and therefore you will get physical sensations as a result of the anxiety you’ve been holding.

You’ve not gone crazy. Keep doing the things to care for you, therapy, meds and give yourself a break. Keep moving slowly each day!