Anyone else a worst case scenario person?

[Deleted]

I have always had anxiety. Tried medicine and hated it. My personal choice is to not use anti-depressants. Most of the time I can deal with it by exercise and just staying busy, but now that work is slowing down for the holidays, it's getting bad again.

I saw a lump on h's back a few weeks ago and didn't think anything of it. It's by his spine on the left side so I thought it was a shadow. I saw it again and told him, it's about a golf ball size once you feel around. Of course, I am worst case scenario and start immediately crying. I can't believe I didn't say anything the first time. It's all I can think about all day and night. I am so scared that its bad, and he can't get in to a dr until next week.

I'm a complete wreck and I know H is scared but he is being strong for me. It should be the other way around. How do you deal with this anxiety? I can't think about anything else at work. I can't imagine anything happening to him. Obviously, my anxiety is bad right now, because I am just rambling. How do you deal with this? I have Xanax, but I can't take that daily. I promised myself I wouldn't google, because of course everything is cancer. I'm just overwhelmed and terrified.

[Deleted]

Nov 28, 2012 9:12:50 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

It's a huge cyst/zit thing. Please don't worry yourself like this. This is not a cancer scare, this is an ingrown hair scare. Deep breath, heavy sigh. Google large cyst popping, and watch someone cut something like this open and squeeze out the goo.

This is deep under skin, not on top. I want to stop worrying, I just feel like a slave to my anxiety right now.

[Deleted]

My DH had a lump on his torso for 10yrs. Doc said it was a cyst so he did nothing for all those years. Eventually it grew & I put my foot down & said he needed to deal with it. It was not a cyst when the Doc went in to remove it but some kind of benign tumor. It was removed in minutes in a Doc offices w/ local anesthesia. So there are at least 2 possibilities that a lump is nothing serious. Stay positive & have him go in ASAP so you know if there is a reason to even worry at all. In the meantime hang in there.

**Deep under the skin could still be a cyst.

[Kore]

If your anxiety is pretty constant, have you considered a daily medication? At the very least, seeing a therapist for some cognitive behavior therapy training may be beneficial. I learned CBT techniques 10 years ago, and I still use them almost everyday when I'm having irrational thoughts. But really, Lexapro has been my savior with anxiety. It's amazing to not have that constant pit of fear in my stomach everyday.

[Deleted]

Nov 28, 2012 10:01:13 GMT -5 Kore said:

If your anxiety is pretty constant, have you considered a daily medication? At the very least, seeing a therapist for some cognitive behavior therapy training may be beneficial. I learned CBT techniques 10 years ago, and I still use them almost everyday when I'm having irrational thoughts. But really, Lexapro has been my savior with anxiety. It's amazing to not have that constant pit of fear in my stomach everyday.

I tried Zoloft and hated it. It's not constant, but when things like this happen, I get completely consumed. I didn't want to keep trying new pills. I started going to an acupuncturist and doing more relaxation stuff. I used to just turn to Xanax and wine, but that helped for a few hours. My acupuncturist recommended a psychiatrist that I will give a call to. I have seen a therapist before and learned some techniques but never did them daily enough to make an impact.

[sillygoosegirl]

DH has a large lump in his back. It took ages for me to get him to see a doctor about it. Doctor says it is benign and could be removed with surgery, but the scar tissue would probably pose a bigger problem than the lump, unless the lump starts to be painful in the future.

Which isn't to say he shouldn't have it checked out, but seriously, it's normally nothing to worry about.

[noodleoo]

I've had 2 lumps. One was in my neck and I was scared to death it was cancer. Turned out to be an inflamed lymph node and it cleared up on its own.

The other was in my armpit. I was sure it was breast cancer related. Turned out to be a cyst. Antibiotics cleared it up.

Don't worry until you have to. You are wasting energy. Try to think positively and remember there are plenty of benign things it could be.

[limey]

STOP self medicating with wine. Don't consume alcohol to deal with anxiety; that can backfire and make it much worse.

Look, I understand not wanting to take meds. You need to see a therapist and be open to that option or at least come up with a long term plan.

[Deleted]

Nov 28, 2012 11:25:18 GMT -5 limey said:

STOP self medicating with wine. Don't consume alcohol to deal with anxiety; that can backfire and make it much worse.

Look, I understand not wanting to take meds. You need to see a therapist and be open to that option or at least come up with a long term plan.

Not sure where you got any of this information from what I have said. I said that I used to use wine as a way to deal with anxiety, but now use more holistic approaches. I also have seen a therapist.

[kellbell191]

I'm on prozac for anxiety and see a therapist every week. I can normally channel my anxiety into "productive" avenues like work, cleaning, volunteering, etc. but the point is that its still there and its not healthy. By viewing it as productive I was giving myself permission not to deal with it and I lost track of how it was hurting me and my relationships. Most of the progress I have made is through therapy, I just started the meds.