Do you ever get a headache just thinking about all the different things that might be affecting your health?
And then when the headache kicks in, it makes you feel even more stressed, which just makes the pain a bit worse, which makes your heart start pounding - and on and on the cycle goes!
We’ve all got a little bit of a hypochondriac in us, and sometimes it gets hard to ignore it.
Whether you’ve not been sleeping properly, or you haven’t had as much good food recently as you’re used to, or you’ve simply not had enough glasses of water today, your body can throw up all kinds of signs and symptoms. Trying to stay calm and be rational about them on a 24/7 basis is simply impossible. And that’s why, when those panicky health moments hit, we need to focus on bringing ourselves down to a more stable level.
Only then can we work to understand what’s going on in a more clear and calm way.
And yes, it takes a good bit of effort to teach yourself how to dial things back down and focus! But once you’re in that place, it’s much easier to think about what’s going on.
So let’s gain a better insight into what’s going on with your health and wellness!
Practice a Calm Response
Let’s start by working through the anxious feelings that go on in those moments.
You’re feeling pretty worked up about something that either looks or feels ‘wrong’, and all kinds of scenarios are flashing through your head right now.
Sit with the feelings
Sometimes the only way to get over that panicked stress is to sit with it, and to try and not react.
Let the worry out of your head
It’s not good to keep it all bottled up! And it’s not good to let your brain become an echo chamber either.
If you don’t let the worries out of your head, you’re not going to ever gain any actionable insight on them at all.
They’re just going to bounce back and forth, feeling worse and worse, because you’ve got no one else’s perspective to work with.
Speak to a Doctor
If you think you’ve noticed a weird symptom, no matter how small it is, you’re more than allowed to speak to a doctor about it.
They’re meant to be available to help you with any and all health concerns, even if you just need your mind set at rest.
It may also be useful to keep a symptom diary. This is a little journal of the things you’ve been noticing, when they started, and how long they’ve lasted.
Order Some Lab Tests
Whether or not the doctor thinks you need any further investigation, you’re more than able to get it done yourself by ordering your own lab tests.
If you want to track biomarkers that have been troublesome in the past, or if you just want to get a deeper insight into how your body is working, these kinds of function tests can be very helpful.
You can also use the results within your doctor’s appointment, if you’d like to be able to provide some clearer evidence on the health issue you’re concerned about. The doctor can then interpret the results with you, and give you better guidance over any next steps.
Call a Loved One
Sometimes you just need someone who knows and cares about you to say something honest!
And in those moments where you’re having a bit of a health panic, and nothing seems to quite be the solution, calling a loved one can bring you back down to earth in 0.3 seconds flat.
Plus, it’s always nice to be able to hear the voice of your best friend or your sister. In those moments when you’re feeling like an alien and totally on edge, their voice really can tether you back to reality.
Preventing That Knee-jerk Health Panic: What to Keep in Mind
When you notice something a bit different about your body - or you can’t stop thinking about how there might be something wrong - it’s important to both ground yourself and to try and get some clear insight.
It’s easy to feel anxious about every single thing that might be wrong, but it takes time, effort, and practice to be able to confront those feelings and focus on taking some action. Be kind to yourself, and make sure you’re regularly committing to the steps above.
You’re feeling pretty worked up about something that either looks or feels ‘wrong’, and all kinds of scenarios are flashing through your head right now.
Sit with the feelings
Sometimes the only way to get over that panicked stress is to sit with it, and to try and not react.
Let the worry out of your head
It’s not good to keep it all bottled up! And it’s not good to let your brain become an echo chamber either.
If you don’t let the worries out of your head, you’re not going to ever gain any actionable insight on them at all.
They’re just going to bounce back and forth, feeling worse and worse, because you’ve got no one else’s perspective to work with.
Speak to a Doctor
If you think you’ve noticed a weird symptom, no matter how small it is, you’re more than allowed to speak to a doctor about it.
They’re meant to be available to help you with any and all health concerns, even if you just need your mind set at rest.
It may also be useful to keep a symptom diary. This is a little journal of the things you’ve been noticing, when they started, and how long they’ve lasted.
Order Some Lab Tests
Whether or not the doctor thinks you need any further investigation, you’re more than able to get it done yourself by ordering your own lab tests.
If you want to track biomarkers that have been troublesome in the past, or if you just want to get a deeper insight into how your body is working, these kinds of function tests can be very helpful.
You can also use the results within your doctor’s appointment, if you’d like to be able to provide some clearer evidence on the health issue you’re concerned about. The doctor can then interpret the results with you, and give you better guidance over any next steps.
Call a Loved One
Sometimes you just need someone who knows and cares about you to say something honest!
And in those moments where you’re having a bit of a health panic, and nothing seems to quite be the solution, calling a loved one can bring you back down to earth in 0.3 seconds flat.
Plus, it’s always nice to be able to hear the voice of your best friend or your sister. In those moments when you’re feeling like an alien and totally on edge, their voice really can tether you back to reality.
Preventing That Knee-jerk Health Panic: What to Keep in Mind
When you notice something a bit different about your body - or you can’t stop thinking about how there might be something wrong - it’s important to both ground yourself and to try and get some clear insight.
It’s easy to feel anxious about every single thing that might be wrong, but it takes time, effort, and practice to be able to confront those feelings and focus on taking some action. Be kind to yourself, and make sure you’re regularly committing to the steps above.
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