Q & A Health Anxiety

[@di-mh5nb]

You are amazing 💖You promised to make a video on Health anxiety and you did! Thank you so much for all your work 🙏🏻.

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Thank you, Di. I have so much compassion for people that have health anxiety. Having worked with people in this area for many years, I know they feel real symptoms and I know they experience panic due to their fears, and I know that some people also have real health concerns mixed in with symptoms caused by anxiety. We have to work through all of these nuances in therapy. I am working on an online class to help people with Health Anxiety that I will make very affordable that I hope will be available in a few months to give people more detailed help than I can do on KZbin.

[@di-mh5nb]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy I would love to check it out. Your work is amazing and helped me so much you can not imagine. For me it’s not the symptoms but the what if and disregarding the 1% chance of this or that health issue happening to me or to my loved ones where I become more fragile. I’ve been learning that seeking 100% in health is not possible and being scared of this one disease happening to us just because recently heard about it has to be dropped cause it’s not real there can be a million other threats that I don’t know of and I need to trust the god and the universe. Just the same way that god sent me a sign to catch the breast cancer early... but this thinking can backfire too 😄it’s a thin line. Your videos had a huge impact ♥️

[@Truerealism747]

I've got some drs say it's sycosomatic some say it's fybromyalgia my main symptoms pain in shoulders armpits as discussed had so much before moved I we the years my icd isn't bad can this be OCD drs haven't helped me and scared me more pain in fascia awful

[@Tabby9078]

How beautiful, extremely helpful, Thank You for sharing ❤

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Thank you, Judith 🙏❤️

[@melis-vn6te]

i noticed that i gave so much chance to my anxiety to grow. the first step is to getting out of from the comfort zone, everything will be okay

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Thank you 🙏😊

[@rommelreckoblad2771]

This is really true.. I got anxiety on doctors appointment , I'm afraid of what they well say to me with my health Concerned.. that's why I change my life style 5years ago.. I don't drink alcohol or coffee anything involved with caffeine I say no.. I dont do smoke anymore for 5 Year... I eat healthy.. all of that because i want a healthy lifestyle.. because of my health anxiety.. but now Im making progress cause of the video that you made doc. Thanks again.

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

You are progressing, Rommel. Keep up the good work.

[@carolwhelihan1514]

PS: thank you for sharing the paragraph/script. I am planning to do my own and listen to it several times a day. These videos are so helpful!

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

That’s great, Carol. I am so glad the videos are helpful.

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Here is a FREE Health anxiety quiz www.paigepradko.com/healthanxietyquiz I want to help you to not only recover, but to thrive in your life. For more help for Health Anxiety: Join my OnLine Course: Rapid Recovery from Health Anxiety www.paigepradko.com/healthanxiety Coupon Code for 10% Savings on Course for my KZbin Subscribers YTTENOFF

[@denisebaldwin268]

Thankful for your videos. They help me so much.

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

I am so happy to hear that. Thank you 🙏😊

[@carolwhelihan1514]

I love your videos! So helpful for me, you are a gift!

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Thank you 🙏❤️

[@armandodelagarza8038]

Love your work, Paige!

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Thank you, Armando🙏😊

[@ronforrestjr2493]

Thx for sharing..... Do u have a detailed information about health anxiety

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Yes, I do. Here is a playlist for you kzbin.info/aero/PL1lUhuKpYUYonn-zlZxzTRR8V4myEHgCY

[@wednesdayschild3627]

I am anxious after ha. I started by sitting exercise. I am up to 25 minuted of aerobics. I need to move up, it is too easy now. I fear taking blood pressure. I have a cuff. My friend said keep taking until I am bored.

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

It sounds like you are following your doctor’s advice. Some people have a compulsive behavior of checking their pulse and blood pressure too much. In your case, it sounds like you are avoiding it. In both cases, you can use exposure therapy and sitting with the discomfort of taking your blood pressure at recommended intervals.

[@wednesdayschild3627]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy I was taking once a day. I had panic once and shot up. So I was afraid. Then I kept taking over and over and over. The fear is better. I think getting bored helps, or do it when you dont want to.

[@jordanmcmahon7148]

Hi Paige! I wanted to see what advice you have for someone who has severe health anxiety and is simultaneously recovering from injuries. I keep on telling myself that the “MRI’s must have missed something” or “i will never get better and I will have this pain and these sensations forever”, when no doctor has told me that’s the case. It has become completely debilitating and I’ve developed such a lack of trust in my own body and mind. I think since my injuries have involved nerves, the anxiety has only heightened any pain or sensation. I am extremely hyper aware of my body and am constantly doing body checks to see if anything has gotten better or worse. I’ve been to the ER, chiropractor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, my general practitioner, cardiologist etc. Thanks for responding if you get the chance!

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Jordan, I am truly sorry you are experiencing pain and anxiety. The brain is connected to the nervous system that runs through our entire body. If you concentrate on your left, big toe, you can feel that toe. A moment before you read that, you probably did not feel that toe. Just by thinking about a sensation can bring on or increase that sensation. When someone has had an injury or a surgery, we can get even more sensations including pain. But, the more we focus and worry about it, the worse it gets. We can take some steps to turn this around. First, give the doctors and googling and research a break. Take 2 weeks and try an experiment. No doctors, no appointments or tests, no googling symptoms or reading articles or videos. If pain comes, change your relationship to the pain. Say to yourself that you are going to Allow and Accept the pain and Welcome it to be there as long as it needs to be there. The pain represents your nerve endings healing themselves. Give this 2 weeks and see what happens to your anxiety. Your goal is to tolerate anxiety and discomfort, accept what ever sensations occur, and do nothing to seek out reassurance or relief.

[@jordanmcmahon7148]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy thank you so much for this! I am going to try it out and do my best. Your videos are also incredibly helpful!

[@arjunmrao4039]

Nice Video.. I am not the only one suffering I guess after watching your above video and listening to the queries from viewers .. I am surely on the road to complete comprehensive recovery thanks to you .. nice insights by you in the above video BUT BUT BUT .. Dear OLLIE is not there in the background alongwith you here in the above video .... YOUR SUBSCRIBER BASE HAS INCREASED, that's a good development .. it was 10.9 K just last week, now it's 11.1 K .... That is good news, nice development .. keep it up, great going ..

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Thank you, Arjun. I have compassion for people that suffer from Health Anxiety because they do feel real symptoms and they do believe something is very, very wrong. However, in people with Health Anxiety, the culprit is OCD. It causes so much suffering and it gets very complicated. Thank you for your encouraging comment. Ollie has demanded top payment for his appearances in the form of doggie treats and therefore has refused to appear unless I meet his demands. 😂

[@arjunmrao4039]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy Ha Ha Ha Ha .. All Dog Lovers, Pet Lovers are Kind of Crazy Though Paige Pradko Madam .. 😂😀 .. So Happy Despite this .. GREEDY SWEET GLUTTEN OLLIE ..

[@newton2202]

Thank you for sharing this video with me in my other comment!

[@newton2202]

Also, if you are able to respond this time. Is it possible to have health anxiety towards mental illness along with physical illness?

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Yes. It is possible. Many people worry that they might go insane or crazy. The answer is no. Worries and anxiety are different brain functions and connections than psychosis. It is not the same thing. If you had psychosis, you would not be worried about going crazy. I realize that I just gave you reassurance, which I should not do. But, I do like to share mental health educate as well. 😊

[@newton2202]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy Thank you so much again! I really love what you do and your responses. I’ll make sure to follow the videos you do 😸

[@lynseysim8250]

I will try to step away from the reassurance, my worry is if I ignore something, what if I should not? What if it is serious, the cycle is cruel 😔

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Lynsey. The cycle is awful. Challenge yourself with tolerating uncertainty and doubt and not knowing. None of us ever have a guarantee about our health. We all have to tolerate uncertainty. The obsessive worry decreases as you get better at not responding to the worry and body sensations. I have an online therapy class for people with Health Anxiety coming out next month.

[@nyavergara3300]

Thank you so much for all your videos! I just discovered your channel, and with only 4 vidéos I learnt more than 8 years of anxiety and seing therapists and being in a hospital for anxiety, depression and suicidal toughts. I'm taking notes, learning so much and I will try everything in my daily life. I'm already doing so much better than before and everyday I have hope that it gets better. I had a question for you, sometimes I get really strong pain (I sometimes lose consciousness) in my lower stomach (like i'm on my period but i'm not, because I take birth control pills) and I can't do anything for about 1 day each week, I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't study or work and it hurts so much, but no pain killers are helping, and doctors have tried so many things (one of them was getting me on these continuous birth control pills...), but nothing seems to be helping and nothing's seems to be wrong (biologically). So my question (sorry it is a very long text..) was, if hypothetically, I would assume it's health anxiety, what should I do when it happens and what can I do to stop this from happening again and again? Thank you so much again, even if you don't have time to answer or read this, I am grateful for everything you gave me and gave to everyone that had the chance do see your videos!

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Nya. Thank you for your compliments and I am glad you found my channel. I have not heard of someone having such intense pain that makes them lose consciousness and be told that it is psychosomatic. It sounds like real pain to me. I realize that you have seen many doctors, but, in my experience that kind of intense pain is not created by anxiety. If your physicians believe it is psychological, I would recommend breathing through the pain. But, I am afraid that I am not useful in this case, because it does not sound like psychosomatic pain. I am so very sorry you are going through this and I wish I could be more helpful.

[@lauraann7924]

Thank you ❤

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

You’re welcome 🙏❤️

[@MrAftab2009]

Hello,Can you make a video on proper intake in first session (how to get to root cause of problem?

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Absolutely. It sounds like you may be a therapist? I love to talk with therapists about their first sessions. I will share what I do, but,mI am sure there are endless styles. In my opinion, it is all about forming the connection and creating trust and understanding. What do you think?

[@MrAftab2009]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy No Doubt,Building Rapport is the most essential part..My exp is less than a year..I mostly stuck in 2 things.1- How to get to the root cause of the problem,2-Clients has thousands of things to say so finding difficulty from where to start...I mostly practice ACT & NLP.. Any video for proper intake would be much helpful..

[@jeetkanjaria]

Anxiety of missed heartbeats :( painful and catastrophic....

[@jeetkanjaria]

So many tests, reassurance, medicines to calm down..nothing helps..:(

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

I am so sorry, Jeet. I do have a playlist on help for health anxiety if you are interested. Health anxiety is treated like ocd. When the fearful thoughts come, we have to tolerate the anxiety without doing the obsessive behaviors. I am so sorry you are experiencing this.

[@jeetkanjaria]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy thank you for the response, i am interested.. please help me

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

I hope these videos help you with health anxiety. kzbin.info/aero/PL1lUhuKpYUYonn-zlZxzTRR8V4myEHgCY I will also be offering an online class on health anxiety that will be available in a few months that will provide more in depth help that I cannot provide on KZbin.

[@jeetkanjaria]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy thank you so much i really appreciate this effort you are doing to all of us sufferers... God bless you and keep doing the same

[@MrUforobogrendizer]

Thanks for the great video. What is the best way to deal with health anxiety that flares up while waiting for test results/or regarding genuine health issues?

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Waiting for test results is an anxious experience, no doubt. But, it is an experience of anxiety that we must tolerate, as there is no alternative. Telling yourself that you will tolerate the anxiety of not knowing during the wait period is actually an exposure for anxiety tolerance. It is actually good for you to exercise and grow your ability to tolerate not knowing something. In a way, that is the purest form of anxiety, we want to know with certainty what will happen and that we are safe, and yet we do not know. In so many other areas you move through uncertainty...like every time you get in a car...there is uncertainty about your safety, yet, you move through it. Challenge yourself to tolerate not knowing the results....and take the attitude that you will do what you have to do when you receive the results.

[@myahkgatsby7578]

Thank you for this video! I would like to ask if you have any tips for overcoming health anxiety when it relates to medications or things like vaccines? Since there are real risks involved in taking those things how can one overcome their panic about going through with it?

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Anxiety about taking medications is quite common. In fact, most people with anxiety in general seem to have anxiety about medications. The more you research something, the more your anxiety will persist. I do not know a person that did not have a certain amount of anxiety about the Covid vaccine. But, there is less risk getting the vaccine than getting a variant of covid. Once a person with anxiety gets a vaccine or takes a medication, their anxiety goes away rather quickly, as they see that nothing bad happens.

[@myahkgatsby7578]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy thank you so much for your answer! I definitely get caught up in the research habit. I'm actually trying to find something good that reassures me that it is safe. But it seems the more I research the more I come across unusual, rare bad things that can happen. With the covid vaccine it has become quite difficult for me because I do wanna take it for I've been terryfied of covid for a year, but haven't been able to muster the strength to do it because I'm afraid of how my anxiety will be for the next two weeks after taking it. I will think that every single sensation or pain in my body signals a serious side effect from the vaccine. This pandemic is the perfect nightmare for someone who suffers from health anxiety. And when you have medication anxiety, even the solution to the problem seems super dangerous. I so appreciate your videos. The internet is an awful place for people with health anxiety, but videos like yours make the internet worth it. Ps: I've been in therapy for a year but my therapist never treated my health anxiety like ocd. I find myself suggesting to her exposure therapy as a possible treatment for me. I wonder if I should find someone else....

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

I completely understand how your health anxiety has affected you during covid and has really challenged you in getting the vaccine. Think of it this way...if you do not get a vaccine, you will have to really stress over getting covid variants forever. This virus is not going away. If you get a vaccine, you may worry for a few days, but it will be similar to exposure therapy and your fear will go away. If you can discuss health anxiety and exposure therapy with your therapist, then, you may want to stay with your therapist. There are very few therapists that are trained to treat ocd and health anxiety and they have long waitlists. Several people have shared health anxiety videos with their therapists and their therapists happily get on board with ERP treatment. If you have a good relationship with your therapist, then I recommend staying with her. Share this playlist link with your therapist and see what she thinks kzbin.info/aero/PL1lUhuKpYUYonn-zlZxzTRR8V4myEHgCY

[@myahkgatsby7578]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy Thank you so so much for your answer! I try to tell myself what you mentioned also. Will keep trying and stop researching to see if I can get it done. I will definitely share the link with my therapist then. I was precisely wondering if not many therapists were trained to deal with health anxiety, and OCD. Thank you so much again for sharing your knowledge and helping people during this difficult season. Love your videos and your kindness 💗 God bless you!

[@teresadexter9965]

I cannot find your video on how to respond

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

In this video, I answer a viewer’s question about what to say to a loved one. Basically, you have to be honest and kind. Explain to them that you have learned about health anxiety and that people can have health anxiety with or without real medical issues. Explain that you have learned that it actually makes it worse if friends and family give reassurance or medical advice to people with health anxiety. Explain that you do not want to do anything to make their condition worse, and therefore, you will no longer give reassurance. You will simply respond with, “I care about you, but, I cannot give you reassurance about your health”. People with health anxiety must learn to better tolerate uncertainty and anxiety about their health. I hope this answers your question.

[@ashleycarr9014]

Oh I didn’t know reassurance make sure worse. I suffer from health anxiety 😥

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

I am so sorry. Health anxiety causes so much suffering. Yes, reassurance reinforces the intrusive thoughts. That just seems cruel, doesn’t it. 😔

[@teresadexter9965]

Hello Paige Thank you for your advice.....could you please explain exactly what is meant by "not reassuring " a friend who is annoyingly always trying to turn the conversation to complaining about

[@teresadexter9965]

CONT :- The moans my friend makes are always petty health issues....not big issues such as cancer.....its usually things like " I feel so tired/wiped out" I have a sore throat/pain in my stomach/ backache etc etc. If its not advisable to sympathise how does one respond in a helpful manner without being an enabler? Is being reassuring the same as being sympathetic.....I dont want to encourage more long conversations about symptoms . Oh dear....HELP !!!

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Teresa. I am so sorry, but, I have just noticed that I never answered your question. It is quite difficult to be in your situation. I suggest that you express to you friend that you care about them, and do not want to be insensitive in any way. But, you wonder if they have ever heard of health anxiety. You can explain that it acts like ocd, in that the worries become obsessive and that if people give them reassurance, it makes the health anxiety worse. I have a 3 part series on Health Anxiety that will be shown on KZbin beginning on 10/31😊

[@Hotoffthepress101]

Paige, are you accepting new patients? I live in Florida but would be interested in Televisits. Let me know!

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Jessica. Thank you for asking. I have created an online therapy course for people that are suffering from Health Anxiety. I take people through step by step what I teach in therapy. It will be available at the end of the month. If you are interested in learning more, please email me at [e-mail] 🙏❤️

[@biengfunny2354]

Good day. Doc. Im having bad anxiety for almost 4 years now.. somehow im little bit in control with my bad anxiety, i have this annoying feeling.. in my head i feel like im hearing something this annoying noise in my ear.. and it gets me irritated.

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

I am so sorry. You may be experiencing tinnitus. The more that you accept and allow the noise, the less it will bother you. The more irritable it makes you, the more annoying it will be. The I AM technique I describe in this video can be used for tinnitus.kzbin.info/www/bejne/mV6rfI2EnZ1rmrM

[@biengfunny2354]

Thanks doc, your videos help me a lot, your advices with all of this anxiety, it keeps me calm down when im having panic attack.. I feel relax when you talk about anxiety as if you know how i.. or we feel by this mental illness.. coz.. i think you know the step by step of healing this mental illness.. any way doc... i just like to know i take aswagandha ksm-66 as my food supplement i take once a day.. coz, it makes me calm.. is that ok..

[@jeffreyswilsonsr5200]

if you have a full blown anxiety attack in a store or dr office where ever, i can't stay there i drop everything and head out what can one do in this situation. its embarrassing.!!!!!!! jeff (59 years old) has been going on for roughly 40 yrs

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Jeffrey. I am so sorry that you have been experiencing that for so many years. Panic attacks feel awful, but as you are probably aware, they can not hurt you. Your brain believes you are in extreme danger and therefore actives the fight/flight response. In that kind of situation, I would not recommend fleeing the situation, as uncomfortable as that sounds. If you flee, the brain then associates that location with panic. If you stay, it is actually exposure therapy and your brain learns that you survived. The more you can repeat the exposure the more opportunities the brain has to form new associations with those locations other than a fight or flight response. All of this takes time...and it is indeed difficult because we do not go to the doctor’s office daily. But, you can still do imaginal exposures with pictures and videos of doctor’s offices and recorded scripts. I have more videos on exposures here kzbin.info/aero/PL1lUhuKpYUYoJdExc0g8zVZuekW2zhGG7

[@ceciliamarquez569]

Hello do you do virtual consultations? Thanks

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Cecilia. I do online therapy and consultations. However, at the moment by practice is filled. Thank you for asking.

[@jenniferr3098]

Can a mental compulsion for ocd that keeps me stuck be “I will recover in a few months I just got to keep disregarding thoughts” so basically reassuring that I will be okay. If it is a mental compulsion what can I substitute the thought with

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Jennifer. Great question. Unfortunately, it can become a mental compulsion. Instead, identify the thought as an ocd thought and just allow it to float there without attending to it or answering it. I then have my clients connect to the moment they are living and move on to what ever they were doing before the thought. Some people think of the thought as background noise and do nothing, because we do not respond to ocd.

[@jenniferr3098]

@@PaigePradkoTherapy okay got it:) and what if I accidentally have the compulsion do I carry on with my day still or try to do a exposure in my mind. For example saying the opposite after a compulsion like who cares if I don’t recover

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Yes, absolutely, just carry on with your day. None of us are perfect, and we all just do the best that we can do. You are doing a great job at trying your best to learn and heal. 😊❤️

[@samreenzaidi2566]

Hi , do u take online appointments?

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Thank you for asking. I do on occasion, but, at the moment I am booked and have an extended waitlist. I am developing an online treatment class for health anxiety that I hope to make available in a few months. I will have a link in the “About” section of my KZbin channel when it is available. You can also send me your email through my website PaigePradko.com, if you would like a notification when it is available.

[@ipsitaroy3869]

Mam all health anxieties are OCD?

[@PaigePradkoTherapy]

Hi Ipsita. I will say that most of the time health anxiety is ocd if there are obsessive health worries. But sometimes it can be undiagnosed panic disorder.