Hiv Anxiety

[Scared9876]

  In short, I had possible exposures 7 years ago. I had unprotected sex with two people. Since then, for 7 years i have been in a monogmous relationship. I tested 4 weeks ago with a home oraquick swab.  It was negative.  I obsess over false negatives. Obsess over the sensitivity of the test  Obsess over the slightest ache, pain, sneeze, cough etc... I recently had my annual physical where my GP told me my tonsils looked swollen.  I think I also might be depressed. I have only had two sessions with my therapist. She believes I have underlying issues (which I do, I'm sure). I've never had these feelings before or felt like this. I almost feel like I am out of my body and just want to go back to normal. I'm annoyed with myself and just want to get over this and my involuntary emotions.

My questions are:

Has anyone been in therapy for HIV anxiety? How long did it take to resolve your feelings?  
Have you gone on any drugs? Have they helped?
Did therapy work?

[Scared9876]

Thanks for the advice.  

I'm in therapy and working on why don't believe my result. And why I'm scared to retest.  I've only had two sessions.

I've had anxiety in the past but nothing like this. I also have major sadness at times but I'm fine at times. (My mood can change in minutes?)  I'm learning about the disease and trying to understand how I can best help myself and my course of treatment.

I really want to get better. I cannot imagine feeling like this for very long let alone the rest of my life.  

I've been told I'm fine and don't have hiv. I should trust my result and move on. One thing that scares me is if I retest, will I keep retesting and will that take over and consume me?  In other words, I'm scared my fixation will transition to something else. Or worsen with habitual testing

I posted on the other thread but nobody responded. Thanks for your responses, they are appreciated.

[RubyWitch]

I would suggest that both you AND your partner get tested at a clinic. That way, you can start with a clean slate and 100% conclusive results.
If you still obsess about every little physical symptom, it may be an OCD condition or simple hypochondria. Either way, to may your life a much happier place to be, therapy would be a very good idea.

Thousands of people have been in therapy for HIV Anxiety as well as  every kind of health anxiety you can think of.
Everyone of us is different. We all move through therapy at our own rate and reach recovery when we are ready. Speaking of therapy in general, some people only need a few sessions to find and deal with the root cause of their anxiety and for some people it can, conceiveably, take years.
Medication is not for everyone. Here again, we are all different. For some people it is a miracle. For some it does nothing. Many of us fall somewhere in between. This is a persoanl decision that you and your therapist will discuss. Bottom line with medication is that you won't know if it can or will help you until you try it.
And yes, therapy DOES work. And medications DO work. They often work best together. But just taking medication will do nothing but mask your symptoms. Until you deal with the underlying cause of your anxiety, you will never reach recovery.
Please check out our HIV Anxiety Group. I'm sure you will get some great advice and support there.
Namate
Greenlydia

[Life360_Dave]

Hi scared. its been 7 years and you have not been diagnosed with hiv, im sure your ok. Why dont you go have a real doctors lab test to rest your mind?
HIV anxiety has turned into a real symdrome and if you follow this forum you will see it all the time.
Part of what i see with this is that most who are concerned, either have a fear of dying, a lot of free time on their hands or unfullfilled lifes goals.
What i would suggest is to beef up your spiritual awareness by attending the worship of your choice or bring out your creative talents such as writing, poetry or inventing a product. People tend to life their lives the same, day in and day out. Try to bring and added change.
This change will take you off the path and open up a new and exciting highway of travel for you.