Anxiety over HIV

[dan450]

My anxiety is getting the best of me. I admit I have always been a hypochondriac, and this is driving my HIV anxiety. I had some exposures that the HIV Prevention community have said are not true risks for HIV. Deep down, I beleive them. However, I gert a weird symptom and go into a panic thinking it's HIV. MY eyes are burning with exhaustion from lack of sleep. I have nobody I can talk to about this fear. I want to buy the Oraquick test, get a negative result and move on, but I am afraid.

[dan450]

Thanks...the truth is I spent a lot of time in the forums here, and the exposures I had do not qualify as a risk, so it's very likely I will test negative.

The thing is I am married, and I cannot discuss with anyone and I feel alone and isolated.

There is the oraquick home test, but I am so afraid, I go into a panic. Awful feeling.

[lilred2030]

I had the same fear, health anxiety is a pain, i got tested and it was negative its one of them you either have it or you dont a test will tell you for sure.

even if you did which like you say seems unlikely their is very very very effective treatment.

However the more likely event that you are negative then it is a case of getting treatment for your anxiety if you dont already. A doctor could help you with sleep and if you dont like medication their are credable reports that support CBT therapy ... this is not a 'talk' therapy about the past etc it is basically like a rewire of the brain sounds weird but it is very effective treatment.

youll be fine you just need to face it head on and not let it win :)

[cmac21]

You are likely experiencing weird symptoms because you are anxious. I follow the same cycle. I have what I think is a weird symptom (usually due to unrecognized anxiety or stress), then I start panicking about it. I would suggest to just take the test so at least you know either way. You are just going to drive yourself mad thinking 'what if'