Really scared and worried, please help

[IceTea74]

Hi,

I'm 18-year-old male and scared of having MS, ALS or something like that.

Little backround of me, I have history of having OCD and health anxiety. I'm a self-diagnosed hypochondriac. I was first scared of having ALS. I remember one time that I was crying because I was reading ALS symptoms. It felt like every symptom I had suggested ALS. After awhile I just moved on and forgot the thing and also my symptoms fade away. Today I just wanted to check one person who I know has MS. That wasn't the best idea because I started to look up MS symptoms and storys. Now I'm scared because of the symptoms and it feels like these symptoms are coming now.

I want to tell a little bit of my symptoms and please can you tell are these symptoms of MS or not. It would help so much if I know.

About a month ago, I got a hit to my head. I didn't get concussion but it definitely shook my head. After that I have had some feelings in my head. They don't hurt usually but sometimes they hurt a little bit but nothing else. These feelings concerns me though. Also my eyes have been weird after that. My eyes aren't so fast at focusing to things that they use to and generally my eyes just have been weird.
Other symptoms that I have or I believe I have is that my reflexes are like quicker. It's hard to explain though but basically my refelxes are better.
Also I looked one site which told about these symptoms. It said that early symptoms are tiredness. I have been tired for past two days. I don't know if it's because I have worked a lot past two days and went sleep late. Also this site told about the eyes. It said that it's hard to focus and I have had those kind of symptoms.

Now I can't focus on anything else than this. It has gone to my sub-concious mind and I hate this. It gives me anxiety everytime when I look these things. I would really appreciate if you can help my situation. Thank you!

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

IF you have a pre-existing diagnosed medical history of OCD and Health Anxiety (Hypochondria) you should already understand that as soon as you "started to look up MS symptoms and storys" and posted your MS fears, you flipped your psychological health anxiety switch on and your behaviours started feeding your anxiety!

Your mental health condition is fully capable of mimicking many 'symptoms' of just about any serious medical condition you get fixated on. Psychologically caused symptoms will worsen and rapidly multiply the more you think, read and talk about the condition your health anxiety has you afraid of, with symptoms disappearing when physically or mentally distracted and with redirected focus on reducing anxiety and understanding personal anxiety triggers...

I highly recommend you focus your thoughts into the short and long term benefits of seeking professional psychological help and support for the legitimate medical conditions you already know to be true, refocus your thoughts on understanding mental health and changing your tomorrows!

I truly hope that helps....JJ

btw there is nothing you have mentioned that would be suggestive or consistent with a neurological condition like MS eg you said "my reflexes are like quicker...basically my refelxes are better" without going into all the reasons, hyperreflexes caused by MS is typically a deficit, disabling and not in any way a situation that improves your reflexes...

[IceTea74]

Hi,

Thank you for answering so quickly and being so understandble. I have bought the linden method if you have heard of it. It really has helped me and all I have to do is not look up those things from the internet and just live life. If I look up those things, they always backfire really quickly.

Thank you!

[BOK2Bjan]

Hi - I'm impressed by your introspection! Many people have this same tendency, yet fail to recognize it. You are to be commended for that.

You probably know that when you focus on a body part - any body part - you can begin to feel sensations within that tissue - or even blood pulsing there. Our bodies are constantly producing various perceivable sensations. When you had the blow to your head - you began focusing on it. Maybe it even hurt from the hit.

Over time, normal sensations feel abnormal due to being so focused on it. Even "hypochondriacs" have injuries and illnesses. So you are right to at least get things evaluated. The trick will be once that's done - to learn to shift your focus.

There are meditation techniques I'm sure you could try - but anything to put a concerted effort into focusing on something outside of yourself. Something tactile - a hobby you can do with your hands that requires intense focus. Hope that helps! Thanks for sharing - blessings, Jan