Question: Suggest treatment for anxiety and depression

Hello, I received useful an appreciated information from Dr. Bishnoi, and I am wondering if you had any other thoughts that might be helpful to me.

Here is the transcript:

would like some self-help recommendations for health anxiety.
Asked by Me , 9 hours ago
This is my first time using this service, and I see it says a specialist is working on my question. Is someone there? Or is this an automated response to my question?
Asked by Me , 9 hours ago
Doctor's reply to your question above...
Brief Answer:
Please elaborate the symptoms you have

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HealthcareMagic

I am Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi, Consultant Psychiatrist. I will be answering your doubts.

What kind of help do you want?

Kindly elaborate what kind of health anxiety you have? How it started and what are your main concerns? Have you taken any medicines?

Thanks and Take care.

As healthcaremagic is a platform that has doctors from various specialities and from different regions, some times the response takes time. This is the reason the delay occurred.
Replied by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi , 9 hours ago
Disclaimer: The Expert's advice is provided for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, as a complete assessment of an individual has not taken place. Please consult your nearest physician before acting on it. The advice is not valid for medico-legal purposes also.
Hello Dr. Bishnoi, and thank you for answering. I would like some relief from constant worry and apprehension and fear about serious health problems which may arise in the future based on trigger thoughts that can be anything I see on TV or hear in a conversation.

I believe the problem started when I took care of seriously ill parents at home until they passed away. It was overwhelming, and I worried about their health, naturally, and after they died, I worried about my health and the health of my loved ones.

Much of my fears have to do with contamination, not entirely unreasonable, but when there is a remote chance of something serious that might occur, I tend to expect the worst. Reassurance (which I understand only gives temporary relief) is the only relief that helps me until the next time. For example, if I scratch my finger, I worry that I might come into contact with blood (not visible to the eye) and possibly hepatitis c.

I have never taken medication and don't want to do so.
Asked by Me , 8 hours ago
Just some additional information: I took care of my parents and other sick relative for about ten years without relief. I had to leave my profession and work from home in order to take care of them. They were very difficult, and I did not get much sleep as they demanded constant attention.
Asked by Me , 8 hours ago
I wanted to be vigilant to be sure I did not overlook anything with regard to their health, and I was always on the alert for any "symptom" that might be significant. Not having a medical background, it was hard for me to discern what was important from what was benign, so I erred on the side of caution and everything became worrisome. This became a way of thinking, and after they passed away, (about ten years ago) I continued this pattern with myself and others dear to me.
Asked by Me , 8 hours ago
Some of my health anxieties resolve when, for example, there is an incubation period that passes. I worried about tetanus from a clean wound even though the chances are remote. The worry was resolved when the incubation period passed. However, when there is no incubation period or one that can be decades in the future, and the disease can be asymptomatic, these are the worst of my worries.
Asked by Me , 8 hours ago
Have I provided enough information for you to respond?
Asked by Me , 8 hours ago
Will you be replying soon? Otherwise I would like to get some sleep as it is 5:30 AM where I am.
Asked by Me , 8 hours ago
Doctor's reply to your question above...
Brief Answer:
Health anxiety can be controlled

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again

A lot of individuals have intrusive ideas about I'll health. Usually such ideas or thoughts occur more commonly in those with some anxiety traits. You have constant fear of getting some serious illness and this fear is more related to hygiene and contamination. First of all I'd like to tell you that transmission of infection of even communicable illnesses depends upon a lot of factors and just coming in touch with some infection doesn't transmit infection.



For example if we take Hepatitis C then it can't transmit by a scratch over skin even if the scratch comes in contact with infected article. A lot of viruses can't survive on inanimate objects. You have to accept this. Just remain relaxed, before getting anxious about some particular illness just reassure yourself whether you are really at risk of getting that illness or not.

Persistent stress both physically and mentally while you were taking care of your parents and then loss of job and worsening of their health etc symptoms contributed significantly to development of anxiety in your case. This anxiety later became fear of illness or hypochondriasis. But that doesn't mean you have to live with it. With time the anxiety will decrease and you will be alright.If

Keep reassuring yourself and avoid searching about mild symptoms. Try to ignore any mild symptoms and don't relate these with serious illnesses.

Before expecting worst try to find out milder causes.

- Avoid searching about illness on internet. Any mild symptom should be ignored.

- Try relaxation exercises like yoga or progressive muscle relaxation exercises to keep yourself relaxed and to distract yourself.

- Keep yourself busy in your day to day routine.

- Give time to yourself, music therapy helps in reducing anxiety.

- Take diets rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, folate to remain anxiety free.

- Take high protein and low fat diets.

Follow these things and you will see improvement in yourself.

Thanks and Take care.
Replied by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi , 8 hours ago
Disclaimer: The Expert's advice is provided for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, as a complete assessment of an individual has not taken place. Please consult your nearest physician before acting on it. The advice is not valid for medico-legal purposes also.
Thank you very much for your reply. I do believe I can be reasonable but this affliction seeks certainty. My mind will always think of some remote risk and focus on the possibility that it can theoretically happen, and then the thoughts become obsessive, and I will typically Google compulsively, which more often does not help. I take Omega 3 and B12 in moderate doses. I will try your other suggestions, thanks. Do you think this forum can serve as a sort of "therapy" for me?
Asked by Me , 7 hours ago
Doctor's reply to your question above...
Brief Answer:
Yes you can rely on health care magic

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

Yes this forum can serve to relieve your doubts. But avoid searching cause of your symptoms. Try to accept that you have health anxiety. You have to suppress unwanted thoughts which are resulting in distress.

Thanks

You are welcome to ask follow up doubts.
Replied by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi , 7 hours ago
Disclaimer: The Expert's advice is provided for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, as a complete assessment of an individual has not taken place. Please consult your nearest physician before acting on it. The advice is not valid for medico-legal purposes also.
I am going to get some sleep now. I was excited about finding this site, and stayed up way too long. I will look for you answer later in the day. Thank you.
Asked by Me , 7 hours ago
Thank you Dr. Bihnoi. I will take your advice regarding a better perspective with regard to mild or minor symptoms. In large part, however, my anxiety has to do with believing that I have caused harm to myself by exposure to toxins and contaminants in the past and it will show up in the future, and my rational side trying to convince myself that "the dose makes the poison". For example I have had terrible anxiety regarding asbestos shingles that were removed from my home improperly (I was reassured by an expert on another forum that this would have been too little to be concerned about) or that I may have dropped a bit of grape jelly that I hadn't noticed and grapes being toxic to cats, that they may have ingested it. I might read something regarding an association having been found between a product or something I used decades ago and a serious illness. My memory is always not in my favor due as I wrestle with trying to recall what happened in the distant past. There are many, many similar things. The irony is that I am in apparent excellent health and people assume I am many years younger than my age.

Do you have any ideas as to how to counter these types of contamination fears?

Do you think that despite the severity of my anxiety (very high until I am reassured, and often the resolved anxiety about a specific thing can return, and I have to be re-reassured) and the length of time I have suffered with this affliction are less prognostic that I can get better than what I believe is in my favor, that is, I am capable of being rational and my fears can be quieted if I am convinced by an expert who I trust knows more than I do about what constitutes real risk and who reassures me?
Asked by Me , 1 hour ago
Doctor's reply to your question above...
Brief Answer:
Try to distract yourself.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

When ever you develop such ideas in your mind, first of all try to find the things that are contrary to your thoughts. Like in example of asbestos, exposure in home doesn't result in serious effects even in long term. As you have mentioned prolonged contact, dose etc maters. Anticipation and then over analysis are resulting in health anxiety. Try to reassure yourself again and again that you are not getting any infection or illness.

You are accepting that you have health anxiety and this is a good step towards recovery. A lot of individuals even don't recognise that they have anxiety. So you are one step forward to others. Just keep in your mind that the thoughts coming to your mind are intrusive unwanted and you have to suppress these thoughts either by distracting yourself or finding a rational way that your thinking is purposeless and not right in this aspect. You can distract yourself by relaxation exercises too as I have mentioned.

Thanks. Still have doubts please ask again.
Replied by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi , 10 minutes ago

Thank you very much for reading my post carefully and for your reply. I will incorporate those suggestions into my routine.