HELP !! Crippling health anxiety.... Do I Go On Meds??

I am 17, Female and my parents seriously cannot afford to keep taking me to the doctors every two months every time I become terrified I have insert traumatic disease here.

please someone on this chatroom help an extremely anxious girl out, I have no idea what to do about handling this long-term and I genuinely feel scared for my life at least once a month now (especially when not at school).

For reference, I am fairly healthy; I have mild ADHD and mild POTS ( disregulation of blood flow that just means dizzy when I stand up and walking up stairs makes me out of breath. BUT: pretty common among young women).When I was 10, I was diagnosed with separation anxiety and, at 15, Generalized Anxiety Disorder. My anxiety was pretty chill (I didn't even need therapy for a while) until I got COVID in freshman year and it gave me POTS 🫤. After that... well... here is an excerpt from a note on my phone entitled "Questions for Doctor?"

--

Feels like my ears aren't popped

Weird episodes with nausea and disorientation when I'm tired

It takes me a few seconds to remember things I should know automatically ( date/time, how many presidents there have been, my friend's age, ext.)

Sometimes feel weak for no reason

Random Waves of nausea

Tonsil stones

Accessory navicular

Bump on foot, Hodge's bump?

VISUAL SNOW. Getting worse?

Muscle Aches- anxiety? Muscle twitch a lil, I feel like I'm shaking inside (but not physically)

Do I have a gait (or axial gait) when I walk? (My feet hurt when I walk barefoot sometimes)

Cerebral degeneration???

You get the picture.

I go to a boarding school where I am always inundated with work (ironically, the only good stress in my life, as it distracts me from WebMD-ing any weird symptoms), BUT I've been home for the past week (on break) and my physical symptoms have gotten worse.

JUST THIS WEEK, one of my toes inexplicably went numb and I made my mom take me to the doctors (they said I was okay). BUT my parents aren't rich and can't keep paying for these visits as per our insurance with a stupid-high deductible.

And so, naturally, the question of MEDICATION once again presents itself.

IMPORTANT: I am not opposed to medication. however, I am also on Adderall to treat my ADHD and in past convos with my psychiatrist, I know it can get complicated to be on an SSRI with Adderall.

however/also, My parents are pretty opposed to the idea of meds. They wouldn't even let me take a low dose of a benedryl-like calming pills that my psychiatrist recommended I take in the evenings after my Adderall wears off (because my Adderall also helps my anxiety a bit).

Because of these concerns, until now I've been like "I always just push through and I always end up feeling pretty fine eventually." But upon the onset of more physical symptoms than ever, I feel like I might have to face the music. If they will help me, I will go on meds. BUT I would really need to convince my parents and that means legitimately committing to my choice.

So, is my anxiety actually severe enough that I should go on meds? (also, of course, how the heck do I deal with genuinely fearing for my life all the time?)

0 likes, 3 replies