This is so interesting. After (successful) breast cancer treatment, I became convinced that every twinge in my spine/chest/head was a sign of recurrence.
It was ‘all in my head’ but that phrase feels dismissive when the symptoms are so real. Thank you for explaining this with so much empathy and practical advice ❤️
I empathize with Rachel, as a patient with multiple chronic conditions, including anxiety. I keep a regular exercise, eating, and sleep schedule. Sleep, however, is often out of whack, with long periods of wakefulness starting anywhere between midnight and 3 am, in spite of practicing as much good sleep hygiene as possible, and having no sleep apnea. Lack of sleep seems to be complicated by a mind-gut connection (LT IBS and GERD) in the middle of the night. However I'm also grateful for my attentive PCP who read my home BPs a couple of years ago, combined with my reporting heart palpitations. He was concerned enough to ask if I would go for an echo. Results showed mitral valve stenosis, among other anomalies, with a recommendation to repeat in two years, plus a low dose of metropolol to minimize palpitations. I'm scheduled for that second echo next month and hoping for stability. I have tried virtual therapy, for anxiety, without much relief.
Timely! My social news feed this week had a few articles about “heart attack symptoms in women” that really scared me, because they highlighted how subtle they can be, and it made me fear I’d become hyper-vigilant in response. Have you written any articles on that topic? Do women always usually subtle symptoms compared to men?
Excellent article worth reading more than once For six weeks at age 81 I’ve been having mild to moderate night sweats and both lymphoma and breast cancer are in remission so it’s a mystery. Maybe it is stress not a false negative from a pet scan. I will have other tests, but this is very good perspective for those of us who research and worry way too much. Thank you.
A doctor did once tell me to "listen to my body" it was unjelpful except possibly ending the conversation so she could move on.
I have found that stress impacts both accute and chronic pain. It can be a challenge but when you are in pain turn off everything you can that causes you stress or anger.
This woman’s story reads exactly like I initially went through trying to diagnose something that wasn’t really there. It took years and finally a vessel specialist (my PCP want me to one??) that was like lady you are stressed and experiencing physcosomatic symptoms. It was when I finally met with a therapist that recommended the book “anxiety and phobia workbook” and then randomly finding the curable app and the book “unlearn your pain” that I true understood when and how to listen to my body.
I wish I had a doctor like you to start with because your advice took me 10 years to find. Once I found it, I was able to get a much better grasp on my perceived pains and triggers
As a trauma survivor I’d add that there are also groups out there of people who are simply not able to pick up or make sense of their bodily sensations - constantly nudging them to notice and trust what their body is communicating is stressful and counterproductive.
Great article! That's a very useful insight... I think it can be challenging to help someone walk through this, and it is a shame that the "it's all in my head" has become this blanket "I must just be crazy" and therefore what I'm feeling and going through is invalid. These body sensations from stress, lack of sleep, and nervous system dysregulation are just as valid as any other root cause.
Mindfulness is important in so many ways - staying in the present moment, tuning into bodily cues, and providing a sense of perspective and calm - if it’s available!
I think you were writing this about me. I have become too aware of my body at the moment and this has made me think that i need to do more in my life to not focus so much on what is happening in my gut - especially since you have helped go to great lengths to get things checked out. As always- grateful. 🙂
I love the periodic table of human emotions! How did you do that? Amazing.
Interesting stuff. I think we should not turn off our awareness. Awareness is job number 1. Perhaps don't translate that information readily into action, unless you have had a conversation with a few professionals and use a little common sense to consider what all is going on?
The crucial difference here is the difference between listening to and understanding our bodies.
Just like in all relationships and learning, we can’t get to the understanding part without listening first. And yes, of course some lessons take longer to understand and require more help to understand than others. But that’s what Rachel did. She listened the best she could, she courageously struggled to understand what her body was telling her, and then eventually got the help she needed to really understand what was happening from you.
Maybe Rachel’s anxiety—which the modern profit-incentivized medical establishment often inadvertently exacerbates—did make the understanding process more difficult/expensive/time-consuming! But the massive problems inherent in the ubiquitous individual and collective traumas we’re all navigating today (consciously or not) is a separate issue from learning to listen to—and then more fully understand—the wisdom of our bodies.
Very good article! I developed “health anxiety” after getting into menopause. I have much better coping skills now. I use tapping, walking, meditation It still occurs but not as bad
This is so interesting. After (successful) breast cancer treatment, I became convinced that every twinge in my spine/chest/head was a sign of recurrence.
It was ‘all in my head’ but that phrase feels dismissive when the symptoms are so real. Thank you for explaining this with so much empathy and practical advice ❤️
❤️
I empathize with Rachel, as a patient with multiple chronic conditions, including anxiety. I keep a regular exercise, eating, and sleep schedule. Sleep, however, is often out of whack, with long periods of wakefulness starting anywhere between midnight and 3 am, in spite of practicing as much good sleep hygiene as possible, and having no sleep apnea. Lack of sleep seems to be complicated by a mind-gut connection (LT IBS and GERD) in the middle of the night. However I'm also grateful for my attentive PCP who read my home BPs a couple of years ago, combined with my reporting heart palpitations. He was concerned enough to ask if I would go for an echo. Results showed mitral valve stenosis, among other anomalies, with a recommendation to repeat in two years, plus a low dose of metropolol to minimize palpitations. I'm scheduled for that second echo next month and hoping for stability. I have tried virtual therapy, for anxiety, without much relief.
Sleep and anxiety go hand in hand
Sorry to hear you are suffering
Glad you have a good partner with your PCP 😊
Timely! My social news feed this week had a few articles about “heart attack symptoms in women” that really scared me, because they highlighted how subtle they can be, and it made me fear I’d become hyper-vigilant in response. Have you written any articles on that topic? Do women always usually subtle symptoms compared to men?
Will write about this!
Excellent article worth reading more than once For six weeks at age 81 I’ve been having mild to moderate night sweats and both lymphoma and breast cancer are in remission so it’s a mystery. Maybe it is stress not a false negative from a pet scan. I will have other tests, but this is very good perspective for those of us who research and worry way too much. Thank you.
❤️
A doctor did once tell me to "listen to my body" it was unjelpful except possibly ending the conversation so she could move on.
I have found that stress impacts both accute and chronic pain. It can be a challenge but when you are in pain turn off everything you can that causes you stress or anger.
Yes indeed
This woman’s story reads exactly like I initially went through trying to diagnose something that wasn’t really there. It took years and finally a vessel specialist (my PCP want me to one??) that was like lady you are stressed and experiencing physcosomatic symptoms. It was when I finally met with a therapist that recommended the book “anxiety and phobia workbook” and then randomly finding the curable app and the book “unlearn your pain” that I true understood when and how to listen to my body.
I wish I had a doctor like you to start with because your advice took me 10 years to find. Once I found it, I was able to get a much better grasp on my perceived pains and triggers
I love the anxiety and phobia workbook.. it's a classic!
Thanks for writing and for sharing your story :)
As a trauma survivor I’d add that there are also groups out there of people who are simply not able to pick up or make sense of their bodily sensations - constantly nudging them to notice and trust what their body is communicating is stressful and counterproductive.
So true
Great article! That's a very useful insight... I think it can be challenging to help someone walk through this, and it is a shame that the "it's all in my head" has become this blanket "I must just be crazy" and therefore what I'm feeling and going through is invalid. These body sensations from stress, lack of sleep, and nervous system dysregulation are just as valid as any other root cause.
Yes indeed - and the truth is that all sensations are, in fact, “in our head” 😃🧠
I work with people on hunger/satiety cues and intuitive & Mindful eating and this is a great reminder and perspective to keep in mind. Thank you.
Mindfulness is important in so many ways - staying in the present moment, tuning into bodily cues, and providing a sense of perspective and calm - if it’s available!
I think you were writing this about me. I have become too aware of my body at the moment and this has made me think that i need to do more in my life to not focus so much on what is happening in my gut - especially since you have helped go to great lengths to get things checked out. As always- grateful. 🙂
❤️
I love the periodic table of human emotions! How did you do that? Amazing.
Interesting stuff. I think we should not turn off our awareness. Awareness is job number 1. Perhaps don't translate that information readily into action, unless you have had a conversation with a few professionals and use a little common sense to consider what all is going on?
The crucial difference here is the difference between listening to and understanding our bodies.
Just like in all relationships and learning, we can’t get to the understanding part without listening first. And yes, of course some lessons take longer to understand and require more help to understand than others. But that’s what Rachel did. She listened the best she could, she courageously struggled to understand what her body was telling her, and then eventually got the help she needed to really understand what was happening from you.
Maybe Rachel’s anxiety—which the modern profit-incentivized medical establishment often inadvertently exacerbates—did make the understanding process more difficult/expensive/time-consuming! But the massive problems inherent in the ubiquitous individual and collective traumas we’re all navigating today (consciously or not) is a separate issue from learning to listen to—and then more fully understand—the wisdom of our bodies.
Great points
No words for how much that means from you🙏🏻
❤️❤️❤️
Excellent!
❤️
Extremely helpful article. Thank you so much for this.
Thank you for reading !
THIS!! Incredibly important points here! And SO overlooked! Thank you! 🤗
Thank you
Very good article! I developed “health anxiety” after getting into menopause. I have much better coping skills now. I use tapping, walking, meditation It still occurs but not as bad
I’ve not tried tapping myself but people swear by it