Stressing Out Over Crazy Things

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ValgerAce59

Well-known member
Hi all~~
I was just wondering if any of you stress out about things that other people see as crazy, but to you, it's a big deal. Ok~~I have to share with you my experience today. I guess I'm such a freak...ok,anyway.....
I am NEVER home when Dr.Phil is on, cause it's the usual time that I'm picking up my daughter, and it takes us a while to get home, as we usually stop on the way home to get her a snack. Anyway, today I happened, just by weird chance, to be home at the time that Dr. Phil is on, which I never would normally watch anyway. I got my daughter out early, which is a long story, but doesn't matter here. So, I'm home with her, and I make a sandwich, and decide to watch tv while I'm eating it, and she happens to be in the other room watching Hannah Montana. I turn on the tv, and there is Dr. Phil, talking all about ALS today! It's all about that book 'Tuesdays with Morrie', and how it changed these people's lives. He has on all these guests that have ALS, and this one lady who has it, and she says that book changed her life. Anyway, this totally freaks me out, and now I see this as a sign. I just think it's too weird that here I am so obsessed with this right now, and then this show comes on, like a sign to me. It was Dr. Phil's show saying "Read Tuesdays with Morrie". Between that, and then meeting that lady at my daughters cross country meet that had ALS, it just freaks me out. Also, don't forget that I'm NEVER home at that time.
Has anything like this ever happened to you guys? Do you ever worry about weird things like this? Am I a freak? Now I feel so much worse, like it has something to do with me. I have my neuro appointment on Thursday, and I just think this is weird timing. Just wondering if any of you guys has any kind of similar story, so I won't feel like I'm nuts. So, anyway, weird post, but here it is. Talk to you soon, Val
 
Val, calm down- yes, I remember reading posts here saying that an individual , in a state of severe panic over a perceived serious illness, suddenly seemed to become more aware of others with the disease which is feared-

Whether it be ads, articles, shows etc... that one suddenly seems to be aware of, I believe one has to recognize a few things here:

1. Because one is worked up into fear and extreme anxiety over a perceived illness/condition, one has a much more heightened sense of awareness to these things.

2. This story on the Dr Phil show has to recognized as extreme (way beyond the norm)- that is exactly why they make a show on that topic- because it is so rare, few and far between. It catches people curiousity and fasination which is exactly how they get an audience to tune in.

3. It is very dangerous to allow every suggestion or coincidence to fuel your fears.


Val, our minds and emotions can really play tricks on us when we allow them. The power of suggestion can cause us to become hyper aware of things I feel.

You've got to try to relax and just listen to your dr and shut everything else out around you that feeds your fears.

This is just my advice- you have to force yourself to concentrate on;ly on the FACTS , i.e. BFS in a Nutshell, your docters' conclusions.
Take care-
 
Hello. I'm still new to what appears to be bfs but have been hobbled by health-related anxiety since a cancer scare this past spring. You asked if any of us have been through this or experienced what you're feeling. That's a big "yes" from me. I hope you'll excuse my rambling, but my experience sounds like yours.

While no expert of bfs I have been through six months of a white-knuckle ride on the anxiety roller coaster. The reason I stress this is I, like you, began locking onto all manner of things, including perceived "signs." First, I convinced myself that my clean bill of health cancer-wise merely meant that my doctor must have missed something. After all, I read about a guy who had stage 3 colon cancer that went undetected because his doctor only did a sigmoidoscopy--so hey, if it happened to him, surely something like that has happened to me. Then, when my right foot began to tingle, sometimes for an entire day, I convinced myself I had MS. How did I know? WebMD told me. Lo and behold, everywhere I looked, I saw an article or new report on MS. I finally went back to the doctor after being light-headed for nearly two weeks, convinced that an impending stroke would soon take me and spare me the pain of MS. Of course, ads stating that thousands suffer a stroke and NEVER HAD SYMPTOMS convinced me that I was next.

It turns out, my arteries are "immaculate" and that I could take a bolt of lightning in the chest and not have a heart attack (doctor's words). My symptoms--light-headedness, sleeplessness, etc--were anxiety-related. No MS, no stroke, no cancer--but everything I thought about, read or heard convinced me that my flavor-of-the-month obsession was real. My doctor prescribed meds for the stress and anxiety and I've begun working with a therapist. Nevertheless, when I thought pain and perceived weakness in my right arm were signs of either Parkinson's or *LS, I was ripe for another meltdown when I first detected twitches in my foot. Why again? WebMD! Had to be true if it was on WebMD. I stopped planning my funeral long enough to see my doc for a back problem--likely cause of the tingling, ulnar nerve entrapment is likely causing the arm pain--he checked my reflexes, did some strength tests and then chewed me out for "diagnosing" myself with *LS on the internet.

The point of all this rambling is that both he and my therapist have told me that with the anxiety, I am hyper-sensitive to my body and that I connect dots that aren't even there. The twitching is not "in my head," but the anxiety causes me to relate whatever I'm feeling to the most proximate cause. Thinking I have MS? Then my foot isn't simply asleep, it's a sign of the disease. Thinking *LS? Then I will notice things around me that point to it. Just as we begin to see a certain model of car "everywhere" after we've taken one for a test drive, my doctors explained that once I have in my mind that I have something, I will attribute all manner of things to it, even divining "signs" from the great beyond, as you have. I even obsessed about the side effects of my meds--hey, 4 out of every 1000 patients suffered seizures at the highest doses of the stuff. So, even though I am on the lowest dose, for the first two weeks I was convinced that I would have a seizure at the worst possible moment and sail right off some highway overpass. I had to get my thoughts under control--every time my breathing changed or pulse quickened, I just KNEW it was the meds--except that it wasn't.

So you are clearly dealing with bfs in all its glory, but your fears tell you something else. Like me, then, you see *LS spelled out in a bowl of alphabet soup and think "that's it." If you're like me, the reason *LS seems to be all around you is not that you have it but you're simply hypersensitive to it.

Seeing your doctors will help you deal with the reality of bfs but I can tell you from experience, dealing with the reality of anxiety is also a big challenge. This site pulled me back off the ceiling and not surprisingly, my anxiety is under control.

I hope I haven't been presumptuous here and certainly don't mean to attribute meaning to your fears that you do not share. Likewise, I realize this may be TMI but I felt that letting you know of my wild ride, which through the miracles of modern chemistry, a good therapist and this wonderful forum is far less wild today, might help calm your fears. From what I can gather, you are going to be fine, as fine as bfs will let you be. BFS is real; so is anxiety. The two are a toxic combination. I realize that defeating my anxiety will help me deal with bfs or whatever else comes along and get on with life. It's time to watch for real symptoms and problems, not signs or perceptions. Easier said than done, I know, because I'm still not there yet myself.

But hang in there; you'll get the better of this soon enough.

Mark
 
Hi Val,
I have had similar experiences. My fears alternate between ** AND ***.
A couple of months ago I was on my way to a meeting which got cancelled at the last minute and I had to turn back. As a result I took a different bus hom, got off at a different stop and ended up walking down a street I rarely go on. As I was waiting for the light at a pedestrian crossing I heard 2 women talking rather loudly. One woman said to the other "My boyfriend's mum is dying from a chronic disease". On hearing this my ears perked up and I eavesdropped on the rest of the conversation. Turns out the disease was ** and the person was in bad shape. My heart sank - I though wow what were my chances of being at the same sidewalk as these two women at the exact same time as they were talking about **.
Then a few weeks ago I was having a falre up with the twitching and anxiety. I tried watching TV to distract myself. I tuned into an episode of law and order where this very young girl supposedly had ***. I turned off the TV but my boyfriend wanted to keep watching. Turned out that the person in the show was faking and never had the disease (you know how the stories unfold on Law & Order). Nonetheless my evening was ruined.
I'm not sure if my recounting the above experiences helps you, but I can certainly commiserate with the feeling that the universe is conspiring against me.
Take care.
 
Valger,

Yours is an interesting post. Let me assure you that the Dr. Phil show was probably planned LONG before you developed BFS. The scheduling of that particular episode could have been in the works 12 whole months ago -- so it's not a "sign" that you tuned into it.
Secondly, you are hyper-aware now of ***, but I bet you had been exposed to news about it, in some shape, way or form, many times, long before you developed BFS. But the news or whatever, never registered much in your consciousness. If you started believing that anything with vertical stripes was a sign of doom, I bet you'd suddenly start seeing vertical stripes everywhere. This is how the mind works.
Ironically, before I developed BFS, I had seen an episode of "Strong Medicine" re-run that included a segment about a woman with ***. And only a few weeks before I got BFS, I just happened to come across a photo of Lou Gehrig that was taken right before he made his famous speech, and the caption gave some information about his fate. Can you imagine the anxiety I would have suffered, had I happened across this photo three weeks later? Or the "Strong Medicine" episode at a later date? Everyone from time to time sees or hears something about this disease.
*** needs more publicity so they can find a cure or treatment.
 
Val, don't be involved by superstition. That is not the omen. For example I bought whole collection Dr. House on DVD. Every now and then I hear the word A.. or I see A.. case; more than statistic coincindence. Or E.R. with Goran Visnjic (Croat!). At least one episode was dedicated to A.. I don't know are you fine or not. No one is 100% healthy person (here); no one has A..(here).
 
Yes! I have had this happen to me too. I remember back when I used to worry about having Multiple Sclerosis, we were watching Montel Williams (probably making fun of it or something) and I looked him up on wikipedia to find out that he had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It scared me so much for some reason. Even just mention of the word can scare me and greatly heighten my anxiety. Even now, in baseball the ALDS games that were played freaked me out because I always imagined it without the D. There are a ton more examples I could give than that, so I definitely know how you feel. If you can, just TRY to use logic and KNOW that it has no bearing on you, or your symptoms. You either have it or you don't (and you don't). Actually, the power of suggestion is the reason my signature is what it is. Even though I know just by saying that doesn't make it true, it still just...helps.
 
Val,

I have to chime in on just a few of my many weird co-inka-dinks

The night before my 1st appointment at the als clinic i was pretty wound up so i thought I would watch some TV. I am a sports guy so I decided to watch some ESPN. Lo and behold as soon as I turned it there was a segment on Lou Gehrig. I almost barfed. I was sure it was a sign.

Just last month I was eating lunch at a burger joint and I was telling my wife about a local guy John, I sort of know, that has als. (we live in a small town)I have talked to him a couple times in the past. Anyways his family owns a local food supply buisness that delivers to my work 3 times a week, which in itself is a constant reminder. A few hours earlier I had asked a delivery driver how John was doing and getting info. I was really down at the burger place that day because how bad I felt and basically freaking about als. I was telling my wife how the guy says John is not to bad but his right leg is so atrophied that he has a bad limp. As we were leaving I opened the door to leave and in walks John! I held the door for him. He did look normal for the most part. He was talking on his cell phone and you could see him limp. It was unmistakable. I almost passed out my heart was racing so fast. It was actually a slap in my face. I had been whining about how bad I felt and like it felt like I had been hit by a truck that day, but when I saw John I realized he would gladly trade my condition (BFS) for his(als)

I have many stories but I stop at one more. There is a company in town called ALSCO. I swear I see that truck all the time.

I am religous so I believe it is just torment from the enemy. Praying always seems to help.

DD
 
Hi Val,
This happened to me just the other night. I was watching the Red Sox/Indians and the commentator said something about how many home runs Manny has hit in the post season and then said that the record was still held by Lou Gherig. As soon as I heard the name and saw his picture, my heart dropped. I know that this happened because I'm hyper-aware of anything related to ***, but it still sparks the anxiety. The only thing it's a sign of is that you're much more attentive to any news about ***, like so many of us are. Don't worry!!
 
June,

I read that story too ! The guy who invented LifeFitness.

Also, I forgot to mention, during my own freakout phase, I was reading the paper and opened to a page and popping out was an ad for a fundraiser for ***.

I also forgot to mention that some years ago, a co-worker had the big one. He wore a foot brace. For the life of me, I don't know how this man could come to work every day like nothing was wrong, knowing what the outcome would be. At the time, the *** thing didn't phase me, and my only thoughts were that he should spend as much time with family and doing things he's always put off, rather than reporting to such a dreary job every day. Not long after he left, another employee started a fundraiser to buy him a $3,000 wheel chair. Again, I wasn't phased -- until years later when I began noticing the twitchin.'
 
Oh my gosh! Yes. A year ago, when I was in the thick of the MS, ALS scare I saw in a single week: a cover article about a man recently diagnosed with ALS, an article about a fundaraiser for a local musician I have always enjoyed who was just diagnosed with MS (I hadn't heard), and a movie that had a big fundraiser for ALS where everyone talked about how lucky they were not to have it. I thought for sure that everyone of these things was a sign that I was going DOWN!! Perhaps these things were put in my path for a reason, but not because I have either of these diseases. The disease I was being thrust face to face with was FEAR. That has been my challenge to face.

So take heart. Know you are not alone. And trust you will be fine.
We are all with you.
Best,
Beth
 
This is one of the most interesting threads. Does anyone here by chance know anybody named, for instance, Alison Lynn Samuels, or Adam Leonard Scott? If you look hard enough, you'll find something connected to *** everywhere, like the guy several posts above who keeps seeing that truck.
 
Hi Valger 59,
Oh yes, I know what you mean!
I am a reader and in the past two years on the 6 novels I bought in 4 of them one of the main characters had MS! I thought also that it had to be a sign for me to finally aknowledge and accept the disease!
I did not know a thing about the author or the stories before chosing the books. I am not kidding!
I believe that we are attracted even on a "subconcious level" to the things we fear the most. Especially the high sensitives among us!
Love your neurologist!
 
I am apparantly full blown OCD this sort of thing happens all the time.

One of my best friends face has started twitching now. Do I think she has *LS? of course not, do I think I have? well that is a different story isn't it?
 
I know what you guys mean! There are 'signs' all around. I was listening to the Dennis Miller show on the radio the other night on the way home, and they were asking something about baseball, I don't remember the exact question, some kind of record, and Dennis Miller guessed that it was Lou Gehrig. These things always get your attention now!
It's weird, and tell me if you guys can relate to this, how each day seems like it's something different. Maybe not each day, but it goes in cycles, like one week it will be this worry, and then another week, something else. The last few days, my tongue has been making me very nervous. I've read some posts on here that say they have had the tongue twitching, and how it's the most nervewracking one of all!! I guess because it really gets your attention, and also probably because of the conflicting information on how bad of a sign that is. I have read where tongue twitching can be anxiety driven, just like all of our other twitches, but you know how you can read other things on those scarier sites. I really try and stay off of those, and most times, I follow my own rules on that. It never helps, and the info you read on there can stay with you for a long time, fostering the vicious cycle that this is.
I think my neuro really tried to explain this to me without screaming at me that I was a hypochondriac!! So, you like my neuro from what I've explained?? I like him too, but I also worry (the Woody Allen in me)that he hasn't done enough tests. But, as I've mentioned before, he says there is no point. He is trying to help me deal with this on a psychological level, I think.
Also, in addition to the tongue facis that I've been experiencing in an increasing amount, I notice that I'm really having mood swings. Is that a bad sign of anything? I had read once where, with ALS, you can having crying jags and I suppose that can mean mood swings, but it's not like I'm having that, I just notice that one day, I can feel more positive, and then, on a day like today, everyone in the world is driving me crazy, and I feel like I'm desperate for some alone time. I feel bad for my family, because I don't mean to be moody with them. It's not that bad as I make it sound, it's just like they can be sensitive to my moods, and it's obvious if I'm just sick of what I'm doing, such as making dinner (again!)....I don't yell at anyone or anything, as I said, it's just that they can tell when something is bothering me. I guess I'm just sick of worrying about this, but I definitely am having mood swings. I just want to crawl in a bed, pull the sheets over my head, and stay there for a week. Do you know what I mean?
Anyway, any info about the tongue thing would be greatly appreciated, since I'm stressing out about that. It's hard to describe, I would say mostly it feels like little pops on the sides and bottom of my tongue, not always in the same spot, but I also have that same sensation on the top, in the middle sometimes. It's a weird feeling. I have read where, if it's ALS, by the time you have that, you would have lots of trouble speaking, swallowing, etc. I don't think I'm having that, other than the trouble speaking thing that we've all mentioned before.
I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for all the help I get on here! Sometimes I can't wait to come on here, knowing I'll feel better when I get off. Talk to you soon, Val
 

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