Breast cancer obsession.. going crazy here

Thank you Apples..
You know, now that I think about it, my breasts started to hurt when I started to forget to take my bc pill and then started to take it regurlarly again, what happened is that I totally messed up, I was supposed to wait a month and then the first Sunday after my period, start a new box, but I didn't wait, I started the first Sunday after my ARTIFICIAL period, and I should have waited for the natural period after a month of not not taking the pill. That's when they started to hurt... my mom thinks it's totally hormonal... like I got my hormones all weird because of my mistake... and that it should go away... but it's been a month and a half now... do you think I might have caused cancer by doing that? lol I know it's stupid... but yeah, I'm paranoid...

Anyways, I saw my gyno for the last time a year ago, and will see her again in October. I can't wait.. (for once!).

 

Also..sorry for posting once again...lol

I agree with Maggie Sugar, you aren't doing anything wrong.
It is natural and normal to have fears... it's all part of your survival instinct; I firmly believe that the one and only reason anyone fears something is because they somehow stem it back to death.

The point is, you can't let the fears you have get the best of you.

It would be the same for a person who is afraid of spiders...to continually and routinely scope out where ever they are every so often to make sure no spiders are on them, or to keep checking themselves to make sure a spider isn't on them.

I'm not trying to preach at all, because I know how it feels and at times I slip and let my fears get the best of me as well, I'm just simply pointing out that your fear is a natural survival instinct and all you have to do is find a way to get control of it and not let it get the best of you.

<3

 

Thank you
*hugs*
You're very sweet.. I know you're not trying to preach, you're trying to help, and I really appreciate it!

 

*smiles* No, I don't think you have "caused" cancer by doing that.

Let yourself live a little. You don't want to live in a bubble!! Sure, it's good to take precautions, and live as healthy as you possibly can, but to nitpick will only ultimately lead to unhappiness.

Over anything it seems as if it's become a little bit of an obsessive compulsive thing... if you get help for it soon, or somehow figure out how you can help yourself, it should be easily fixed. Like I said I used to be so much like that; I saw a therapist for a while, but what really helped me was just doing a whole lot of thinking and figuring out where I felt my issues were stemming from, and after that I did whatever I thought was best to make me feel better about what it was that caused me to be that way.

OCD is SO common it's amazing...and a lot of people dont even realize they have it.

It's good that you are aware of your problem, and are admitting it....sounds cliche, but it really is the first step

 

Penny sweetheart,
I just celebrated my 50 birthday with my beautiful family. From the time I was your age, until about 10 years ago, I worried myself sick about cancer. If I had a pimple on my nose, I figured it was cancer.......I obsessed, cried, planned funerals in my mind.......If I saw a commercial for heart disease, I just knew I had it...If it was a commercial for diabetes, I had it..Once I was assured that I didn't have one ailment, I convinced myself I had another...I lost so much time living with worry.....We subconsciously sabotage much of our precious moments in life with worry that will never come to pass....do you know that about 99% of your worries DO NOT EVER materialize.

So........love God.........love life...........live with compassion.......never judge another soul.............and take time to experience every bit that each day offers you.....

Luv Ya,
Lila

 

Thank you Lila..

 

Penny, OCD can be treated (I have it, too.) I don't usually have cancer obsessions, but I do have stomach flu ones. (Ah Jeez, and I wasn't going to talk about it. LOL!) I actually worry obsesively if my kids come in contact with people who came in contact with a child who puked. I carry antibacterial wipes AND antibac lotion, I clean shopping carts before I shop.......I take Zoloft. LOL. (The reason I am laughing is that I have come to terms with the illness and can now joke about it, I am NOT laughing at you, I just want you to see that one can become more OK with the condition.) What it appears you have (but don't quote me on it) is NOT hypochondria, which is kinda similar, but different, but maybe, just maybe OCD. But, I am not a doctor. (cool thing is, the Zoloft really helps with my chronic migraine as well, killing two birds with one pill.) It is a hell of a lot bettter than it was. EVERYONE in my dad's family has OCD and NO ONE talks about it. (it's the tappin and countin and cleanin and steppin over doorways family.......) I didn't tell ANYONE until I was TWENTY NINE years old. I was so ashamed. I had no reason to be, but I just felt I was kinda nuts. OCD is NOT nuts, because of the fact that you KNOW your obsessions and compulsions are not of the normal type. OCD is hereditary (but don't expect anyone to admit to it.) and also caused by chemical imbalances. People with OCD often (but not always) also get Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Major Depressive Disorder, Migrane and other Neuro-Somatic conditions.

It would be a good idea to see a good doc. Meds can help even out the chemical imbalances which can MAKE US obsess. And therapy can help us deal with the world. It isn't the end of the world, and it can be treated. Maybe it is something else, but a good doctor (psychiatrist would be the best GPs are really NOT qualified to diagnose things like this) can really help you and also refer you for therapy.

OCD can eat your life. Treatment can give you your life back.

Blesssings, there is a way to heal. Thank God.

 

You really shouldn't be so worried. I'm a guy like I said earlier in this thread, your gonna have me worried I have breast Cancer lol

 

You know guys can have breast cancer too? No seriously, they can... it's rare though... I found out a few weeks ago. Now don't YOU start worrying about it


Maggie, I think I'm gonna make an appointment with a psychiatrist and talk about my problems, my fears, my obsessions... It seems like... it's gonna be hard go get over my cancert obession, but.. if you say you got over your obsession, then I guess I'll manage as well. Thank you, again

 

Maggie, I forgot: you know I get horrible headaches too! AND I can get very depressive sometimes, to the point where I don't even get out of bed, stop talking, stop eating.. well just stop enjoying life or anything in general.. it doesn't last very long though, exept when I was 16-17 (before I met Nick, my fiance.. over the forums.. lol - and we've been together for more than 3 years now! and have lived together for over 2 years). Between 16 and 17 years old.. I went through this HUGE depression, I became anorexic - well not really, because I just didn't eat cause I wasn't hungry, not to lose weight - which I didn't need to - but then again, I was pleased with my horribly skinny image, so... I don't know...

But now.. when I get depressed, it's usually because something didn't go the way I planned it.. it's pretty bad, I know.. another problem I have!!! Geez..

 

You know Penny, when you go through things like this a lot of times it feels like "what is WRONG with me?!" and you feel alone; but as you can see, it's totally not uncommon.

I've went through a lot of quote-unquote "mental instabilities" and in the beginning I felt as if I was the only person who dealt with it, or that I was crazy. I've come to realize that it's actually MORE NORMAL to have irrational thoughts than to not...

No one wants admit that they aren't perfect, but none of us are so it's all good

I used to also think that no way, no how would a therapist help me... it seemed bogus. But, when I went through 7 years of an eating disorder and FINALLY came across Judith, my fucking lifesaver, she helped me so much in ways that I never thought possible.

My personal favorite was art therapy ...I didnt have to talk, just either draw, paint, or sculpt.

When you find a good therapist who you feel comfortable with, and understands you, you wont want to let them go!! My therapist went out of practice to write, and I still miss her everyday, she was like a second mom to me

 

Yes it's good to see that I (you, we, everyone) are not alone.. thanks again

Art therapy.. I never heard of that! It sounds great.. I'm gonna try to see if I can find an art therapist around here, I'm sure I'd love it. Art is my thing definitely more than talking! Hehe.. well, non verbal stuff has always been easier for me.

 

Im not sure if there is such a thing as an art therapist... Maybe there is, but my therapist was specialized in eating disorders and she used art therapy for 50% of our sessions together...

You could check out counselors and just ask what sort of therapies they use and such... I'm sure if you ask if any art therapy was involved they'd gladly tell you, or at least tell you where you could find a therapist that uses art therapy. It was actually a lot of fun, I felt like I was in kindergarten again