It all started when I was in the 3rd grade. I read a book about a girl getting cancer that really shocked me. I developed a great fear of getting the disease. I visit a physiologist and the fear when away with time completely. I am now 15 and had gone over it. I do a lot of excerise and have a good diet. Overall I am a strong guy. Just recently I fainted during class due to a lack of sleep and no breakfast. I went to the hospital and I they told me I was a healthy boy. But I think that experience triggered having the fear again. I now worry and I am afraid of getting cancer again. There are days when I dont think about it much, but others where I worry all day. I have negative thoughts and feel light headed when I think about it a lot. I am starting to get in control of my fear but it has not ended. I dont realy want to talk to a therapist becuase I dont want to alarm my parents because I think they will think this is pathetic. What do you suggest I do? Could you tell me something comforting? :) Thanks
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Carcinophobia.. Please HELP (10 points)?
(6 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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To begin with if you are going to be scared about something . . you should know that carcinoma occurs predominately in OLD adults and not in young people. Adolescents get specific types of cancer and rarely if ever get carcinoma . . so you are worried about something that cannot happen until you are over the age of 40 . . waste of time. If you really want to be scared of cancer why don't you at least RESEARCH what cancer is all about . . that it is AGE specific. Face your fear head on and find out EXACTLY which types of cancer occur in your age group. When you narrow down this disease it becomes more managable . . it isn't as random as it seems . . when you become educated about the disease than you will know which types to fear and what to look for and what to ignore. Education is your key and not imagination . . at the moment imagination is feeding your fear. Turn your interest about this disease into something positive . . become aware of what it is . .what to look for . . you will discover that cancer is a progressive disease. It begins very small, microscopic and if found in this early, early stage it is treatable and ultimately 'curable' .. the key at the moment to cancer is finding it early enough to treat. So start reading . . . and read about the types of cancers common to your age group . . those are the ones you need to find out more about and not waste your time worrying about something that may never happen 30 or 40 years from now.
Types of cancer Teens get
http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/cancer/types_of_cancer.htmlPosted 2 years ago # -
I'm sorry to hear about your Carcinophobia. Realize that it is a phobia, and it's the fear of getting cancer that scares you. The chances that you have cancer are so slim. I think you should talk to your therapist because he or she will be able to help you. Don't worry about alarming your parents, it is your life and you should be able to live it comfortably without having this fear always in the back of your mind. You are definitely not pathetic! We all have our problems and luckily enough for you, you are healthy and I have no doubt you will get through this. Good luck!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Being worried and scared is very normal with an experience like this. It's normal to have negative thoughts. Everyone has some kind of thing like that. With me (and I can't believe I'm telling a stranger this) I have had thoughts of throwing my baby cousin out of my window ever since I saw that Michael Jackson video. Do I ever intend on doing such a thing? Never. My point on that topic is: it's very normal to have negative thoughts at the most random of times.
Talking to a therapist may alarm your parents, but who is it benefiting? If they're gonna get alarmed, maybe they should sit in on a session or two with you and you can tell your therapist how them getting alarmed would have a toll on you. Maybe it would make them not be so worried?Posted 2 years ago # -
I know you don't want to hear this but you should see a therapist again to get over this. don't let fear control you, you control it :) And your parents shouldn't think you are pathetic because this is a real fear and you can't do anything about it. I would say look up Carcinophobia on google and show it to your parents and i would tell them you want to see a therapist again. Good luck :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
listen, since it is a phobia it is obviously able to be cured. but since you have already had this phobia then maybe just talk to someone like a friend or relative or you could look up some therapists that are reachable over the phone so you can talk whenever. The main thing is, is that your not alone and that you don't need to go through this by yourself. Good luck.
P.S if you start taking boxing lessons and act like the punching bag is cancer you could come pretty beast and a great boxer. :)Posted 2 years ago #
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