Background:
I have developed quite serious health anxiety in recent years. It started with wanting to be really healthy and then I started to control everything related to food and lifestyle. I also have been treated for an eating disorder because of that. I now eat relatively normal but the need for control remains - I have very strict eating rules and I don’t want any exceptions to my regime. Quite certainly an aspie thing.
Problem:
I’ve been dealing with digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies, so my doctor ordered me to take some supplements and now I also need go get tested for lactose intolerance. The problem is, I can’t take supplements because I’m afraid they’ll mess with my digestion (they do, even if it’s just because of anxiety) and I can’t go do the lactose test because that involves drinking a glass full of lactose which quite definitely will give my major digestive distress. And the idea of being in some hospital waiting room with digestive issues is a huge source of anxiety for me. I think that the main point is that I feel I’m not controlling those situations, the doctor is. And I can’t make myself to obey even if I know rationally that it’s for my own health.
For example I have developed this rule that I won’t leave house in the morning until I haven’t had my coffee, juice and oatmeal. But some blood test need to be taken without eating or drinking anything. That’s major problem for me, especially the coffee part because coffee doesn’t mess with glucose levels, so I can’t understand why is that forbidden. To be honest, I have always “cheated” by drinking coffee in the morning when giving blood and nothing abnormal has ever shown.
When I was a kid, I would just plain refuse that kind of things and no one could make me. But as an adult I feel kind of responsible for my own health (which is a positive thing) so refusing those things make me also feel really bad.
Anyone has something similar? How do you deal with having to give up your rutines and control?
I have developed quite serious health anxiety in recent years. It started with wanting to be really healthy and then I started to control everything related to food and lifestyle. I also have been treated for an eating disorder because of that. I now eat relatively normal but the need for control remains - I have very strict eating rules and I don’t want any exceptions to my regime. Quite certainly an aspie thing.
Problem:
I’ve been dealing with digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies, so my doctor ordered me to take some supplements and now I also need go get tested for lactose intolerance. The problem is, I can’t take supplements because I’m afraid they’ll mess with my digestion (they do, even if it’s just because of anxiety) and I can’t go do the lactose test because that involves drinking a glass full of lactose which quite definitely will give my major digestive distress. And the idea of being in some hospital waiting room with digestive issues is a huge source of anxiety for me. I think that the main point is that I feel I’m not controlling those situations, the doctor is. And I can’t make myself to obey even if I know rationally that it’s for my own health.
For example I have developed this rule that I won’t leave house in the morning until I haven’t had my coffee, juice and oatmeal. But some blood test need to be taken without eating or drinking anything. That’s major problem for me, especially the coffee part because coffee doesn’t mess with glucose levels, so I can’t understand why is that forbidden. To be honest, I have always “cheated” by drinking coffee in the morning when giving blood and nothing abnormal has ever shown.
When I was a kid, I would just plain refuse that kind of things and no one could make me. But as an adult I feel kind of responsible for my own health (which is a positive thing) so refusing those things make me also feel really bad.
Anyone has something similar? How do you deal with having to give up your rutines and control?