Too worried?

[pitawindstar]

I do realize this is very long and rambling, and I apologize.

All right, ever since I was in 7th grade I've been sort of a hypochondriac... I'd get a headache and have trouble sleeping because I'd be afraid that I had a brain tumor or something severe like that. It used to be really bad until about the middle of 8th grade when it lightened up a lot. I still occasionally worried that some common symptoms were signs of cancer or something serious, but not nearly as often.

Recently my hypochondriac tendencies have been coming back. I've been having chest pain in the same area since November or so, and sometimes just walking around makes me feel a bit...dizzy, I guess. But I ignored it until recently, when sometimes it feels like it's hard to breathe. The problem with me, though, is that I worry too much. Sometimes I exaggerate on symptoms, or even make them up. I really can't tell what's real and what's not or what's serious and what isn't because I worry so much all the time.

About my chest pain, one theory I've come up with is my backpack from the last school year-- it was a messenger bag, so I carried it on one shoulder. It was always extremely heavy (I rarely used my locker because I usually didn't have time to get to it) and my chest pain is on the side that I carried it on. It's not just in my chest, but my shoulder and back too. My pain started near the beginning of the school year, too. That's what I've been telling myself to make myself not worry.

I have a doctor's appointment next Friday, about a week from now. It's just a physical/regular check up, to make sure that nothing is extremely wrong. I haven't been to the doctor in a few years (shame on me!) and I'm really terrified. I'm afraid that they'll find something really bad and that it'll be too late for them to do anything about it. I've been having trouble sleeping and doing anything because I'm so terrified of what could be wrong with me. I can't reschedule the appointment to get it done sooner. If I could, I would go in right now because I can't stand waiting anymore. And then, when I do finally get in, I'm probably going to have a nervous breakdown because I'll be so scared of what they might find..

I know it's silly but I am so worried about this it's not even funny. Anyone have any words of advice, or support? Thanks in advance.

[Loving Linux Penguin]

Hey. I've got a few tips for you:
1. See if one of your friends is willing to go to the doctor with you to provide support (I'm doing this for my physical/shots in August because I'm really needlephobic, but that's a different story)
2. When you are in the doctor's office take deep breaths and stay calm. While you wait for the doctor, try to have a book or something to occupy you.
3. On your way to the appointment, and in the office, try listening to really relaxing music.
4. Have a list of your questions and concerns so you don't forget anything from nerves.

Everything will be fine! Even if there are problems, they're likely to be minor enough that they're not really a big deal. Good luck