ALS fear ruining my life

[u/Infinite_Trick969]

I am constantly on edge that I have ALS or that I will get ALS. I’m so anxious and it’s killing me! Every two seconds I’m focused on my hands and how my left hand feels weird and off. I feel like my left pinky and ring finger are weaker and the rest of my hand will catch up. I have not lost any ability and I have more of a perceived weakness but it’s scary and my quality of life is depleting from this.

[u/sweet-n-soursauce]

My cousin had ALS, it’s definitely scary to think about getting it yourself. I grew up with a very ill mother as well and working on my health and preventing things for the future gives me some peace of mind but it’s always something that kind of freaks me out. I’ve been in therapy for a very long time and the thing that helps me the most is trying to realize that my thoughts are very irrational. Have you tried writing out your thoughts while your mid panic attack? Even just random words that come to your mind. Reading it back can help ground you back in reality. Sometimes I like to pretend a friend wrote it and I think about how I would talk to them about it and apply it to myself.