I’m 29, and lately I’ve been experiencing a lot of health anxiety about my past lifestyle. I was pretty obese as a child, but around sixth grade I started playing football and baseball and lost most of the weight. By eighth grade, I was slim, active, and looked healthy. I gained weight again after getting into a relationship in high school, but lost it after graduating. During my first year of college, I regularly went to the gym and ate fairly healthy. Then I entered another relationship, gained weight again, started eating poorly, and drank more alcohol. Shortly afterward, I was able to lose some of the weight again. Over the years, I’ve gradually cut back on fast food, red meat, soda, alcohol, and other unhealthy habits. I still consume some of those things, but now I try to do so in moderation. Even though I’ve made changes, my mind keeps telling me that the damage has already been done and that my younger years will eventually catch up with me. Sometimes even slight pressure, a digestive issue, or any physical sensation that feels out of the ordinary makes me worry that something is seriously wrong. I start focusing on it, searching online, and falling into a cycle of fear and reassurance-seeking. I’m not looking for medical advice or reassurance that I’m healthy. I’m asking how other men have learned to accept their past, stop monitoring every physical sensation, and break the cycle of searching for reassurance. submitted by /u/Svint_Pvbl0
Originally posted by u/Svint_Pvbl0 on r/AskMen