Scared of HIV - please help!

Hi, everyone. First of all, I have to admit that for the last few months I have been focusing a lot on my body and I am aware I have developed am enormous fear of illness. It all began when I found out I have HPV virus which affected me a lot although everybody including my doctors assured me it was not such a big deal as long as I have regular check-ups. But I got really scared and then I started thinking I might have contracted something else as well. That was when I went to get tested for HIV. I was convinced that I had it although I had never had unprotected sex. I tested negative, of course. That was 6 months after my last sexual contact so it is safe to say that the results are trustworthy. My illness-related fears however continued and since then (it was 4 months ago) I have 'diagnosed' myself a number of illnesses. Lately I have become preoccupied with HIV again, because I have throat ache which has been going on for the past 9 days and it still doesn't seem to be subsiding. As I have read that throat ache is one of the possible symptoms of acute HIV infection, I am extremely worried. The thing is, there is no way I could have contracted it through sex since I am the first person my boyfriend has ever slept with. My latest theory is that somebody put something in my food when I was on vacation two weeks ago because there was one time when we had dinner after which I had stomach ache and since that moment I have been basically convinced that somebody has infected me with HIV. All of the friends and relatives I have talked to have been trying to convince me that my fears are irrational and paranoid, but this weird throat ache keeps me worried and very anxious... Please, help! I can't sleep or go out or study or work, I have practically stopped functioning because I have convinced myself that my life is over

My OCD diagnosis included the descriptor "fear of contagion." I understand full well the fear of contracting a disease - I'm terrified to use silverware at restaurants (in fact, I don't even go out to eat anymore) or to touch something that doesn't belong to me out of fear I may pick up necrotizing fasciitis or some other horrible disease. I know it's irrational, but I still cannot get it out of my mind. Just make sure you have protected intercourse or know your partner's health prior to engaging in intercourse and get tested if you have any suspicions.

My understanding was that HIV can't be caught through food because stomach acid neutralises the virus. Feeling pain for 9 days is long enough to justify a doctor's visit. It isn't HIV but there are other possibilities, most of which are harmless or easily treatable. But if you get that opinion, you aren't letting a problem like tonsillitis get worse than it needs to because of your HIV fear.

Then, you could perhaps read this thread- obsessive-compulsive/topic103176.html

It is about an irrational fear of being gay, but I think the basic principles might help you with the HIV fear. It's REALLY hard to put into practice. But since you have been tested and do not have HIV, and once you've dealt with your throat pain, I think it's a good plan to try. And perhaps to get some help from a therapist, if you're still struggling. The impact this is having on your life says that it's serious. Even with HIV, life goes on. That diagnosis wouldn't be a reason to give up.