About Health Anxiety

 

Health anxiety revolves around spending too much time worrying that you’re sick or going to be sick to the point that it completely takes over your life. Believe it or not, health anxiety does have a relation to obsessive-compulsive disorder. This type of anxiety is based on misinterpretations of dangerous bodily sensations. Aside from constant worrying and fear, people with this condition tend to have an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure. Higher saliva levels, trouble breathing, unstable balance, and lack of muscle tone are also changing factors. 

People diagnosed with health anxiety are constantly searching for reassurance from their doctors, such as repeated medical tests and frequent visits to the ER and Urgent Care. It usually becomes a constant cycle of reassurance where relief is continuously sought. Although reassurance from a doctor does decrease anxiety and create temporary relief, keep in mind that this pattern could take a drastic turn into a new symptom on the horizon. 

On the other hand, some people do the complete opposite. Some people who have health anxiety avoid doctors due to the fear of learning they have a life-threatening disease. This also includes avoiding medical tests due to the thought of being startled by the information the doctor provides. Overall, people with this disorder are unable to function and enjoy their quality of life due to constant fear. 

 
 

Symptoms May Include

  • Continuous worrying about one’s health

  • Continuously examining the body for signs of illness.

  • Continuously asking people for reassurance.

  • Negative thoughts about a doctor missing something.

  • Reading about health information obsessively

  • Avoiding anything health or illness-related. 

Health Anxiety Selfcare

  • Noting how often you check your body and ask for reassurance in a diary

  • Taking on your thoughts

  • Staying busy or distracted with other activities

  • Getting back into your previous and regular routine

  • Performing breathing exercises and relaxing

 
 

Health Anxiety Treatment

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered the most effective treatment of health anxiety. Treatment is crucial for people who have developed emotional and physical symptoms. ERP is a necessary component of CBT for most anxiety conditions, especially health anxiety. The two components include exposures—facing fears in a systematic, gradual, and purposeful manner to elicit anxiety—and response (or ritual) prevention—actively resisting safety behaviors and other avoidant strategies that only offer a short-term reduction of symptoms but maintain the cycle of anxiety and avoidance in the long-term.  Our therapists will guide you to progressively face the situations and thoughts that provoke your health anxiety while learning how not to react with rituals, compulsions, reassurance seeking, or avoidance.