Health Anxiety
What is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety refers to concerns that a person may have regarding the state of their physical health and often involves worrying about having a serious illness. While it is normal to worry about our health sometimes, some people may experience excessive health anxiety leading to a preoccupation with confirming their fears of having a serious illness.
When is Health Anxiety Helpful?
Experiencing some degree of health anxiety can be helpful when it serves as a signal for us to look after our wellbeing. It is normal to feel concerned about our health when we notice something unusual or painful going on in our bodies, which lets us know that it may be a good idea to seek medical attention. In these situations, health anxiety can help prompt us to consult a doctor to get any problems treated. Health anxiety can also help motivate us to engage more in preventive healthcare measures such as regular check-ups, which can help with early detection of any health issues, as well as making healthy lifestyle choices like exercising and eating well.
When is Health Anxiety Excessive?
It’s important to distinguish between a helpful level of concern for one’s health and excessive health anxiety. Health anxiety may be excessive if an individual continues to persistently worry about having a serious illness despite reassurance from doctors that there is no indication of this being the case.
Signs that health anxiety may be excessive include:
You are constantly worried about your health
You repeatedly check your body for any signs of illness
You tend to interpret normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms as evidence of a severe illness and assume the worst
You spend a lot of time online searching about your symptoms and various medical conditions to verify your suspicions
You frequently seek repeated medical consultations and request to engage in additional medical procedures or tests, even though your doctor has not recommended it to be necessary
What is Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis)?
Illness anxiety disorder, previously known as hypochondriasis, is a mental health condition that involves excessive worry about having a serious illness. Individuals with illness anxiety disorder are preoccupied with fears that they have or will develop a severe illness, despite minimal physical symptoms and reassurance from medical professionals that they do not need to worry.
Symptoms of Illness Anxiety Disorder include:
Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness despite minimal or no physical symptoms
High levels of anxiety concerning health and becoming easily alarmed about health
Repeatedly checking for signs of illness, or alternatively, engaging in maladaptive avoidance of medical appointments and hospitals
Preoccupation with illness has persisted for 6 months or more, although the specific illness that the individual fears having may change over this time period
How Do We Treat Excessive Health Anxiety?
Excessive health anxiety can be treated through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which can help with identifying and challenging irrational worries about health. CBT can assist individuals experiencing health anxiety to recognize negative thought patterns that are contributing to their fears and reframe excessive health worries into a more balanced perspective. Practicing mindfulness can also help those struggling with excessive health worries to manage their anxiety by using techniques for relaxation and emotional regulation.
