Health anxiety is an intense and persistent worry about possibly having a debilitating or life-threatening illness. It was once known as hypochondria, and is now also known as syndrome anxiety. This condition is characterized by an individual’s fear of having symptoms of certain illness. This can include everything from stomach problems to cancer or even death.
One important step in helping someone with this type of condition is to provide them with the relevant health information that they need. Most worries about health anxiety are not all that realistic, but providing the proper diagnosis and seeking professional help can provide reassurance that they are doing better than they think. One of the most common ways to provide this kind of reassurance is through the use of self-help or hypnosis audio downloads. There are also many support groups online for those suffering from this particular type of worry.
The main issue with health anxiety is that its causes are usually irrational fears of having a serious illness. It’s often caused by past incidents of bodily sensations. Many times people have had recurring nightmares or body sensations that they cannot shake. These may be connected to a traumatic event in the past. Many times, these body sensations do not present any danger to the sufferer at all.
In these instances, seeking reassurance from doctors is one of the best ways to relieve this kind of stress and anxiety. Many doctors offer patients treatment for health anxiety as a form of treatment for their actual illness. Often time doctors try to treat patients for their actual illness without trying to treat their fear of going into the hospital. Sometimes this method works and sometimes not.
The patient must first realize that they are worrying about something that may be exaggerated or simply untrue. Many health anxiety symptoms actually stem from the stress of not being able to identify or accurately figure out what the origin of the symptoms is. The body can sometimes produce very genuine symptoms that can really be very worrisome. When a person worries about an illness they normally worry about the symptoms that they are experiencing. However, if the doctor is unable to properly identify the source of the symptoms then health anxiety develops because of the confusion that the body is experiencing.
Common health anxiety symptoms include trembling, sweating, headaches, cramps, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, upset stomach, heart palpitations, chills, and chest pain. Many of these symptoms are also associated with other medical conditions. It’s important to be able to distinguish between the two when seeking medical advice. There could be an underlying medical problem that needs to be treated. If you have a legitimate health concern, it’s important to consult your doctor.
Many health anxiety sufferers have had to deal with physical symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain as a result of their illness. The body can produce very real and very legitimate physical sensations. When you worry too much about your illness and the symptoms that come along with it, you are unnecessarily exposing yourself to having prolonged exposure to unhealthy levels of bodily sensations. If your body experiences more intense physical sensations it can be more difficult to diagnose your condition accurately.
The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional medical advice or recommendations for diagnosis or treatment. Prior to beginning any health anxiety program, you should consult a licensed health care provider for diagnosis and treatment. For additional information or to receive a free assessment of your personal situation, please visit the website indicated below.