Health Anxiety – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Health anxiety is a persistent and unreasonable fear of getting ill with a certain ailment. This condition is characterized by an individual’s imagination of possible physical manifestations of illness. It is perfectly natural to be nervous when your body is signaling you have an illness, no matter what kind it is. However, health anxiety can lead to a variety of problems if it is not managed properly.

The trick to dealing with health anxiety is to treat it both psychologically and cognitively. You must learn how to distinguish your daily thoughts concerning your health from the imaginary scenarios. By developing an awareness of when you begin to anticipate symptoms, you can reduce the number of symptoms you experience on a daily basis. By training your mind to notice the difference between the two, you will be better able to cope with the symptoms.

The most common symptom of health anxiety is constant worrying about getting a serious illness. Although the concern is unrealistic and unfounded, you can treat it by replacing the anxious thought with more realistic or helpful thoughts. For instance, instead of thinking that a major illness is going to strike you in a big crowd, try to think that one is likely to strike you. Instead of imagining that you are bed ridden or confined to your bedroom, focus on enjoying an active day in the park or outdoors. Whatever your thoughts and feelings are, challenge them with realistic and helpful substitutes.

Another symptom of health anxiety is a constant worry about being tested for a particular symptom. If you have been worrying that you have a severe illness, you may regularly visit the doctor for tests or anxiety related procedures. Instead of being overly concerned about these visits, focus on the positives of each appointment. If your health anxiety makes you miss appointments or become too concerned to go to the doctor, talk to your doctor about ways you can manage your anxiety so you can make better decisions about your health.

One of the most frightening symptoms of health anxiety is body sensations that occur on a regular basis. This can include an intense fear that something “will happen” to your body or that something “could happen”. Body sensations such as heart palpitations, dizziness, sweating and tingling can significantly limit your ability to function properly and can make living a normal life a challenge. By distracting yourself from the sensations, you can better control and reduce the impact they have on your health.

Some people with health anxiety also worry about symptoms that aren’t as obvious. These may include digestive disorders or digestive problems, stomach pain or other physical symptoms. Rather than focusing on the fact that your body is feeling these things, focus on the worry itself. If the worry is that you will have a serious medical condition, remind yourself that nothing serious is wrong. While worrying about a serious medical condition is a common and natural part of worrying, focusing more on the worry than on the symptoms can be very counterproductive.

Some people experience more intense health anxiety may worry about symptoms that only manifest for a short period of time. They may worry that they are going to die or experience an adverse physical reaction. You can recognize this type of worry and avoid it by recognizing when the symptoms arise. This can include feeling nauseous, feeling tense, having difficulty breathing or becoming increasingly uncomfortable. By recognizing the signs and asking yourself if you are experiencing any of these, you can take steps to reduce your level of stress and focus your attention away from the fear and anxiety of what you’re worried about.

If you are constantly anxious, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. They will likely have suggestions for treatments that will help you reduce the impact of anxiety and cope with stress. By talking to your doctor, you can learn more about how anxiety affects you and find ways to treat it effectively. Your doctor can offer medication, exercise, therapy or psychological counseling. No matter what treatment you use, though, you should always consult with your medical professional first.