Do you find yourself constantly worrying about your health or believing something must be wrong? Although it is natural to worry about health, health anxiety elevates worrying to an extreme, impacting daily life. This blog dives into what health anxiety is, and the effective treatment methods for it.
Health anxiety, also referred to as illness anxiety disorder, is characterized by excessive worry about having or developing serious illnesses, often with no existing major physical symptoms. Typically, those with health anxiety will misinterpret normal bodily functions such as, muscle twitching, minor headaches, or stomachaches, as frightening symptoms of illness. There are two ways health anxiety displays itself, known as the “avoiders and reassurance seekers” (Tyrer, P & Tryer, 2018). Even with many doctors’ visits, and clear medical exams, a reassurance seeker will find themself unable to alleviate their fear(s) of something being wrong. However, and avoidant seeker will do everything in their power to alleviate all contact with doctors, medical exams, and anything carrying information about illness. When fears of illness begin to disrupt the activities of daily living, it is important to address the problem.
The most common and effective treatment method for health anxiety is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a form of psychotherapy focused on the relationship between how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. For those diagnosed with health anxiety, CBT helps to challenge irrational thoughts, and change problematic thought patterns which results in improved emotions and behaviors and increasing overall well-being. After receiving CBT for health anxiety, effective coping strategies are learned which can range from relaxation techniques to problem-solving techniques. CBT allows individuals to gain more control over their anxieties and health-related feelings.
Axelsson, E., & Hedman-Lagerlöf, E. (2019). Cognitive behavior therapy for health anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical efficacy and health economic outcomes. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 19(6), 663–676. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2019.1703182
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021). Illness anxiety disorder. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20373782