Anxiety concerning health matters: Characteristics, manifestations, remedies, and additional insights
Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder or hypochondriasis, is a mental health condition that affects approximately 4% of the population. This chronic condition tends to affect adolescents and its symptoms can worsen with age.
This condition is characterized by persistent worries and fears about having or developing undiagnosed medical conditions. Symptoms may include constantly feeling worried about health, frequent self-checks for physical signs of illness, and seeking reassurance from others about health.
Health anxiety can significantly interfere with a person's quality of life, leading to complications such as reduced quality of life, financial issues from regular healthcare visits and medical bills, and an increased risk of developing other mental health conditions like major depressive disorder, personality disorders, and other anxiety disorders.
In some cases, health anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as headaches or a fast heartbeat.
Health professionals treat health anxiety using both psychotherapy and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common form of psychotherapy, while selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are medications used to treat health anxiety.
For mild health anxiety, education about the condition combined with self-help materials, relaxation training, and physical activity is recommended. For moderate or severe cases, stepped-up interventions may be necessary, such as additional methods like exposure therapy and mindfulness-based CBT.
Common self-help strategies for managing health anxiety symptoms include lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, and cognitive approaches. Regular exercise, engaging in moderate physical activity 4-5 times per week for 20-30 minutes, helps reduce stress hormones and releases mood-enhancing endorphins, alleviating anxiety symptoms.
Practicing relaxation and mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and grounding techniques, can calm the mind and help manage anxiety episodes.
Keeping an anxiety diary, recording situations that trigger anxiety and your reactions, fosters better understanding and identification of anxiety patterns. Maintaining good sleep hygiene and balanced nutrition stabilizes mood and energy, supporting overall mental health.
Avoiding substances that worsen anxiety, such as limiting caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, can prevent exacerbation of symptoms. Engaging socially and seeking support, sharing worries with a trusted person, joining support groups, or expanding social networks, reduces feelings of isolation and provides emotional relief.
Using cognitive strategies like the DARE technique, embracing anxiety sensations rather than fighting them, then redirecting focus to present activities, helps decrease their power. Structured routine and comfort items, such as creating daily routines and having a "comfort kit" with calming items, provide emotional security during anxious moments.
FindTreatment.gov is a confidential and anonymous resource for finding treatment facilities and other resources for mental and substance use disorders. If a medication helps with health anxiety symptoms, medical professionals may recommend taking it for at least 6-12 months.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a free national helpline for general information on mental health and local treatment services. If you or someone you know is struggling with health anxiety, it's important to seek professional help.
[1] National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Health Anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/health-anxiety/index.shtml
[2] Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2020). Health Anxiety. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/physical-illness-anxiety
[3] National Health Service. (2020). Health Anxiety: How to Cope. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/mental-health/health-anxiety-how-to-cope/
[4] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2013). Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder in Adults: Recognition and Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg176
[5] Beck, J. S., & Emery, G. (1990). Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective. Retrieved from https://www.guilford.com/books/Anxiety-Disorders-and-Phobias/Beck-Emery/9781593850414
