"Anxiety isn't you, it is something moving through you. It can leave out the same door it came in" 

Are you worried about your health? it's natural! especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, even the slightest cough had ended up as a Google search. Occasional worrying is very normal, but when this worry turns into an uncontrollable fear about health, it could be sign of health anxiety. 

Understanding Health Anxiety

Health anxiety is an obsessive and irrational worry about having a serious medical condition. It’s also called illness anxiety and was formerly called hypochondria. It is rational to see a doctor when the body is sending signals of illness, but with health anxiety, one would experience extreme distress about their symptoms being real or imaginary, especially after receiving negative results on medical test reports. This condition can not only interfere with the individual's personal life but also affect their abilities to work professional or academic setting, function daily and create and maintain meaningful relationships.   

Check if you have health anxiety

You may have health anxiety if you:

 HEALTH ANXIETY vs ANXIETY / HOW TO KNOW IF IT'S HEALTH ANXIETY 

Its easy to confuse ourselves with both types of anxiety as they sometimes cause similar physical symptoms such as:

 and the list goes on. One would normally visit the doctor, learn the symptoms are caused by anxiety, and then probably see a therapist. Health anxiety persists despite reassurance from the doctor. Seeking reassurance from doctors, insisting on repeated medical tests, and visits to the ER and urgent care are common if one has health anxiety. A vicious cycle develops of noticing a sensation or learning of an illness in the world, misinterpreting it as threatening, Googling any symptoms and learning about fatal diseases, becoming increasingly anxious as you compulsively check your symptoms, and finally going to the doctor for reassurance, which would reduce the anxiety of a temporary period but the cycle would start again after the appearance of a new symptom. In some cases, health anxiety can prevent one from going to the doctor with a fear of being diagnosed with a terrible, incurable disease. The entire experience creates a lot of anxiety which is something people with illness anxiety would rather avoid.

Managing Health Anxiety

Here are some self care strategies for managing health anxiety: 

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2. Staying active:  Regular exercise or physical activity can help manage health anxiety  by reducing stress hormones  like cortisol and increasing endorphins, which improve mood. Plus, exercise helps to distract anxious thoughts and improve sleep quality. 

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3. Practicing mindfulness and relaxing:  Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga and progressive muscle relaxation can help manage anxiety.

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4.Staying connected:  Talk to friends, family, or support groups about your concerns. Social support can provide reassurance and perspective.

Photo by  Priscilla Du Preez ???????????? Team  on  Unsplash

Other than these self care tips, professional help can be very effective for managing Health Anxiety.

Professional Help 

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy( CBT):  CBT is an effective therapy for health anxiety, helping individuals challenge and change their thought patterns and behaviors related to health concerns. 

2. Regular Medical Check-Ups: Establish a schedule for regular medical check-ups to reassure yourself of your health status. Trust your healthcare provider's assessments and recommendations.

3. Therapist Support: Working with a therapist can provide ongoing support and strategies to manage anxiety and address underlying issues. 

Heart It Out is just the place for it! come book a session with a therapist to feel better as soon as possible.