Health Anxiety
What Is Health Anxiety?
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Health Anxiety is a condition where a person becomes excessively worried about their health and fears they may have, or develop, a serious illness. Some people may recognise the older term hypochondria or hypochondriac, although Health Anxiety is now the preferred clinical term.
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Many people describe constantly checking their body for symptoms, worrying that something has been missed by doctors, repeatedly Googling health information or seeking reassurance from family members. These worries can become overwhelming and significantly impact day-to-day life, even when medical tests and professional reassurance indicate that they are physically well.
How Can I Help...
I provide evidence-based support for children, adults and families experiencing health anxiety and excessive worry about their health.
Support may include:
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• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills for anxiety management and emotional regulation
• Parent Coaching and Parenting Support Sessions
• Family Therapy where appropriate
• Emotional Regulation Support
• Neurodiversity-Informed Therapy where appropriate
• Animal-Assisted Therapy where clinically appropriate
What are the symptoms of generalised anxiety?
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• Constantly worrying about your health
• Frequently checking your body for signs of illness
• Repeatedly Googling symptoms or medical conditions
• Seeking reassurance from family, friends or healthcare professionals
• Doubting medical advice or test results
• Expecting the worst-case scenario about symptoms
• Avoiding health-related information or medical appointments
• Feeling anxious when noticing normal bodily sensations
• Difficulty concentrating because of health worries
• Anxiety affecting work, school, relationships or daily life
What is Health Anxiety
6 Misconceptions on Health
Book Recommendations
Overcoming Health Anxiety: A Self Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
– 26th Nov, 2009
by Rob Wilson (Author) & David Veale (Author)
