Anxiety is related to health as a mental illness. When someone has health anxiety, they usually experience anxiety even when doctors tell them they don’t have any health problems. Their every day lives may be negatively impacted by their anxiousness.  

If you’re worried about your health, the best thing to do is see your doctor. But if you have health anxiety, you might still feel very upset about your real or imagined symptoms. Even after medical tests show nothing is wrong and doctors tell you you’re healthy. Still, if you feel uncomfortable or upset, you can start going to the best gym in mohali. Fitness activities like yoga, Zumba, bhangra, or strength training help boost your stamina and make you happy from the inside. 

This condition is more than just being worried about your health. It can make it hard for a person to:

• work or study
• do everyday tasks
• build and keep friendships

So, let’s have a look at the signs or symptoms of health anxiety. Also, check out the right treatment for this health condition. 

Symptoms of Health Anxiety

Anxiety can feel different depending on the individual experiencing it. Emotions might vary from heart palpitations to tummy butterflies. It’s possible for you to feel uncontrollably out of control, as though your body and mind are at odds.

Signs and symptoms the reliable sources of anxiety are: 

• Anxious thoughts 
• Restlessness
• Trouble concentrating
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Unexplained aches and pains

Anxiety symptoms vary from person to person, so it’s important to understand how they can show up. 

What Causes People to Develop Health Anxiety?

Most of the medical experts aren’t sure exactly what causes health anxiety, but they think the following factors might play a role:

You cannot recognize the body sensations, disorders, or other things that impact your health. It’s possible that you feel your body’s symptoms are the result of a terrible illness. This drives you to seek evidence proving you are afflicted with a serious illness.

You might have family members who worry a lot about their health or yours.

If you had serious illnesses when you were a child, you might find physical sensations scary as an adult.

Risk factors Due to Health Anxiety

Illness anxiety disorder often starts in early or middle adulthood and can worsen as people get older. For older individuals, anxiety about health might be centered around fears of losing their memory.

Below, we mention some factors that raise the risk of illness anxiety disorder:

• A period of extreme stress in life.
• Past abuse experienced as a child.
• A parent suffering from a terrible disease. 
• A serious sickness in childhood.
• Excessive intake in health-related internet use.

How is Health Anxiety Diagnosed?

Health anxiety, once known as hypochondria. It is no longer listed in the American Psychological Association’s manual of mental disorders. Now, someone who was diagnosed with hypochondria might be classified as having:

• Illness anxiety disorder: If they have few or no physical symptoms.
• Somatic symptom disorder: If their symptoms are distressing or if they have many symptoms.

To diagnose a health anxiety disorder, your doctor will first check your physical health to make sure there are no underlying conditions causing your concerns. If you’re physically healthy, they may then refer you to a mental health specialist. Here’s what they might do:

• Talk to you about your symptoms, stress levels, family history, worries, and how these affect your life.
• Fill out a question sheet about your thoughts and feelings.
• Ask if you use drugs, alcohol, or other substances.

What are the treatments for health anxiety?

Treatment for health anxiety aims to help you feel better and manage daily life more easily. Usually, it involves talking with a therapist and taking medications, which can also help.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the most widely used treatment for health anxiety (CBT), especially cognitive behavioral therapy. Because cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) equips patients with strategies to manage their health anxiety, it can be a very successful treatment option. CBT can be used in a group setting or on an individual basis. Among the advantages of CBT are: 

• Recognizing and understanding your worries and beliefs about health.
• Changing negative thoughts about your body sensations.
• Becoming aware of how your worries impact your behavior.
• Responding differently to physical sensations and symptoms.
• Learning ways to cope with anxiety and stress.
• Avoiding avoiding situations due to physical feelings.
• Limiting checking your body for signs of illness or seeking reassurance.
• Improving your ability to function at home, gym, work, school, and in relationships.
• Checking for other mental health conditions like depression or bipolar disorder.

Medication

Usually, only psychotherapy will be employed to treat your issue if it is the only thing helping your health worry. However, psychotherapy doesn’t work for everyone. Your doctor could advise you on taking medication if this describes you. 

This disorder is commonly treated with antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Treatment-related drugs may also be helpful if you also suffer from a mood or anxiety issue.  

There are significant dangers and adverse effects associated with certain health anxiety drugs. It’s critical to go over your treatment options in detail with your physicians.  

Conclusion

Health anxiety is a condition that can last a long time and change how bad it feels over the years. For many people, it gets worse as they get older or go through stressful times. But if you get help and follow your treatment plan, you can reduce your symptoms and feel better day-to-day, easing your worries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we mention some frequently asked questions that give you more clarity about health anxiety: 

Q. How can we reduce or stop health anxiety? 

Ans: One of the best ways to reduce or mild the effect of health anxiety is through self-help measures. Moreover, you can join a gym to gain several benefits that help you live a healthy and quality life. 

Q. What is the main reason for causing health anxiety?

Ans: Psychotherapists are still unsure of the precise causes of health anxiety. On the other hand, it seems that those who already suffer from anxiety disorders are more likely to have them again. Moreover, there are certain events from one’s upbringing or family history that are additional risk factors.

Q. Does health anxiety cause mental or physical disorders?

Ans: Yes, in most people’s health, anxiety causes mental or physical disorders such as nausea, headaches, fast heartbeat & more. 

Q. What are the common symptoms of health anxiety?

Ans: Health anxiety, also known as hypochondria, often manifests through symptoms such as persistent worry about having a serious illness, frequent checking of symptoms, and seeking reassurance from doctors or loved ones. Physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, and difficulty breathing can also accompany health anxiety.

Q. How can I manage health anxiety effectively?

Ans: Managing health anxiety involves several strategies, including cognitive-behavioral techniques like challenging negative thoughts, relaxation exercises such as deep breathing or meditation, and gradually exposing oneself to feared situations or health information. Seeking support from a therapist or counselor who specializes in anxiety disorders can also provide guidance and tools to cope with health anxiety effectively.