Does it feel like everytime you notice a new bump, ache, or pain, you spiral out of control with worry? Does it feel like it’s just a matter of time before you get sick with an awful illness? Do you feel the need to use watches or monitors to check for any signs of disease? If anxiety about your health has gotten out of control, CBT can help.
CBT for Health Anxiety
Health Anxiety
Health Anxiety is an anxiety disorder in which worry is focused on your health, or on getting a serious illness. You may feel on constant alert about symptoms in your body, and feel like you are always jumping to the worst case scenario about your health.
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• Feeling preoccupied that you have, or will get, a serious illness, even when you don’t have severe or serious symptoms.
• Hyper-vigilance about your health. Feeling very upset when you notice any physical symptoms, or changes to your health.
• Frequent monitoring of yourself for any sign of illness (for example, checking your pulse, blood pressure or temperature frequently).
• Either avoiding going to the doctor for fear of getting bad news, or going to the doctor very often, even for mild symptoms.
Health anxiety can take over your life, making you feel like you are always on the brink of a health disaster. However, CBT is very effective for treating this type of anxiety, so you can get back to living a life not dominated by worry about your health.
“There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.”