Symptoms of health anxiety
You may have health anxiety if you:
- constantly worry about your health
- often check your body for signs of illness, such as lumps, tingling or pain
- are always asking people for reassurance that you're not ill
- worry that your doctor or medical tests may have missed something
- obsessively look at health information on the internet or in the media
- avoid anything to do with serious illness, such as medical TV programmes
- act as if you were ill (for example, avoiding physical activities)
Anxiety itself can cause symptoms like headaches or a racing heartbeat. You may mistake these for signs of illness.
When to see your GP
You should see your GP if:
- your worries about your health are preventing you leading a normal life
- self-help isn't working
If the GP diagnoses you with health anxiety, they may refer you for a psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or offer you a medicine for anxiety. Each Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland provides their own mental health services.
- Belfast Trust - Mental health services
- Southern Trust - Mental health services
- South Eastern Trust - Mental health services
- Northern Trust - Mental health services
- Western Trust - Mental health services
Self-help for health anxiety
Keep a diary
- note how often you check your body, ask people for reassurance, or look at health information
- try to gradually reduce how often you do these things over a week
Challenge your thoughts
- draw a table with two columns
- write your health worries in the first column, then more balanced thoughts in the second
- for example, in the first column you may write, "I'm worried about these headaches" and in the second, "Headaches can often be a sign of stress"
Keep busy with other things
- when you get the urge to check your body, for example, distract yourself by going for a walk or calling a friend
Get back to normal activities
- try to gradually start doing things you've been avoiding because of your health worries, such as sports or socialising
Try to relax
- try this simple breathing exercise or visit the Mind website for some relaxation exercises