Overcome Health Anxiety with Online Therapy

Category: Health Anxiety Online Therapy | Last updated: February 1st, 2022 | Reviewed and approved by:
Dr. Steven Gans, MD
Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD

Are You Health Conscious or Health Anxious?

Almost every one of us gets concerned about our health and well-being. And that concern can motivate us to try to optimize our eating, sleep and to lead a healthy lifestyle. Being health conscious can be great. It helps a lot in leading a healthy, happy, successful and meaningful life.

However, problems arise when this health consciousness gets transformed into “health anxiousness”. If you become too obsessed about your health and if you get too apprehensive that you are suffering from a severe illness (without the presence of such medical symptoms), then you may be experiencing health anxiety. In the past, psychologists referred to this as “hypochondria”. However, it is now called Illness Anxiety Disorder.

Illness Anxiety Disorder is a somatic symptom disorder in which the person suffering from it gets overly anxious or obsessed over his/her physical conditions. They see even a minor problem as an exaggerated severe illness. People suffering from Illness Anxiety Disorder often require continuous care, support and assurance from health service providers, family and acquaintances.

See if you recognize yourself in the symptoms of health anxiety:

Being preoccupied with having or developing a serious disease or health condition
Worrying that minor symptoms or body sensations mean you have a serious illness
Being easily alarmed about your health status
Finding little or no reassurance from doctor visits or negative test results
Worrying excessively about a specific medical condition or your risk of developing a medical condition because it runs in your family
Having so much distress about possible illnesses that it's hard for you to function
Repeatedly checking your body for signs of illness or disease
Frequently making medical appointments for reassurance — or avoiding medical care for fear of being diagnosed with a serious illness
Avoiding people, places or activities for fear of health risks
Constantly talking about your health and possible illnesses
Frequently searching the internet for causes of symptoms or possible illnesses

What’s more, people with Illness Anxiety Disorder can also experience additional mental health issues, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Clinical Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Treatment Procedures

The good news is that Illness Anxiety Disorder can be treated. Effective methods of treatment include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy and support. You can receive these types of treatment here at Online Therapy.

Reviews

Our online therapy services have received 3286 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I feel April is very dedicated and brings up issues that we as couple therapy are there for. She gives each of us fair time to share and interact. Looking at all issues from the outside in."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"This has dramatically improved my marriage and life."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Love it! Very pleased with the service."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I appreciated the contact I received from the team without it being too pushy or overwhelming!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Looking forward to talking on line with my matched therapist"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Hoping this works great for me and my wife I don't wanna loose her"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I have been with the service for a month and very happy with my therapist."

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"I am really enjoying it so far. My therapist is very helpful and messages me even when I need her on weekends!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I have truly appreciated the support that has been offered throughout this program. i have been a part of this online-therapy program for about six months now and can honestly say it was the best decision I could have made. It has been a pillar of support as I navigate through some tougher parts of my past year."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I Love Mina So Much! She is very helpful and easy to WITH. She gives me ALOT of ways to EXAMINE MY LIFE SO THAT I CAN FIND HAPPINESS FOR “ME” FIRST. You don’t see that in a lot of therapists. Also, I don’t see her choosing sides. I would NEVER WANT OR ASK FOR ANOTHER THERAPIST.
Thanks Mina🩷"

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