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!]

"The website makes singing up so easy and stress free. The 40% needs based discount is not only generous but very helpful. The package options are thoughtfully crafted and very practical."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"So far this is very helpful."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Great therapy !"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My therapist has been helpful and has been helping me understand my anxiety better and keep myself calm when I feel anxious"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I'm enjoying Dr. Vicki's approach a lot. We're still building but so far I'm feeling we're on a very beneficial track."

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"So far, I have found my therapist to be insightful, quick to respond, and the advice feels very personal as opposed to read from a textbook or chatbot. I have tried other online therapy services, and so far, this one seems to be a good fit."

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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: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Very helpful, would recommend this site to anyone looking for therapy."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"The sessions and the worksheets have been really helpful for me. The worksheets give me things to consider and really be thoughtful about, as well as keep me accountable so I don't just fall into the routine of "it's fine, it's fine" and then do nothing. And the sessions as follow up have been great for me to talk through things that came up from doing the worksheets. So there's kind of a pause-and-think, and then discuss-and-feel approach to the program that works well for me. It's only been a few weeks, but I appreciate what I've learned and am tuning into, even in this short time."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"After only 3 days into this therapy program, I was able to reprogram my negative thoughts and gain control over my negative behaviors & reactions by replacing them with a newfound positive attitude and seeing my problems and obstacles in a whole new light.
I am now at the end of completion with this program, however, this is just the beginning of living the life I have always dreamed of ~ they say, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life!" and now that saying makes so much sense to me because I have been given All the tools and knowledge that I will live by and utilize on a daily basis for the rest of my life ~ these positive changes are so easy to achieve and have become a natural part of my healthy daily tasks, just like brushing my teeth and now including a dose of Yoga to my daily routine, improving my breathing and posture (Oxygen ~ It's a helluva drug!!! haha)!
I am also extremely grateful for my wonderful Therapist, Lee! ;-) I am beyond grateful for this entire program because it truly IS a lifelong game changer for a healthy, happy and wealthy life! If you can apply the teachings of this program to your daily life, You Can and Will be able to face any obstacle head on and succeed! (-:"

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