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 3298 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"I've felt the curriculum has been very helpful for me to work through and reflect on my own time. The structured nature and step by step process makes it easier to tackle bigger feelings by breaking it down."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I like this platform but it is expensive"

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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!]

"Easy affordable help!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Worth it."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Therapy is changing my life, I am so grateful for all the help this has provided in my journey of self healing and growth."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Great therapist!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"This program has been helpful for people that are always having long hours working monday to friday and can find it hard to find time for yourself, highly recommend this program."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Good service. Very helpful"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am so grateful for the Online-Therapy.com program and Beth Lakes, who has been my Therapist since I signed up 2.5 mo ago. Beth is amazing because she cares, she listens and makes me feel understood, and she has helped me redirect my dysfunctional thoughts, and she shares so many valuable tools- and the key is to be in constant communication with the Therapist do the worksheets, activity plan, and write in the journal, I believe.
To get better takes courage and work, and it’s been challenging at times but it’s all worth it. I can see a change taking place in my thought patterns- and in my behavior. I feel more at peace- with controlling what I can control, and let go of everything else I can’t control. I have found a healthier way to deal with my emotions- especially with my anger who almost destroyed my marriage."

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