Overcome Health Anxiety with Online Therapy

Category: Health anxiety | Last updated: October 18th, 2018 | 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 1337 reviews and the average rating is 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I just finished week 2. My therapist is Bernadette Eze. She is fantastic! She has given me so many useful tools to deal with anxiety and other issues. She has a positive attitude and wise soul. The worksheets are helpful and make me really think. I am very happy that I signed up for online therapy with this website."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"This is an amazing service. Being able to message and talk to a therapist when needed, it's priceless!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am really enjoying my time with Chelsea and am finding the whole process really helpful."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I'm enjoying this therapy course and the fact I can go at my own pase is much better for me. Especially as its Christmas and so much going off with myself personally."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Awesome.. love it."

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"I've been using this program for about 4 weeks and feel like it has been helping. The worksheets definitely take some deep thinking, so I have struggled with figuring out what to say or how to continue. I have, however, Very Much enjoyed my talks with my therapist, Katrina. She has helped me understand myself and my thoughts a bit better, in turn, helping to manage my anxiety easier."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am really grateful I found this site! I was putting well getting a therapist because of Covid and now I’m really glad I went with this online service. After just a few weeks I am really feeling much better and I feel a real connection with my therapist through our live sessions. I have seen therapists before and my therapist is really top notch!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am really enjoying the flexibility of accessing the programme and doing the worksheets and the consultation. It is very convenient and very helpful."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My use of these methods have givin me the ability to live my life again

and my therapist Lance helped me understand my issues and helped make therapy a natural process"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Keeps me engaged all day everyday"

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