Overcome Health Anxiety with Online Therapy

Category: Health Anxiety Online Therapy | Last updated: September 20th, 2025 | 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 4268 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"The therapy has been tremendously helpful and having all resources in one place helped me to stay focused on the program."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My therapist Audrey, a Social Worker has helped me very much. I feel very blessed to have her as my Therapist."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Just started but has been easy to use and really like my therapist. We had a great beginning to my therapy."

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"It's comforting to be supported by a professional wherever I am."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I love this program"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Lisa is great"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"So far so good"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I’ve been having a lot of food for thought and positive progression since my start!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Great service and therapist. Easy to use platform"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"When I first signed up, I selected all the things I needed help with, and for some reason I got matched with someone unqualified - she stated she cant "help with several of my *issues*". I decided to switch and give the program another chance even though that rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm glad it was just her. My therapist is sweet, and she understands the uniqueness of the things I talk to her about, and she tells me what's important in situations - not just taking my side. It's awesome and it's refreshing for both my partner and I to know I have someone who will tell me when I'm valid and when even the things I find difficult are valid as well."

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