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 2670 reviews and the average rating is 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My therapist has been a true Angel. I am overcoming my anger issues and anxiety problems… I have also better my relationship with my wife and even got her into therapy as well. I give you 5 stars for the great job you guys are doing. Thanks for all the help. I appreciate you guys. Much respect"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Online-therapy has been great because it gave me the option for twice per week sessions, a service that is hard to find! I have had a fantastic experience so far!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I've been working with Kate Pearson & online-therapy for 3+ months before writing this review. Kate Pearson has extensive, appropriate, & thoughtful comments on the worksheets. Video sessions are excellent. The CBT workbooks & worksheets provide a structure that is adapted to my needs. Initializing the video connections are less than perfect, but once connected it works well. It has been difficult to reschedule failed connections, but they compensated me for a two of them."

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"It's an affordable option for those who don't have the budget for traditional therapy. I love the way there is a program that you go through with sections. I'm only on section 2 but it's been relevant. It's great to have a therapist reply but I would love to have a little more support."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I had tried another online therapy service and was not pleased with the results. It felt generic and impersonal.
Online-therapy.com has been a welcome change. My therapist is involved and takes the time to work with me during the week and the worksheets for CBT are great. I am very happy it has had a meaningful and positive impact in my life."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I enjoyed how quick and efficient the website is. The website also does not send spam emails. I liked how I can pick the therapist based on their bio."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I like the website layout and the ability to move through the sections. It took me a little bit to get comfortable with it, but my therapist has been great and I feel like this is helping me work through things I didn't even know I needed to work through. It is self paced and how fast you move through the sections is up to you."

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"It has given me insight into how I have been functioning in the past and suggestions for how I can improve"

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"Good experience so far has helped."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am happy with the connection between me and my therapist; it makes it easier to delve deeper into the psychology of my issues.
Also, the platform is easy to navigate and I appreciate the work sheets etc."

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