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 3302 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Feeling much better about myself. I feel more like I know what I’m feeling"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My husband and I have had a great experience so far. I have had therapy in the past and this is his first time. It's really user friendly and the Dr. gets back to you quickly. I like that I can do it on Sundays."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Helpful, convenient service"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am amazed at the quickness and sharpness of my therapist. She gets back to me quickly and always with insights and guidance and observations. It is a bit labor intensive with the worksheets and planning, but worth it!!!!!"

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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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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"The user interface of the website and the platform is very easy and straightforward to navigate."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I love the format. I feel like the worksheets gave my therapist and I opportunities to become familiar and established context and understanding before we ever had our first session."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My therapist has been greatly helpful in not only listening to me but providing me with active solutions to tackle my problems."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I have found service to be excellent with questions helpful for therapy"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Have only had 2 sessions, but it's been a positive experience so far."

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