What is health anxiety?

You might have health anxiety if you experience the following:

• Worrying about illness that leads to high levels of anxiety
• Struggling to feel reassured with negative test results
• Frequently checking your body for symptoms
• Avoiding situations that make you worry about your health

Concerns may focus on specific illnesses or feeling that something is "off." Common fears include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, thyroid disorders, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy. It can also be about other conditions such as schizophrenia or having a heart attack. You might worry about a loved one's health. For example, a parent might worry that their child's tiredness could be leukemia. Or someone may worry about their partner’s cough, thinking it could be lung cancer. Health anxiety can show up in different ways. For some, it comes as worrying thoughts, like "What if I have a serious illness?". For others, it can appear as intrusive images. These are mental pictures that pop into your mind. These images might be of yourself being ill or in a hospital. It can also be imagining worst-case scenarios. Just like anxious thoughts, these images can feel real and upsetting. It's difficult to remember they are part of your anxiety and it's not a reflection of what’s happening.

What causes health anxiety?

Health anxiety can gradually build over time. It might be triggered by a range of internal or external factors. These are some of the most common ones:

Focused on your body

• Noticing specific body sensations, such as pain or tiredness
• Changes in appearance like observing swelling or changes in shape, size or color on any body part
• Changes in functioning, like memory and concentration
• Stress that can lead to or worsen body sensations

Focused on life situations or experiences

• Encountering things you find dangerous or alarming, like blood or spoiled food
• Being near someone who is ill, illness or death of someone close
• Learning about illnesses and death
• Intrusive mental images or memories, like remembering distressing experiences

Experiences, personality and family history might make you more likely to worry about your health. For example: If you've had serious illnesses or seen family members deal with health problems it can make you more worried about changes in your body. Not everyone who is vulnerable goes on to develop health anxiety. This is because we also have things that protect us. Coping skills and support from others can lower vulnerability.

In summary, health anxiety can manifest in different ways like frequently worrying about illnesses or constantly checking for symptoms. It is triggered by different things, like body sensations or life experiences. By noticing the signs and understanding what causes it, you can begin to break the cycle of worry.