Anxiety & Stress
Health Anxiety
Also known as Hypochondria
Persistent fear of being seriously ill, or of becoming ill, based on bodily sensations and reassurance that never quite lasts.
What it can feel like
- Repeated checking of the body, lumps, moles or heart rate
- Frequent searching of symptoms online
- Seeking repeated reassurance from doctors or family
- Sensations that feel louder the more you focus on them
- Fear that a normal symptom means something catastrophic
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
Stop the checking loop
Body checks and searching give seconds of relief and then feed the fear. Reduce each gradually, one session at a time.
Name the sensation, not the disease
Notice a racing heart as a racing heart. Adding a diagnosis on top is what turns a bodily event into a threat.
Agree a plan with one doctor
A single trusted clinician and a scheduled review removes the need for constant re-checking, while keeping you safe.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
Ask your GP about CBT for health anxiety. It is very treatable, and treatment is not the same as being dismissed.
Often looked at together
Agoraphobia
Fear of situations it would be hard to escape from or get help in: public transport, queues, open spaces, shopping centres, being far from home.
Burnout
Exhaustion that sleep does not fix, built up from prolonged work or caregiving stress. Often paired with detachment from the things you used to care about.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
A persistent, free-floating worry that rarely settles, even when there is nothing specific to worry about. The body stays on alert, so rest feels impossible.