What is Health Anxiety?
Virtually everyone has times when they’re concerned that they may have an illness or other medical condition. This is normal and understandable. However, if worries about your health intensify to the point that they have a disruptive influence on your life, you may have developed health anxiety.
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What Is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety is a mental health concern that is characterized by obsessive, overwhelming fears or worries about your physical health.
The burden of living in fear of an impending medical crisis – even when there is no credible evidence to suggest that you are in danger of experiencing a serious health problem – can impair your ability to function in school, at work, and in the context of your personal relationships.
If you don’t get appropriate care, the persistent negative emotions that are symptomatic of health anxiety can undermine your psychological well-being and diminish your overall quality of life.
Is Health Anxiety in the DSM-5?
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not contain an entry for health anxiety – but it does include two disorders whose symptoms involve intense health-related fear: somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder.
Somatic Symptom Disorder
Somatic symptoms are physical sensations that don’t always have a clear medical cause. Common examples include headaches, stomach aches, dizziness, itchiness, and fatigue.
Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) does not cause a person to experience “phantom” pain. Instead, this condition is characterized by the psychological impact of actual physical symptoms.
Someone with SSD will experience persistent disproportionate anxiety about their physical symptoms, They may devote excessive amounts of time and energy worrying about how these symptoms may affect their health, continually seek medical advice to ease their concerns, and otherwise allow their fears to become an overwhelming presence in their life.
Illness Anxiety Disorder
Illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is characterized by a preoccupation with developing a serious illness.
Unlike those with SSD, people who have illness anxiety disorder will not have any significant somatic symptoms, but they will live in fear of contracting a severe health problem.
As a result of their uncontrollable health-related anxiety, some people with IAD will compulsively examine themselves for any signs of an emerging health concern and frequently schedule doctor’s appointments for relatively minor or nonexistent problems.
For others with this condition, their persistent anxiety may cause them to avoid doctors, physical checkups, and other medical services out of fear that they will receive an especially concerning diagnosis.
Symptoms of Health Anxiety
The signs that someone is struggling with health anxiety may include:
- Spending an inordinate amount of time researching diseases and disorders
- Avoiding TV shows, books, and films that discuss medical topics or portray people with health concerns
- Obsessively evaluating their own health for signs of a problem
- Making an excessive number of doctor’s appointments
- Refusing to go to the doctor, even for routine annual checkups
- Constantly expressing worries about their health or seeking reassurance from others that they’re OK
- Changing their behaviors, which can include no longer participating in activities they used to enjoy, due to health-related fears
What Causes Health Anxiety?
As with virtually every type of mental health concern, there’s no single cause of health anxiety. Instead, your risk of developing this condition can be influenced by a variety of personal and environmental factors, such as:
- Experiencing physical symptoms that don’t have an identifiable cause
- Having a chronic disease or disorder
- Developing anxiety or depression
- History of abuse, neglect, or other adverse childhood experiences (ACES)
- Surviving a serious illness during childhood
- Grief, loss, and other significant stressors
- Poor stress management or coping skills
- Personality traits such as neuroticism
Potential Effects of Health Anxiety
The impact of health anxiety can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the type and severity of your emotional distress, the effectiveness of your personal support network, and your willingness to get help.
If you fail to take appropriate steps to manage your symptoms, you may be at risk of myriad negative outcomes, including:
- Not receiving proper care for actual medical challenges due to fear of doctors and hospitals
- Having a difficult time convincing your doctor you have a legitimate health problem after making multiple prior appointments for unsubstantial reasons
- Conflicts with friends and family members, which may result in ruined relationships
- Development or worsening of another anxiety disorder, depression, or other co-occurring mental health concerns
- Engaging in ill-advised behaviors in an attempt to self-medicate or protect yourself from certain diseases or disorders
- Substandard performance in school and/or at work
- Self-doubt, loss of confidence, and low self-esteem
The best way to avoid these and other potential effects of health anxiety is to schedule an assessment with your doctor or a reputable mental health treatment provider in your area.
Completing an evaluation and receiving an accurate diagnosis can be vital steps on the path toward effective treatment and a much healthier future.
Learn More About Health Anxiety Treatment in Philadelphia
New Mind Wellness is a trusted provider of personalized outpatient care for people whose lives have been disrupted by health anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health concerns.
Treatment options at our mental health center in Philadelphia, PA, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program (OP). In each of these programs, you can expect to receive customized service and comprehensive support from a team of highly skilled professionals.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
Begin Healing at Our Mental Health Outpatient Treatment in Philadelphia
If you are ready to take the first step towards a healthier mind, contact us today. You will be connected with someone who can help guide you through our simple and straightforward admissions process. Learn more about our mental health programs in Philadelphia and begin your journey towards lasting wellness.
