What is Illness Anxiety Disorder?
Health anxiety has been around for a long, long time. It’s been called hypochondria or hypochondriasis. The official name is illness anxiety disorder. By any name, the concept of experiencing relentless worry about one’s state of health is far from new. That said, it sure kicked into high gear about five years ago.
Today, we have folks who will visit a doctor at the slightest (perceived) provocation. Some people avoid doctors for fear of getting a diagnosis they believe they might have. Either way, illness anxiety disorder lays a foundation of fear that limits an individual’s daily functioning. Fortunately and perhaps ironically, there are proven, effective ways to manage this disorder.
7 Signs That You Might Have Illness Anxiety Disorder
A telltale sign involves a constant sharing and oversharing about one’s health (this relentless concern often includes a search for reassurance that all is well).
Checking and re-checking yourself for even the tiniest of possible symptoms as a sign of looming disaster.
Fixating on basic body functions.
Also worrying about people in their lives.
When test results show no positive results, the anxiety does not decrease.
Avoiding people, places, and things you believe will cause illness.
Organizing your day around the perceived need to manage your health.
For the record, just because someone is diagnosed with illness anxiety disorder doesn’t mean they don’t or can’t contract a health issue. It’s rarely about physical health and more about psychological fear.
What Else You Should Know About Hypochondria
Risk Factors
Because illness anxiety disorder is typically underreported, estimates vary on how widespread it is. What we do know is that it affects males and females equally and can arise due to a family history of health anxiety. Other possible risk factors include pre-existing mental health disorders, high amounts of life stress, and having endured adverse childhood events.
Acceptance
The path toward recovery begins with an awareness and acceptance of what’s going on. Try keeping a journal to track how often your health is on your mind. Do so without judgment.
Redirecting Your Attention
This may appear too obvious or simple, but illness anxiety disorder cannot thrive if you redirect your attention. With the help of a skill therapist, you can discover ways to shift your focus and use that time and energy for productive efforts instead.
Mindfulness and Self-Care
A powerful way to develop acceptance and take back control of your attention is mindfulness. How about allocating online research time instead to learning about mindfulness and self-care? When you ground yourself in the present moment, you lessen the impact of past regrets and future fears.
Talk Back to Your Inner Voice
When tall tales of hypochondria dominate your internal monologue, you can fact-check as you would fact-check any sketchy bit of content you encounter in your life. This is not permission to ignore symptoms, but it is a suggestion to be more skeptical of what anxiety tells you.
Anxiety is the Most Common Disorder on the Planet
Anxiety disorders arrive in many forms, and if you’re feeling health anxiety, you’re not alone. It’s not only common, but it’s hard to see it coming. So, while self-education is crucial, you must be careful not to refocus your health fixation on a possible anxiety disorder. That said, the ideal option is to connect with a qualified professional. It’s a proven path toward discerning fact from fiction while differentiating between real and perceived threats.
Anxiety therapy is available and can free you from the bondage of irrational fears. I’d love to set you up for a free and confidential consultation so we can discuss all of this more deeply.
