We’re all human (presumably)
We’re all human (presumably), living in bodies that sometimes do weird things. Being human also comes with no guarantees except that life is uncertain, at times chaotic and can turn on a dime for better or worse. For those of us that have brains wired for anxiety, we may pay special attention to our bodies and all of its nuances. We see and feel the noise that it makes and while this is a normal process rooted in our basic need for survival, for some of us, that noise and attention can not only become problematic but also extremely disruptive in our lives.
What Does Health Anxiety Look Like?
Heath Anxiety is not an actual diagnosis but a general term usually describing either a somatic symptom or illness anxiety disorder. Either way, the key here is that this anxiety goes beyond the general observation of the things that knock around inside us. For the health anxiety sufferer, they will not only notice but often immediately jump to the worst case scenario regarding the meaning or cause of such observances.
People with health anxiety often experience it in three ways:
- Those that are afraid that they have an undiagnosed serious and possibly life threatening health condition
- Those that fear they will develop (and often miss the signs) of a future serious or life threatening health condition
- Those that may be dealing with a chronic health condition and real or perceived symptoms that may occur with ongoing, disruptive and often debilitating anxiety around that diagnosis and its implications
All is not lost however. Throughout this post, either as a person that suffers with health anxiety or not, you will learn how it often presents itself, what not to do to make it worse, as well as some ways that have been proven to be successful in its treatment.
Health Anxiety Dont’s
People with health anxiety often engage in compulsive behavior either physically or mentally. It can also be diagnosed independent to or as a theme of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). While these behaviors are intended to relieve the anxiety, they ultimately provide more fuel for the disorder and make it worse in the long term.
Here are some examples of compulsive behavior not to do:
DONT – Keep going back to the doctors
Look, I will never tell someone not to go to a doctor, especially if they are feeling something new or unique or concerning. That being said, people will often go to the doctor, get a clean bill of health and feel relief only to get more questions and go back and seek second and third opinions on the same problem.
This can also include demanding expensive exams, tests or even procedures to alleviate that fear. If the doctor gives you the all clear, we treat the anxiety and the fears around it. Even if they don’t give the all clear and find a there there, we still treat the unhealthy patterns around the anxiety that can limit a value driven life.
DON’T – Go online and seek answers
AI has its benefits and we can enter a simple question and have it find all the related research summarized very nicely for us. However this ultimately makes it worse as you will likely find some initial relief but there will be some last point, statement or even word you find that makes you think you are the exception and then begin the cycle of fear and doubt all over again.
This goes for Chat GPT and AI interfaces as well. Don’t go down that rabbit hole because there is no end. So really, don’t do it, ok?
DON’T – Compulsively check yourself
People with health anxiety often engage in repetitive body checks, checking their pulse, breathing, looking for lymph node lumps or tumors etc. The body is asymmetrical and you will likely find something that is ambiguous that you never noticed before. I mean, if its obvious and concerning of course get it checked, but then leave it alone.
Stop the hunt or you will keep finding things that otherwise were likely always there. These behaviors reinforce doubt which again, makes it worse.
So How is it Treated in Therapy
The mainstay treatment for anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. You have probably heard of this before but in my opinion, this approach can not be a broad based brush.
For example, identifying, labeling and challenging irrational thoughts and beliefs with evidence of the contrary (a core tenet of traditional CBT) can be an effective approach for many. However if a person with health anxiety also has OCD, or if it is a theme of OCD, then we want to use a special form of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention.
Here we are essentially exposing the individual to the thing about their health that makes them anxious and then teaching them how not to rely on the compulsions that fuel the disorder. Its much more nuanced than that and should be guided by a therapist but eventually this approach sends the message from the brain to the body that there is no danger here at this moment, even if there is a diagnosed health issue that is being treated.
Finally Acceptance and Committal Therapy (ACT) is also a good approach to help individuals learn that not all thoughts need to be responded to. Catastrophic thoughts are just thoughts that can come and go. When we take the meaning away from the thoughts, it helps us to loosen our grip on the continued anxiety and directs us towards or values.
So if you’re dealing with health anxiety, there is hope
So if you’re dealing with health anxiety, there is hope. There are ways to live a full and rewarding life by putting your fears into remission. With the help of an experienced therapist, one that should also understand ERP, people can put their fears behind them and start being more present and enjoying the life that they may be so afraid to lose.
By: Jason Marchitto, MA, LPC, LCADC