Health anxiety is ongoing worry that you have, or will get, a serious illness. The worry often continues even after a doctor says you’re healthy, and it can take up a lot of time and energy. When this worry becomes intense and long-lasting, clinicians may call it illness anxiety disorder, the condition once known as hypochondria.
If you’ve spent hours checking symptoms online or felt little relief after a normal test result, you’re not alone. We put this guide together to explain how therapy for health anxiety works, which approaches tend to help, and how to find a therapist who’s a good fit.
To understand how therapy helps, it’s useful to start with what health anxiety looks like day to day.
What Is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety is a pattern of worry focused on your physical health. Normal body sensations, such as a fast heartbeat or a headache, can seem to be warning signs of something serious. The distress comes mostly from the worry itself rather than from the physical sensation. Some people also notice these sensations during panic attacks, which can make health worries feel even more convincing.
People living with health anxiety often notice a few common patterns.
- Frequently checking the body for signs of illness, such as lumps or changes in skin
- Searching online for the causes of symptoms
- Seeking reassurance from doctors, family, or friends, then feeling relief that doesn’t last
- Avoiding doctors, medical tests, or health news out of fear of bad news
- Avoiding people, places, or activities because of perceived health risks
Some people with health anxiety visit doctors often, while others avoid medical care altogether. Both patterns can make daily life harder and may strain relationships, work, and finances.
These patterns can feel very personal, but they’re more common than many people realize.
How Common Is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety is a fairly common experience, and almost everyone worries about their health at some point. Estimates of how many people live with ongoing health anxiety vary from study to study, depending on how it’s measured.
Health anxiety appears to affect men and women equally. The course is often long-term, and symptoms may ease for a while and then return during stressful periods.
The exact cause isn’t fully understood. Some factors that may play a role include difficulty tolerating uncertainty, having a parent who worried a lot about health, a serious illness in childhood, and major life stress.
The good news is that health anxiety tends to respond well to therapy.
Curious what kind of therapist would be right for you?
We’ve helped over 500,000 find a therapist that fits for free.
What Types of Therapy Help With Health Anxiety?
Several types of talk therapy can help you worry less about your health and feel more at ease in your body. Most of these types of therapy focus on changing how you respond to anxious thoughts and sensations, rather than trying to make the thoughts disappear.
Learn New Patterns With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you notice the thoughts and behaviors that keep anxiety going and learn new ways to respond. For health anxiety, CBT often helps you examine your fears about illness, interpret body sensations in less alarming ways, and build skills for coping with stress.
Practice Facing Fears With Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy helps you gradually face the situations, thoughts, or sensations you’ve been avoiding, so they lose some of their power over time. For example, a therapist might work with you to read a health article without searching further, or to wait before checking a symptom.
Some therapists pair exposure with response prevention, which means slowly cutting back on checking and reassurance-seeking. Exposure and other behavioral approaches may help alongside CBT.
Make Room for Uncertainty With ACT and Mindfulness
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) helps you make room for uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while focusing on what matters most to you. Mindfulness-based approaches use a similar idea, helping you notice thoughts and sensations without reacting to them right away.
With these approaches in mind, it’s natural to wonder how well they work.
Does Therapy Work for Health Anxiety?
Yes, therapy tends to help many people with health anxiety. Psychotherapy, and CBT in particular, can be an effective treatment. ACT and mindfulness-based approaches are also used, and a therapist can help you decide which fits your needs.
Many therapists offer CBT by video, so online sessions may be an option if in-person visits are hard to fit into your schedule. How well therapy works also depends on the relationship you build with your therapist, so finding someone you trust matters.
Therapy is often the main focus of care, but some people also consider medication.
Can Medication Help With Health Anxiety?
Medication may be part of care for some people. Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be helpful for health anxiety, especially when depression or another anxiety condition is also present.
Medication decisions are made with a prescriber, such as a psychiatrist or primary care provider. Many treat health anxiety with therapy alone, while others combine therapy and medication.
Once you know your options, the next step is finding someone to work with.
How Do I Find a Therapist for Health Anxiety?
Look for a licensed therapist who has experience with anxiety and uses evidence-based approaches such as CBT or exposure therapy. It can help to ask how they usually work with health-related worry and what a typical session looks like. Questions about approach fit naturally alongside other questions for a new therapist, such as cost and scheduling.
Fit matters, too. The bond with your therapist plays a big role in how well therapy works, so it’s okay to meet with a few therapists before you choose one.
It also helps to continue seeing a primary care provider who knows your history and can collaborate with you. A consistent provider can set limits on tests and referrals with you, which can reduce repeated visits that keep the worry going.
There are several ways to find a therapist. You can check your insurance company’s directory, ask your primary care provider for a referral, or look into university training clinics in your area. We created Mental Health Match to make this part easier, and it’s free to use. You answer a few questions about your needs and preferences, and we introduce you to therapists who are a strong fit for what you’re looking for.
| Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to a qualified healthcare professional about any medical concerns. If you are in crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. |
