Can’t stop worrying about your health?
Although doctors tell you medical tests are fine and there’s nothing to worry about, you feel anxious. Initially you may feel reassured, but soon you begin to wonder, “ what if they have made a mistake?” There could be something terribly wrong with me and tests aren’t picking it up. You constantly look up symptoms on Google and it is hard not to feel anxious.
If you can relate to this you may be among 5.7% of Australians who experience Health Anxiety in their lifetime1.
What is Health Anxiety?
Health Anxiety also known as Hypochondria is characterised by excessive worrying about your health. This worry negatively impacts your life including work and personal life. You may have an actual medical condition you worry about excessively. You may have symptoms that cannot be medically explained such as aches and pains. Although your doctor may reassure everything is fine, you believe it is due to serious conditions.
If left untreated, your Health Anxiety could get worse. You will begin to look for everything and anything that could explain every ache or discomfort you may have. You won’t stop at having constant medical check ups, but also hassle family and friends about assuring you that there’s nothing wrong with you. You may even begin to seek second and third opinions. Health Anxiety can start to take over every aspect of your life.
At Vida Psychology we try to understand your Health Anxiety including where and how it may have originated.
If you are sick and tired of worrying about your health and want to put a stop to it, call one of highly specialised Psychologists on 9328 3636
Developing The Right Treatment Plan for you
At Vida Psychology we have over 17 years experience treating Health Anxiety. We take the time to listen how it impacts your life and those around you. This empathic listening enables us to gain a deeper understanding of the origins of your Health Anxiety, triggers, patterns, barriers keeping you stuck and what may be making it worse. This then assists us in developing a tailored treatment plan especially written for you.
If you think Health Anxiety is controlling your life, call us on 9328 3636.
Reference: Sunderland, M., Newby J. M. & Andrews G. Health anxiety in Australia: prevalence, comorbidity, disability and service use. The British Journal of Psychiatry (2013) 202, 56–61.