When worries about your health start to take over.
It’s natural to be concerned about your health from time to time. But when those worries become persistent, overwhelming, or difficult to control—even when there’s no medical reason to be alarmed—you may be experiencing health anxiety.
Health anxiety (sometimes referred to as illness anxiety or hypochondria) is an intense preoccupation with the idea that you may have, or will develop, a serious illness. It’s not simply about being cautious or health-conscious. It’s an anxiety disorder that can significantly disrupt your daily life, relationships, and peace of mind.
What Does Health Anxiety Feel Like?
People with health anxiety often find themselves in a cycle of constant checking, reassurance-seeking, and worrying. Despite medical tests or reassurances from professionals, the fear doesn’t go away—it often just shifts to a new symptom or concern.
Common experiences include:
- Frequently checking your body for signs of illness
- Worrying excessively about specific symptoms
- Seeking repeated reassurance from doctors, loved ones, or online sources
- Avoiding medical appointments out of fear of bad news
- Difficulty trusting medical advice or test results
- Feeling overwhelmed by health-related news or stories
- Obsessively researching symptoms online (“Dr. Google”)
- Physical symptoms triggered by anxiety (e.g. chest tightness, nausea, headaches)
It’s a distressing cycle: the more you worry, the more physical symptoms you might experience—making the fear feel even more real.
Therapy Can Help You Break the Cycle
If you’re caught in this pattern, therapy can offer both understanding and relief. We’ll work together to understand the thoughts and fears driving your anxiety, gently challenge unhelpful beliefs, and develop healthier ways to manage uncertainty and discomfort.
Through a compassionate and structured approach, therapy can help you regain confidence in your body, feel more present in daily life, and reduce the grip that health anxiety has on your mind.
You Don’t Have to Live in Fear
If health worries are interfering with your life, we’re here to support you. Start with a free 15-minute introductory call to talk through your experience and see if therapy feels like the right next step.
