Illness anxiety disorder, previously known as hypochondriasis, can be defined by excessive worry or preoccupation with the belief that one is having a serious medical condition or is in danger of developing a serious illness. People with this disorder may misinterpret normal sensations, bodily functions, or minor symptoms as signs of illness.
Everyone tends to be concerned about their health at times but for individuals with this disorder, the fear is so strong that the anxiety they feel can cause disruptions in their daily functioning. Individuals with illness anxiety disorder tend to be hyper-vigilant to these bodily sensations and may spend a lot of time looking for signs and symptoms of a serious medical condition. For example, one may check their pulse rate again and again to check if their heartbeat is regular.
The cause of illness anxiety remains unknown but certain potential risk factors can make one prone to this disorder such as extreme stress, childhood trauma, childhood illness, or a family member with a serious illness. Individuals who have a close relative with illness anxiety or have had bad health experiences in the past are also more likely to develop this disorder. Common signs and symptoms of illness anxiety disorder include:
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Preoccupation with having or developing a serious medical condition.
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Misinterpreting minor symptoms or normal body sensations as a serious illness.
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Frequently checking your body for signs of illness.
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Constantly browsing the web and researching signs and symptoms of illnesses.
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Frequent visits to health care settings and little to no reassurance from normal test results.
Individuals with this disorder can be classified into two types:
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Care seeking: Individuals spend a lot of time in health care settings and frequently visit doctors even if the test results show everything is normal.
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Care avoidant: Individuals avoid visiting doctors because they worry that their fears will be confirmed or they won’t be taken seriously.
Managing illness anxiety can seem quite challenging and engaging in mindfulness techniques such as meditation may help manage certain symptoms. If you believe you have illness anxiety disorder, you should reach out to a mental health professional. Some of the most successful treatments are a combination of medicines and talk therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Kanchi Jain is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.