What is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety involves becoming preoccupied with the possibility that something may be wrong with your health. Bodily sensations, minor changes or unfamiliar symptoms can take on greater significance, leading to worry about what they might mean and difficulty feeling reassured that you are okay.
This can create a self-reinforcing cycle. You may become increasingly alert to sensations in your body, check for signs of illness, search for health information or seek reassurance from doctors or people close to you. These responses can bring temporary relief, but the uncertainty often returns, sometimes making you even more attentive to the next sensation or symptom.
Over time, health worries can become increasingly consuming and begin to interfere with everyday life, even when medical investigations have been reassuring.