What We Treat
Health Anxiety
Learn about health anxiety symptoms and treatment approaches at Westwood Institute.
About Health Anxiety
Health anxiety can involve persistent fear of illness and repeated checking or reassurance seeking.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms may include body scanning, repeated searches, medical reassurance seeking, and difficulty accepting uncertainty.
Treatment Approach
Treatment supports healthier responses to uncertainty and reduces compulsive checking and reassurance cycles.
Related Pages
Your questions, answered
Frequently asked questions about Health Anxiety
What is health anxiety?
Health anxiety involves persistent worry about illness that takes over daily life. It may include frequent body checking, symptom research, repeated reassurance seeking, or avoiding health-related information.
Why does reassurance sometimes help only briefly?
Reassurance may ease worry temporarily, but the urge to check can return. Treatment helps people understand this cycle and develop different ways of responding to health-related uncertainty.
Does treatment mean ignoring physical symptoms?
No. Treatment aims to reduce excessive worry and checking while supporting appropriate medical care. Discuss new or changing symptoms with a medical professional and agree on a sensible follow-up plan.
What therapy is used for health anxiety?
CBT is commonly used to address health-related fears and behaviors. It can help people reduce excessive checking and return to activities they have avoided because of illness worries.
Further reading: NHS