What is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety can trap people in repeated scanning, online research, doctor visits, or fear of missed symptoms. Treatment reduces compulsive checking while strengthening tolerance for uncertainty.
Common signs and symptoms
- Frequent body scanning or symptom monitoring
- Repeated internet searching or medical reassurance seeking
- Fear that normal sensations indicate serious illness
- Avoiding medical information, appointments, exercise, or certain foods
- Temporary relief followed by renewed doubt
How Westwood Institute treats it
- CBT for threat interpretation and uncertainty
- Exposure and response prevention for checking and reassurance
- Behavioral plans for healthy medical care without compulsion
- Reduction of internet searching and body scanning
- Practical relapse-prevention tools