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What is health anxiety?

Health anxiety (sometimes called illness anxiety disorder or hypochondria) is characterized by excessive worry about having or developing a serious medical condition, even when there are minimal or no symptoms present. While it’s normal to have concerns about your health from time to time, health anxiety involves persistent and intense fear that significantly interferes with daily functioning and quality of life. People with health anxiety often misinterpret normal bodily sensations as signs of serious illness. They may also engage in frequent checking behaviour and seek repeated medical reassurance.

Through therapeutic intervention, you can better understand the underlying causes of health anxiety. At BPG, we’ll work with you to develop effective strategies to manage these concerns. We can help you overcome the following symptoms:

Excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness

Seeking frequent medical consultations or tests

Persistent fear despite medical reassurance

Repeatedly asking friends and family for reassurance

Frequent checking of the body for signs of illness

Physical symptoms due to anxiety (racing heart, dizziness, fatigue)

Obsessive research about diseases and symptoms

Difficulty focusing on daily activities due to health worries

Avoidance of situations that trigger health concerns

Significant distress that affects work, relationships, and daily life

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Types of health anxiety

Health anxiety can manifest in different ways depending on the individual. The most common types include:

Illness Anxiety Disorder

This type involves a persistent fear of having a serious illness, even when symptoms are mild or nonexistent. People often engage in frequent health-related behaviours, such as checking their body or seeking medical reassurance.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Individuals experience one or more chronic physical symptoms—whether medically explained or not—that cause significant distress. These symptoms are often accompanied by excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviours related to health concerns.

Medical Phobia

This refers to extreme fear of specific medical procedures, environments, or conditions (such as blood, injections, hospitals, or diseases).

Cyberchondria

Individuals frequently engage in excessive online searching for health information. However, this typically increases anxiety rather than providing reassurance.

Treatment for
health anxiety

Various evidence-based therapies offer effective relief for health anxiety. For example, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps you understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours influence each other. Through CBT, you’ll learn to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts about health, reduce checking behaviours, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) can also be beneficial. DBT can help you develop mindfulness skills to stay present rather than worrying about potential health threats. Meanwhile, Emotion-Focused Therapy may help address the underlying emotional experiences that may fuel health anxiety.

At BPG, our therapists specialize in treating health anxiety using proven approaches. We work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan addressing your needs. With the right support, you can focus on living a fuller and more present life.

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Frequently asked questions

Health anxiety

What causes health anxiety?
Health anxiety can stem from past illness experiences, fear-based childhood environments, personality traits like perfectionism, or frequent exposure to health-related information. Genetics and a predisposition to anxiety can also play a part.
How can I stop my health anxiety?
Working with a therapist is a key step toward managing health anxiety. Treatment often includes approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), building mindfulness skills, and gradually confronting health-related fears in a safe, supportive way. In some cases, therapy may be combined with medication prescribed by your healthcare provider to support your progress.
What are the signs of health anxiety?
Common signs include constant worry about illness, frequent body checking, excessive medical visits, Googling symptoms, reassurance-seeking, and difficulty focusing due to health fears.
How to fix hypochondria?
CBT is the most effective treatment for hypochondria (now called illness anxiety disorder). It helps you challenge fearful thoughts, reduce checking behaviours, and build tolerance for uncertainty.
Can health anxiety cause physical symptoms?
Yes. Anxiety can trigger real physical symptoms like a racing heart, tension, dizziness, or stomach issues. These sensations can fuel further worry, creating a cycle of anxiety.
Is health anxiety a form of OCD?
They’re related but different. Health anxiety focuses on illness fears. Meanwhile, OCD involves intrusive thoughts and compulsions. Some overlap exists, and a professional can help clarify the diagnosis.
How long does health anxiety treatment take?
Many people experience improvement within 12-20 therapy sessions. However, some may require longer treatment.
Will my health anxiety ever go away completely?

Many experience major symptom relief with treatment. Some may have occasional flare-ups, but therapy provides tools to manage them and prevent them from taking over.

Why work with BPG?
Our experienced team offers compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your needs. We’re here to help you understand your anxiety, build lasting skills, and feel more in control of your health and your life.