Health Anxiety (Illness Anxiety Disorder)

Health anxiety involves ongoing worry about having or developing a serious illness, even when medical tests suggest there is no cause for concern. People experiencing health anxiety may find themselves constantly monitoring their body, searching for symptoms, or seeking reassurance, yet still feeling anxious and uncertain.

Common experiences include frequent thoughts about health, heightened awareness of bodily sensations, repeated checking or researching symptoms, difficulty trusting medical reassurance (or avoiding recommended medical tests), and feeling unable to tolerate uncertainty about health. Physical symptoms of anxiety—such as muscle tension, fatigue, headaches, or a racing heart—can then increase worry, creating a distressing cycle.

Many people with health anxiety are highly responsible, caring, and attentive to their wellbeing. However, this strong desire for certainty and safety can make everyday sensations feel threatening and lead to significant stress, disruption to daily life, and difficulty feeling at ease.

Living with health anxiety can feel exhausting and overwhelming, but support is available. Therapy can help you understand how health anxiety works, reduce unhelpful checking and reassurance-seeking, and develop practical tools to manage worry and uncertainty. Individualised therapy recognises the person as a whole, including recognising the possible impact of events or experiences that could make someone more vulnerable to health related worry/ stress.

If you’re considering support and would like to explore whether therapy feels right for you, you’re welcome to book a free, no-obligation discovery call.