How Health Anxiety Symptoms Became The Top Trend In Social Media
What Are Health Anxiety Symptoms?
It's perfectly normal to be concerned about your health, but if your concerns aren't in proportion you could be suffering from a condition called health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). The most prominent symptoms are a an excessive sweating, a stomach that is churning and the appearance or feeling of the sensation of numbness.
People suffering from illness anxiety disorder frequently misinterpret the sensations of bodily discomfort as signs of serious disease, including headaches or nausea. The fear can cause people to avoid major events or seek reassurance from medical professionals and their friends.
1. severe anxiety symptoms examine your health
People suffering from illness anxiety disorder (also called hypochondriasis) spend a great deal of their time worried about their health. This can have a major impact on their quality of life as they are constantly worried about the little things like an itch, a tickle in their throat, or headaches. People suffering from this condition typically seek medical advice and undergoing various tests, which can be very expensive. The constant stress can be a burden for the family and at work.
It can be triggered from previous experiences, such as watching the death of a loved one due to an illness or from a health-related event. It can also be the result of stress like going through divorce or having a child. It can also be caused by genetics or a combination of. People whose parents were anxious about their health or suffered from anxiety may be more prone to developing this disorder.
The issue with anxiety related to illness is that the brain misinterprets every bodily sensation as dangers. It's a bit like when you hear the sound of the car alarm, you instantly assume that there is a criminal in the car, even though you know there isn't. Healthy bodies produce a variety of sensations that can be uncomfortable, painful or unwelcome however they aren't generally dangerous.
In the end, those with this disorder find themselves on the internet for answers to their questions about their health. However, the majority of information on the internet isn't reliable and could make someone feel worse. This is a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break, as people be relying on this comfort to ease their anxiety.
Anyone who is concerned about their health needs an assessment. A primary care doctor can assist. They may also refer their patient to a mental health professional for further evaluation and treatment options. A psychologist or psychiatrist can prescribe medications to calm the mind and body depending on the severity of anxiety. In addition to medications, therapy can be helpful. Therapists can teach the patient how to overcome their negative thoughts and replace them with more realistic ones. They can also teach coping skills, such as keeping a journal or drawing two columns with their concerns in one and more positive thoughts in the other.
2. You're unable to relax
It's important to speak with your doctor regarding your inability to relax and receive a correct diagnose. They may be able to assist you in managing anxiety symptoms using medication or psychotherapy (talk therapy).
For people with anxiety about their health their body is always in a state of alert. They interpret minor physical sensations such as an itch in the toe or headache as signs that they're sick and that something serious is wrong. These fears can make it hard to focus at work, have positive relationships, or be productive at home. Some people may avoid certain situations in order to keep from being anxious. Avoiding a situation won't help alleviate anxiety. It can get worse over time.
While being worried about your health is normal, it can become unhealthy when it starts to affect your daily life and impact your mood. Health anxiety is usually associated with a fear of contracting a rare, fatal disease. They may be constantly searching for their symptoms or request excessive reassurance from doctors. Untreated health anxiety can lead a person to suffer from hypochondria. It is a condition where a person becomes excessively worried about their health.
Health anxiety can be caused by a myriad of causes. Certain people might have an ancestry of anxiety, depression or stress in their families. Others may have experienced an unsettling childhood in which they learned to consider every bodily sensation seriously. Poor sleeping habits and drug abuse issues can also impact the brain's functioning.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful to those who suffer from anxiety but are unable to manage it down. This technique teaches people to challenge negative thoughts and reframe in a more realistic way. It also teaches people how to use relaxation techniques, which can help them to calm their bodies and minds when they're in stressful circumstances. People with health anxiety are also able to benefit from regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. These activities can increase your immunity and provide an natural stress-relief.
3. You're worried about becoming sick
Regular bodily sensations, such as nausea, dizziness, or a tingle in the throat can be frightening for people suffering from anxiety disorders. Because the mind is a powerful thing and can interpret these sensations as evidence that there is a serious illness present, even when they aren't. This could cause people to examine their health regularly, including frequent visits to a doctor or using home devices like a thermometer or a blood pressure machine. It can also involve searching the internet for information on the condition (often inaccurate and alarming) or seeking out reassurance from family members, friends or colleagues.
This can lead to real issues, especially when it leads to a complete avoidance of certain activities or interactions with others due to the fear that illness could develop. People who suffer from this type of anxiety often need to seek assistance from a mental health professional.
The good news is that help is readily available and can be extremely effective. The most common treatments are cognitive treatment for behavioural disorders and antidepressants. Inquiring for help isn't an indication that you're weak. Health anxiety can have a significant impact on relationships (no person would like to hear about your multitude of illnesses that could be a possibility each time you go out) and careers (you're always away from work due to endless doctor visits) and your wellbeing.
It's normal to worry about your health at some point, if the concern is in contrast to your symptoms or risk of illness, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, such as somatic symptoms disorder or illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). These disorders aren't the same as malingering or factitious disorder (Munchhausen Syndrome) since the sufferer is convinced that they are sick.
For the majority of people, it's easy to dismiss their health worries as being irrational. After all most of us have suffered from serious illness at some point in our lives, so worries are an acceptable response to the real danger. But for a few people, these irrational concerns can get out of hand and take a toll on their health and quality of life.
4. You're scared of being accused of being
People with anxiety often struggle with social situations. They might be afraid of being judged in front of others or worry that they might say the wrong thing. They may also be worried about being judged or snubbed and may avoid social situations if it is possible. This can hinder a person's ability to be successful at work or school and could cause major issues in their relationships. If you feel that your anxiety symptoms have become too severe, it's important to seek the help of a professional.
It's natural to be concerned about your own health. However, it's important to pay attention to any changes you notice in your body. If you think that any physical sensation could be an indication of a forthcoming illness, you may have anxiety disorder. This is known as hypochondriasis or illness anxiety.
Illness anxiety is an obsessive compulsive disorder that's described as a lack of acceptance of uncertainty. They interpret symptoms such as nausea, headaches or fatigue as signs of a serious illness. They can spend hours searching for symptoms on the internet and seek out constant reassurance from their friends and medical experts. They might be scared of going to the doctor, fearing that they'll receive an unintentional diagnosis.
Health anxiety can be triggered by a variety of factors that include traumatic experiences (like the loss of a loved one die from cancer) or life-threatening events or exposure to distressing health-related information in the media. It can also be caused by certain medications or drugs or even due to a family history of anxiety or depression.
If you're worried that have a medical condition it's important to keep in mind that not everyone has a medical degree and that many health concerns are nothing to be alarmed about. It's also important to learn strategies for coping and it's helpful to have someone in your life who is able to offer some reassurance. A counselor or psychologist can provide you with a range of healthy coping strategies such as exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.