In age of technology most people are probably familiar with Dr Google. Our need for information at out fingertips in times of uncertainty can help with future management of a potential concern or just help put our minds at ease (e.g., reduce anxiety). However, what about when Dr Google increase more anxiety and more frenzied searches, leading to heightened anxiety, which some researchers label “cyberchondria”. Cyberchondria is where multiple searches of health-based websites leads to heightened anxiety, catastrophising and distress.
Most of us worry about our health at some point, why wouldn’t we? You may notice a new symptom or change in your body and become concerned of a terrible illness or something that requires urgent medical attention. In fact, it can be helpful to be concerned about your health. This is the type of concern that might motivate you to visit your doctor. Once given the all clear from a professional, the person should feel more comfortable, and the threat should be considered either (1) non-life threatening, (2) something not to worry about and (3) worries disappear after symptoms go away.
But for some people, what starts as a normal health concern can tip over into a mental health concern, where the person seeks constant reassurance from their doctor or multiple medical professionals without any reduction in anxiety or worry. The person may also think they have an illness no doctor is familiar with, leading them to think the doctor may be wrong and they still have a serious health concern to be concerned about. These types of concerns are labelled under the broad banner of Health anxiety, or illness anxiety disorder.
Health anxiety and other associated disorders (e.g., somatic symptom disorder) are a mental health condition characterized by excessive worry, fear, or preoccupation with having a serious medical illness, despite having little or no medical evidence to support these concerns. Individuals with health anxiety may fixate on physical symptoms, interpret minor bodily sensations as signs of a severe illness, and seek frequent medical reassurance, even when no underlying medical condition is present.
Excessive Worry: Intense fear of having a serious medical condition, often driven by irrational or exaggerated beliefs about physical symptoms. Worrying is intensified by anxiety and a person’s imagination. Most of our fears are not actual events that have happened in the past but hypothesised or imagined worst case scenarios.
Constant Monitoring: Frequently checking their bodies for signs of illness (e.g., taking their pulse) or conducting self-examinations.
Multiple Doctor Visits: Frequent visits to healthcare providers, often seeking multiple opinions or medical tests, in search of reassurance that there is no serious illness.
Misinterpretation of Normal Sensations: Minor bodily sensations, such as a headache or occasional stomach discomfort, are often misinterpreted as signs of a life-threatening illness.
Impairment in Daily Life: Health anxiety can significantly disrupt daily functioning, leading to increased distress, avoidance of certain situations, and impaired relationships.
Difficulty Accepting Reassurance: Even after receiving medical reassurance that no serious illness is present, individuals with health anxiety may continue to doubt the diagnosis and seek further opinions.
Nocebo Effect: The fear and anxiety associated with health concerns can lead to the "nocebo" effect, where individuals may experience real physical symptoms due to psychological distress.
Health anxiety can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, leading to excessive stress. Treatment approaches for health anxiety often involve cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors related to health concerns. Medication may also be considered in some cases to manage anxiety symptoms.
If you or someone you know is struggling with health anxiety, seeking help from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, can provide support and effective treatment strategies to manage and overcome this condition.
