Always worrying about your heal conditions? Or do you experience a fear about your own health even though you didn’t have any signs and symptoms? Don’t get confused, it is one of the health and illness anxiety that get people sick even though they didn’t have any sickness. This condition is called hypochondria, an illness anxiety disorder.
What is Hypochondria, Illness Anxiety Disorder?
Hypochondria, also known as illness anxiety disorder (IAD) is characterized by an overwhelming fear of having a serious medical problem, despite having little or no symptoms. People with IAD frequently seek medical attention for symptoms they believe are related to a health issue or may mistakenly think that minor symptoms are more serious than they actually are.
Even though there might not be a physical sickness, people with IAD have very reasonable worries, and the anxiety they experience can seriously impair their ability to go about their everyday lives normally.
Illness Anxiety Disorder Causes
According to current psychology theory, illness anxiety disorder is more likely to result from a combination of comorbid events or conditions rather than a single event or element. Some of these include –
- A family history of anxiety disorders
- Childhood traumas, such as neglecting parents, unhappy circumstances, custody rules, being orphan or step- son/daughter, sibling rivalries, etc.
- Severe stress
- Suffering from chronic illness or frequent injuries since childhood
- Observing a family member battle a lifelong illness or crippling injury as a child
- Recent or previous trauma, such as sexual assault and physical and emotional abuse
Other than causes, there a few more trigger points that worsen illness anxiety disorder sometimes and might triggers in a hypochondriac’s present-day life can also include:
- High BP (which can be worsened or caused by their anxiety)
- Abnormal heart rate (which caused by their illness anxiety)
- Concerns of
- catching COVID-19 or from being near someone who has the COVID variant
- Public places, including pubs, airlines, and other places with high foot traffic – Allergies, sunburns, hangovers, and other mild illnesses
- Autoimmune conditions, which have been associated with chronic anxiety
How Does It Fell When Hypochondriac – IAD Have?
Having no symptoms or very mild symptoms, it is an obsession with having or developing a major disorder! Of course, people with illness anxiety disorder engage in behaviors intended to lessen worry or anxiety of getting sick or to ensure that they are healthy.
These behaviors include constantly seeking affirmation that they are healthy, frequently visiting doctors (or, in some circumstances, avoiding them), taking excessive amounts of medication, and examining and scanning their bodies for potential signs. This obsession progressively takes over a person’s life and seriously impairs their ability to carry out their regular tasks.
No amount of medical assurance or unfavorable test findings could make them feel better. After the doctor has comforted them, the patients may feel even more worried as they consider the possibility that the doctor is not paying attention to them, is incompetent, or is misinterpreting the results of medical tests.
Illness Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
The main feature of an illness anxiety disorder is a persistent worry about getting sick, which is frequently based on physiological processes or minor physical problems, which include:
- Avoiding situations or people out of a concern about getting sick
- Constantly looking up symptoms and medical diseases on the internet
- Constantly discussing health issues with others
- Stress that is severe enough to interfere with daily activities
- Concern that a serious medical condition is to blame for one’s physical symptoms
- Making appointments with doctors to check on small symptoms or typical biological functions.
All the above-listed symptoms can indicate anxiety and an obsession with examining one’s health. It can also indicate increased awareness of minor physical sensations like headaches, joint discomfort, or sweating.
Psychotherapy Approach For Illness Anxiety Disorders
At initially, dealing with hypochondria may be challenging, especially if you don’t completely understand the severity of your problem. Working with a psychotherapist who is well-versed in hypochondria and other anxiety-based problems is the best method to prevent hypochondriac thinking. In order to treat illness anxiety disorder, therapists frequently use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which, among other important benefits, teaches patients how to identify and effectively challenge unfavorable thought patterns.
Other therapeutic approaches for illness anxiety disorder also include:
- 1. Group Therapy
As they connect and converse with others who have the same symptoms, group therapy may help people with hypochondria better identify intrusive and unreasonable health-related thoughts. Observing the imbalanced behaviors of other patients may encourage them to examine themselves and deal with their own illnesses.
- 2. Behavioral stress management
This therapy teaches patients how to stop engaging in harmful habits and reinforces effective actions. Those who struggle to manage the symptoms of hypochondria or illness anxiety disorder may be better equipped to deal with stress and worry brought on by future health concerns.
- 3. Exposure therapy
Due to the fact that each hypochondriac may experience a different set of triggers that set off their propensity to overthink, it can be quite subjective. However, it could entail making and keeping doctor’s appointments, dealing with actual illness (like the flu or a cold), or spending time in places that have in the past induced anxiety related to one’s health, such a theatre, park, or medical facility.
In addition to the support of a psychotherapist, there are a few steps you may take to minimize the chance that you’ll trigger off your anxiety-related hypochondria, such as meditation, exercising, playing sports, pet caring, gardening, etc.
Need assistance to treat your illness anxiety disorder? Our experts at Teletherapy in Minneapolis will be here to offer exceptional services. Reach us to book an appointment!