What is health anxiety?
Health anxiety, formerly called hypochondria or hypochondriasis, is a persistent, disproportionate fear of having or acquiring a serious illness. In current diagnostic classification it is described as illness anxiety disorder (few or mild symptoms) or somatic symptom disorder (distressing physical symptoms with excessive thoughts and behaviours). The distress is real, and the symptoms people feel (palpitations, pains, tingling) are real, but their meaning is misread.
Symptoms
- Preoccupation with illnesses such as cancer, heart disease or neurological conditions.
- Interpreting normal sensations (a flutter in the chest, a headache, a lump) as dangerous.
- Repeated body checking, such as feeling for lumps or taking pulse and blood pressure.
- Excessive internet searching (“cyberchondria”).
- Repeated visits to doctors and requests for tests, or avoiding doctors altogether.
- Seeking reassurance from family, friends or professionals, with only short-lived relief.
- Avoiding anything related to illness (hospitals, news, a relative who is ill).
- Impact on work, relationships and mood.
The vicious cycle
A bodily sensation triggers a catastrophic thought (“this could be cancer”), which produces anxiety, which in turn creates more physical sensations (palpitations, tension), so the person pays even more attention to their body. Checking, searching and reassurance bring temporary relief but prevent learning that the fear was exaggerated, and so the doubt returns. Understanding this cycle is the first step to breaking it.
Causes and risk factors
- Previous experience of serious illness in oneself or a close person.
- Childhood illness, or parents who were overly anxious about health.
- A medical scare or a misdiagnosis.
- Generally anxious personality, perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty.
- Easy access to health information online.
- Stressful life events, depression or other anxiety disorders.
- Media health scares and pandemics.
The role of medical checks
It is important that real symptoms are medically assessed once, thoroughly, so that serious causes are ruled out. Repeated tests and second opinions, however, tend to feed the anxiety. A sensible plan, agreed with your doctor, may include scheduled check-ups at set intervals instead of reacting to every worry, and a single trusted doctor to coordinate care.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
CBT for health anxiety helps you understand the cycle, test alternative explanations for symptoms, reduce checking, reassurance seeking and avoidance (safety behaviours), redirect attention away from the body and gradually face feared situations. Treatment usually takes 6–16 sessions and works well in most people. Guided self-help and online CBT programmes have shown good results too.
Medication
SSRI antidepressants can reduce health anxiety, particularly when it is severe or accompanied by depression, panic or obsessive-compulsive symptoms. They are usually combined with therapy. A doctor will advise on dose, side effects and duration. Benzodiazepines are generally not recommended.
Self-help strategies
- Limit checking: set rules (for example, checking blood pressure once a week at most) and gradually reduce.
- Limit internet searching and avoid symptom checkers; use reliable sources only when needed.
- Delay reassurance: wait 15–30 minutes before seeking it, then try to reduce it.
- Name it: “This is health anxiety talking”.
- Refocus attention: engage in activities, exercise, social time.
- Practise relaxation and breathing. See deep breathing for anxiety.
- Keep a diary of worries and what actually happened.
- Look after sleep, diet and exercise.
Supporting someone with health anxiety
- Listen and acknowledge their distress without dismissing it.
- Avoid continual reassurance, which maintains the cycle; explain you want to help them in a different way.
- Encourage activities and treatment.
- Do not accompany them to endless appointments or searches.
- Take care of your own wellbeing.
When to seek help
- Health worries that last more than six months or dominate daily life.
- Frequent medical visits or avoidance of medical care.
- Significant distress, sleep problems or low mood.
- Impact on work or relationships.
- Thoughts of self-harm.
Three common situations
Repeated searches about symptoms and reassurance-seeking after a minor headache: limit searches, use a plan with your doctor and consider CBT.
Fear of heart disease after a relative’s heart attack, with repeated pulse checks: reduce checking gradually and address catastrophic thoughts.
Avoidance of medical appointments due to fear of a diagnosis: graded exposure with support can help.
News, pandemics and health anxiety
Constant exposure to health news, outbreaks and social media stories can inflame health anxiety. Limit news to a set time each day, choose reliable sources, avoid searching symptoms at night and focus on actions within your control, such as vaccination, screening appointments and healthy habits. If news triggers panic or intrusive thoughts, speak to a mental health professional.
Key points to remember
Health anxiety is common, distressing and treatable. Break the cycle of checking and reassurance, limit internet searching and consider CBT. See a doctor for new symptoms, but avoid repeated testing. Our psychology team can help.
This guide is for general information and does not replace an assessment by a qualified health professional.
Questions about health anxiety
These answers are general information and do not replace an examination or individual medical advice.
What is health anxiety?
Excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness despite reassurance or normal tests.
Is health anxiety the same as hypochondria?
Yes, health anxiety is the modern term for hypochondria.
How is health anxiety treated?
CBT is the first-line treatment; SSRIs may help some people.
Why does reassurance not help?
It brings brief relief but prevents the brain learning that the fear was exaggerated, so doubt returns.
Can health anxiety cause real symptoms?
Yes, anxiety causes real physical sensations such as palpitations, tension and dizziness.
Does Googling symptoms make it worse?
Often yes. Repeated searching increases anxiety and uncertainty.
Sources
This guide is for general information and does not replace medical advice. How a problem is diagnosed and treated depends on your examination and medical history. If you think you have an emergency, contact your local emergency services.