Overcome Health Anxiety with Online Therapy

Category: Health Anxiety Online Therapy | Last updated: September 20th, 2025 | Reviewed and approved by:
Dr. Steven Gans, MD
Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD

Are You Health Conscious or Health Anxious?

Almost every one of us gets concerned about our health and well-being. And that concern can motivate us to try to optimize our eating, sleep and to lead a healthy lifestyle. Being health conscious can be great. It helps a lot in leading a healthy, happy, successful and meaningful life.

However, problems arise when this health consciousness gets transformed into “health anxiousness”. If you become too obsessed about your health and if you get too apprehensive that you are suffering from a severe illness (without the presence of such medical symptoms), then you may be experiencing health anxiety. In the past, psychologists referred to this as “hypochondria”. However, it is now called Illness Anxiety Disorder.

Illness Anxiety Disorder is a somatic symptom disorder in which the person suffering from it gets overly anxious or obsessed over his/her physical conditions. They see even a minor problem as an exaggerated severe illness. People suffering from Illness Anxiety Disorder often require continuous care, support and assurance from health service providers, family and acquaintances.

See if you recognize yourself in the symptoms of health anxiety:

Being preoccupied with having or developing a serious disease or health condition
Worrying that minor symptoms or body sensations mean you have a serious illness
Being easily alarmed about your health status
Finding little or no reassurance from doctor visits or negative test results
Worrying excessively about a specific medical condition or your risk of developing a medical condition because it runs in your family
Having so much distress about possible illnesses that it's hard for you to function
Repeatedly checking your body for signs of illness or disease
Frequently making medical appointments for reassurance — or avoiding medical care for fear of being diagnosed with a serious illness
Avoiding people, places or activities for fear of health risks
Constantly talking about your health and possible illnesses
Frequently searching the internet for causes of symptoms or possible illnesses

What’s more, people with Illness Anxiety Disorder can also experience additional mental health issues, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Clinical Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Treatment Procedures

The good news is that Illness Anxiety Disorder can be treated. Effective methods of treatment include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy and support. You can receive these types of treatment here at Online Therapy.

Reviews

Our online therapy services have received 4228 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Parisa Azadvary was an incredible therapist who provided me with lots of insight, help, and also being a great listener to my struggles. Online-Therapy was a fantastic service I'd recommend. Thanks to everyone involved :)"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"After only a few sessions, I am finding it really helpful. I’ve been able to reflect on a lot of things I’d never thought about before."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"The therapy has been tremendously helpful and having all resources in one place helped me to stay focused on the program."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Lisa was a wonderful therapist! She helped me feel confident in expressing myself and that I had a safe space during our sessions. My therapy primarily centered around my couples relationship issues which she provided wonderful guidance and self-exploration and balancing between where I could feel justified in areas and opening up my eyes to how I can improve myself."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I was paired with a wonderful therapist who helps guiding me through my struggles with so much respect and care. Being able to text her and have two sessions per week is truly helpful and relieving. Would 10/10 always recommend!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I started off with two phone calls a week because I was in a crisis. I can’t afford that now, but the help that I am getting is really helpful I don’t know which therapist you would get if you’re reading this trying to get an appointment, but the worksheets are really great so you can do healing on your own time as well as work with your therapist"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Excellent! I was fortunate to get a therapist I clicked with right away. I have been in therapy on and off for decades and Joni is the best therapist I’ve had. She listens, is extremely knowledgeable and offers useful advice. I am more than satisfied with my online therapy with Joni Fowler."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I've used a few online therapy services and this has been the best one so far with a comprehensive platform of therapy and exercises for me to use. I know that not every therapist/client match is a win from the start, but this one just nailed it for me where I was able to form an easy rapport with my therapist and also message more often, which for me, more helpful than 1:1 video appointments but to have that option is amazing too. Very happy with this and so worth the cost."

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"Good service"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"The Online-Therapy platform has really helped turn around a difficult year in our marriage and personal lives. We found capable counseling and membership assistance from real competent people."

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