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 4152 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"online therapy is easy to schedule and find a therapist, with easy tools for communication"

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"Helpful and supportive!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am learning new things about myself and I have a wonderful counsellor to thank for that"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My therapy experience so far has been really positive. The sign up process was simple, and it's easy to book times with my matched therapist. Highly recommend :)"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Very responsive to messages - not left waiting for replies. Supportive, no pressure - can work through things at own pace. Flexibility to focus in what you need at that specific time, not just focused on the worksheets."

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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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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My therapist has been absolutely amazing, her calm voice really puts me at ease, she gives me such great insight whilst allowing me to feel through the issue. I genuinely appreciate her so much"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I started therapy about 2 weeks ago after struggling with my problem for 7 months with little change and even maybe worsening over that 7 months…. I have put my best foot forward with my therapy and taken it seriously to move forward and have seen good results in just two weeks…. I am continuing to finish this and move on completely from my problem but I am hopefully optimistic"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"It was good to finally write down and work through my differences without people shaming me for once."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Easy to access and offers great tools to help through the therapy process."

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