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 4317 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I have only been using this therapy for 2 days and it has already raised my level of awareness into my dysfunctions and hope for recovering from life long confusion and trauma."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"So far so good. Only a month in but learning A LOT. Therapy is not what I thought it was. I thought it was someone asking you a bunch of questions about your past. But now I have come to realize that like anything in life. It requires you to do the work, and your therapist is just there to keep you from veering off the road."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"my therapist is great."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"All the therapists I've had on the platform are very friendly, supportive, and are teaching and providing guidance for a lot of things about myself. Highly recommended"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"He's been very understanding and helpful. No complaints"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I love my therapist Marie!!! She has given me a comfortable and safe place to talk and express what I’m going through. I look forward to our sessions every week!!!"

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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!]

"Phil has been incredible. I'd always had fears that I might not connect with a therapist but he has been fantastic. I find his advice and insights both hopeful and genuine. He has a great mix of knowledge while also knowing how to frame his insights in a manner that a young man like me needs. It feels like talking to an uncle who knows a lot about the mind and life"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Just started"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Awesome !"

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