Overcome Health Anxiety with Online Therapy

Category: Health Anxiety Online Therapy | Last updated: February 1st, 2022 | 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 3638 reviews and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I feel that it is a good service and my counselor is great she has really help me through hard times. Also the discount that’s provided, I am going through a lot and funds aren’t favorable right now so the discounted rates are really helping"

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Rating: [4 out of 5 stars!]

"I have done therapy before through a different service, and although it helped in the moment, I don’t feel as though I had the tools to cope. Now that I’m trying this service, I can already tell that I’m learning to cope better. I’m actually doing the work to feel better, and the format makes it easy to see what is required of you. I kind of like that it actually has worksheets and sections, it makes it a lot easier for me to break down what is bothering me on a day to day basis, but also the things I avoid. And my therapist always follows up with questions or comments on what I fill out, probing me to go deeper into certain things. So far quite helpful!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"I am quite happy with this platform and my therapist, thank you"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"This program has been great. It has gotten me through some really tough times. I can feel myself improving so much and I have learned a lot. My therapist has been great. She has been kind and offered me some really good suggestions."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"TBC"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"My therapist allowed me to give myself grace with how my mind works."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"It’s nice that they help with financial help and have so many prompts to figure out what type of therapist will best fit you."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"This has been a life changing experience!"

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"Excellent therapists. Love the progress so far."

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Rating: [5 out of 5 stars!]

"This platform couldn’t be easier. Written therapy modules and online sessions with your therapist are all from the comfort of your own home. My therapist has really been great to work with!"

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