Physical Symptoms of Health Anxiety
Health anxiety can be brought on by a variety of experiences such as watching a loved one get sick or die, having a stressful job in healthcare or becoming a parent. People with this condition often have a churning abdomen and excessive sweating.
They also misinterpret normal bodily sensations such as headaches or a cough as a sign of an illness that is serious. They can spend hours searching on the internet for answers, and seek out reassurance from medical experts.
1. Headache
Everyone is concerned about their health at some point, the unfounded fear of illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria) can cause disruption to your life. You may spend hours looking for symptoms and believe that the most uninvolved sensation is an indication of something serious. For example headaches can cause you to believe that you have brain tumor, but it’s actually an alcohol-related hangover.
Patients with anxiety-related illnesses are extremely vigilant and fearful of any changes that might occur in their bodies, despite being assured by medical professionals and having negative test results. Illness anxiety may also cause other issues, such as avoidance of social and work activities and having difficulty maintaining close relationships.
It is essential to seek help when anxiety is affecting your daily life. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy is the most popular treatment for anxiety. Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe medication to combat anxiety. To start, see your GP or contact the Priory for a world-class mental health assessment. Our experts can diagnose anxiety disorders and provide treatment. Our Therapists work with you to help you understand your anxiety and teach you coping techniques.
2. Muscle moves
Muscle twitching is another physical symptom that’s associated with health anxiety. These involuntary muscle spasms could occur anyplace on the body, and are a result of continuous stress and nervous system stimulation. If people are suffering from severe anxiety about their health, they could interpret any sensations or discomfort as signs of a serious disease. They may obsess over their symptoms, “Google” them or seek excessive reassurances from family and friends. They may also avoid certain people and places for fear of getting sick.
The twitching can sometimes worsen as anxiety increases. The reason for this is that the twitching is caused by the same fight-or-flight response that activates when they feel anxious.
While it is important to try to ignore your twitching, it is important to should also speak to a mental health professional about it. Counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapies can help you manage your anxiety and stop twitching.
3. Sweating
The habit of sweating is a common sign of anxiety. This sign, whether it’s a sheen on your forehead or patches of sweat under your arms, can be extremely distressing. It often leads to additional health concerns.
People suffering from illness anxiety disorder (also called hypochondriasis) often misinterpret even minor symptoms as signs of more serious illnesses. They can spend hours searching for their symptoms online and seeking excessive assurance from family members or medical experts. In some cases, they stay away from certain activities or do not attend important social events due to their fear.
When people feel anxious their brain triggers the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is commonly referred to as the “fight or flight” response. This triggers a surge of stress hormones, which can cause the body to react in a variety of ways, such as sweating.
Rather than focus on your anxiety, try changing your thoughts to something else that brings you peace or positive feelings. This will help you realize that your body’s reactions the majority often aren’t an indication of danger. This can help you remember that you’re typically more concerned about the possibility of contracting a serious illness than a twisted or strep ankle.
4. Dizziness
Lightheadedness, dizziness, and feeling faint are all common symptoms that are associated with health anxiety. They are also frequently part of a vicious cycle where anxiety and dizziness reinforce each other, leading to more frequent and debilitating episodes.
Illness anxiety disorder, which was previously referred to as hypochondria, is characterized by a constant and excessive worry about developing rare or deadly diseases. The condition can be debilitating and prevents people from enjoying a full and fulfilling life.
If someone suffering from anxiety disorder experiences a new physical sensation, they are likely to assume it is an indication of a serious disease. They might then go on the internet for information that confirms the fears they are experiencing, which can cause more anxiety. They might even believe that their doctors don’t take seriously their concerns, which could increase their anxiety.
If not treated, the symptoms could negatively impact your relationships (since family and friends tire of listening to you talk about your possible illnesses each time you go out) and at work (because you don’t get to work on important projects because you keep going to the doctor). If you think you might be suffering from this disorder, speak with your doctor about the treatment options. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective treatments for this psychiatric condition. It assists in identifying negative thought patterns that cause anxiety and increase the likelihood of a dizzy spell, and then replace them with healthier ones.
5. Swelling
One of the most common symptoms of health anxiety is swollen lymph nodes. This is a result of the heightened stress that results from the fear or anxiety of developing a serious illness. The body can respond to stress and anxiety symptoms in many ways, including increasing hormone production that triggers lymphatic nodes to increase.
While it’s normal to be concerned about one’s health from time to time especially during this pandemic serious health anxiety, it can be devastating for the person who is affected or their family members, and even their job. If you or someone you love suffers from illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria), encourage them to seek an appointment with a mental health professional to learn more about how to manage the symptoms.
Illness anxiety disorder, sometimes referred to as hypochondria or health anxiety, is a specific type of generalized anxiety disorder. It is defined by a constant concern with the belief that you may be at risk of developing a serious illness, and extreme anxiety or fear of your health and well-being, frequently accompanied by avoidance behavior, body checking or reassurance seeking behaviour, or both. It can also be caused by misinterpreting bodily sensations like an itch or a small color change in your bowel movements as indicators of a deadly disease.
6. Heart palpitations
Heart palpitations are a common symptom of health anxiety. It could feel like your heart is skipping beats or beating out of rhythm. Others describe a fluttering or a vibrating sensation in the chest. If frequent heartbeats hinder your daily activities, your doctor may recommend an ECG to identify medical conditions that might cause them. If they’re due to anxiety, medication or psychotherapy could help.
People with health anxiety mistakenly interpret benign or normal physical symptoms as being serious. They are also susceptible to panic attacks which are intense episodes of anxiety that can be characterized by chest pain, trouble breathing chills, sweating, and the sensation of losing consciousness.
It’s normal to worry about your health, particularly when a pandemic is underway. However, when a concern becomes a recurring concern it can turn into an illness called hypochondria or anxiety about health. This is a more frequent condition than people think. Treatment options include talking therapy, medication like beta blockers and lifestyle adjustments. You can also try meditation or yoga to relax your body and mind. It is essential to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
7. The legs are swelling
Health anxiety sufferers often have a preoccupation with one or more somatic symptoms of anxiety symptoms fatigue – click here to visit www.diggerslist.com for free, symptoms and are convinced that they are suffering from or likely to develop an illness that is serious. This leads to excessive checking behaviors (like frequent medical checks or a distorted interpretation of everyday bodily sensations) and seeking comfort, and other harmful behaviors. In the end, people who suffer from health anxiety might experience physical symptoms such as chest pains or numbness.
Health anxiety and physical symptoms can be caused by a variety of things. These include the death or serious illness that a loved one has suffered, being in the scene of an accident or work in the healthcare field or being exposed in the media to disturbing information on illnesses and diseases. Health anxiety is only diagnosed if a person’s worries are not in proportion and affect their well-being and their daily activities.
If you or someone you know suffers from health anxiety an evaluation by a doctor is important. You may also wish to consider psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) and medications as needed. This will help you learn how to manage your anxiety exhaustion symptoms and lead a healthier life.