Anxiety - Health - Illness - Anxiety Disorder

1) What it is

Health Anxiety is ongoing fear of having or developing a serious illness, even after medical reassurance. The brain becomes hyper-alert to bodily sensations and demands certainty that cannot be achieved.

2) What it feels like

• “What if they missed something?”
• “I can’t stop checking.”
• “I need 100% certainty.”
• “I feel trapped in my body.”

3) Common signs & symptoms

Thoughts & emotions

• catastrophic illness fears
• fear of death or collapse
• intrusive “what if” thoughts
• reassurance doesn’t last

Behaviours

• body checking
• Googling symptoms
• frequent GP/A&E visits or avoidance
• reassurance seeking

Physical symptoms (often anxiety-driven)

• breathlessness
• chest tightness
• dizziness
• nausea
• palpitations
• fatigue

4) Causes & risk factors

• past health scares
• bereavement
• trauma or medical trauma
• anxiety sensitivity
• OCD-style uncertainty intolerance
• chronic stress and burnout

5) Triggers

• bodily sensations
• illness stories
• medical settings
• lack of sleep
• caffeine
• stress

6) What helps now

• label it: “This is health anxiety.”
• long-exhale breathing
• delay checking/Googling
• grounding actions
• accept uncertainty

7) Longer-term self-help

• break reassurance cycles
• reduce checking gradually
• create a medical plan
• stop symptom Googling
• stabilise body basics

8) Treatment options

• CBT for health anxiety
• ACT
• ERP-style approaches
• trauma-informed therapy

9) Medication

May help if anxiety is severe; GP or psychiatrist guided.

10) Work, relationships & daily life tips

• set checking boundaries
• ask for comfort not analysis
• schedule routines

11) When to seek urgent help

If anxiety dominates daily life, checking feels uncontrollable, or suicidal thoughts appear.
Also seek medical advice for new or severe symptoms.

12) Trusted help & resources (UK)

• NHS Talking Therapies
• Mind
• Anxiety UK
• Samaritans 116 123
  Shout: text SHOUT to 85258

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