Do I Have Health Anxiety or Something More Serious?
Published 15th November, 2021
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With so much information out there about health and illness these days, more and more people find themselves worrying about their health. But how do you know if you have health anxiety, or if you have a more serious medical condition? And what should you do in either scenario?
Health anxiety is when you spend a lot of time worrying that you are ill, to the point where it starts to interfere with your normal life. People with health anxiety often spend a lot of time researching symptoms they think they are experiencing. And even when they are given the all clear after a check-up with a doctor or from medical tests, people with health anxiety still worry there is something wrong.
Signs of Health Anxiety
The main indicator of health anxiety is if you are always worrying about your health. In particular, you worry about having a serious condition such as cancer, and will tend to think of the worst-case scenario even when you have a mild symptom, such as a slightly sore throat.
People with health anxiety will often be proactively looking for signs of illness, such as lumps or pain. Those who are anxious about their health will spend some time researching symptoms online and reading up on different types of illness. And even when medical tests are done, people with health anxiety often do not feel reassured.
Signs of a More Serious Illness
Whether or not you suffer from health anxiety, there are certain signs and symptoms you should pay attention to. It is important to understand that even symptoms of more serious illnesses often turn out to be something much less serious. But there are some symptoms you should always get checked.
These symptoms include chest pain, which some people feel more as pressure on the chest region, or pain in surrounding areas, such as the arm or jaw. Also go to see a doctor if you start experiencing tingling or numbness in your arms or legs, or experience unexplained dizziness. Swelling or sweating that is unusual for you can also be a sign of illness, and warrants a check from a doctor.
Should I See a Doctor?
It is important to understand if you do suffer from health anxiety, as recognizing this can help give you a little more perspective about health concerns. But you should always go to a doctor if you think there is something to be concerned about. Sometimes it is health anxiety that pushes you to pursue a health concern you are worried about. But you should always listen to your body – as there could be a time when you do need help.
Could my Doctor Have Missed Something?
A common symptom of health anxiety is to think something has been missed by medical professionals. If you recognize you have health anxiety, you should try to get some help for this condition, as this may help you feel better in day to day life. But again, there is no harm in getting a second opinion if you feel you haven’t been taken care of well enough.
Some people don’t realize that this is actually an area of medical malpractice. According to this medical malpractice lawyer in Brunswick, Georgia, medical malpractice can also include ignoring symptoms and a failure to diagnose a medical problem. Particularly since there is an area of law dedicated to this, you should not feel bad about going back to your doctor about the same problem again.
What to do About Health Anxiety
If you’ve been reassured – at least for now – that you don’t have a serious medical issue, you may realize your health anxiety is becoming a problem. The good news is that there is a lot that can be done to tackle your health anxiety, so you start to feel better in daily life. If you have health anxiety, your focus should be on trying not to let health worries take over, so you can enjoy life.
Some health anxiety sufferers manage to find their own ways to gradually improve. You could keep a diary of how often you use the internet to research medical problems, then try to do this a little bit less every week. You could also write a list of all your health worries, then write a more balanced opinion of what the medical issue is more likely to be. For example, a sore throat is more likely to be the sign of a cold than throat cancer.
This can help you gradually overcome your ‘worst case scenario’ habits when it comes to health. Taking up a hobby – particularly something exercise-related – can be a really good distraction from any of your worries too.
Some people decide to do a talking therapy, or a psychological therapy, to help them with their health anxiety. Speaking to a therapist can help equip you with the tools to reframe your worries and handle them better on a day-to-day basis.