Physical Symptoms of Health Anxiety

Health anxiety can be caused by a variety of causes, such as watching a loved-one get sick or die or having an extremely stressful job in healthcare. People suffering from this condition typically have a churning abdomen and excessive sweating.

They also mistakenly interpret common bodily sensations like a cough or a headache as a sign of a serious illness. They spend hours searching the internet for answers, and seek advice from medical professionals.

1. Headache

While everyone worries about their health at some point, the irrational anxiety associated with illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria) can be disruptive to your life. You could spend hours researching your symptoms online and conclude that even the most benign sensations are a sign of something more serious. For instance, a headache could make you think that you have brain tumor, but it's really just an alcohol-related hangover.

Illness anxiety patients are hyper-vigilant and are frightened of any changes that might occur in their bodies, despite being assured by medical professionals and obtaining negative test results. The anxiety associated with illness can result in other issues, like avoidance of social and work activities, and having trouble maintaining relationships with loved ones.

If you notice that your anxiety interferes with your daily life, it's essential to seek out assistance. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy is the most popular method of treating health 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 identify anxiety centre symptoms disorders and offer treatment. Our therapists will work with you to understand the causes of your anxiety and teach you strategies to cope.

2. Muscle twitches

Muscle twitching can be another physical symptom that's linked to anxiety and health. These muscle spasms that are involuntary can happen anywhere on the body and are caused by constant stress and nervous system stimulation. When one is suffering from severe health anxiety they may interpret any sensations or discomfort as symptoms of a serious illness. They may become obsessed with their symptoms, "Google" them or seek excessive reassurances from family and friends. They may also avoid people and places because of fear of catching an illness.

The twitching can get worse as anxiety increases. This is because the twitching is result of the same fight-or-flight response that activates when people experience anxiety about anxiety symptoms.

You should not only try to ignore your twitching, but you should also speak with a mental health professional about it. Counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapies may help you manage your anxiety and stop twitching.

3. Sweating

Sweating is one of the most frequently reported physical signs of health anxiety. If it's a shimmer of sweat on your forehead or patches of sweat under the arms, this symptom can be very uncomfortable and can lead to more worries about your health.

People with illness anxiety disorder (also called hypochondriasis) are prone to misinterpret small symptoms as signs of more serious illnesses. They can spend hours researching symptoms and seek excessive reassurances from friends or medical professionals. In some instances, they avoid certain activities or even avoid social events due to their fear.

When people feel anxious, their brain triggers the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that is also known as the "fight or flight" response. This causes a surge of stress hormones that cause the body to respond in a variety of ways, such as sweating.

Instead of focusing on anxiety instead, try shifting your focus to something positive or peaceful. This can help you understand that, a lot of the time, your body's reactions do not indicate necessarily a sign of danger. It can also help you remember that you're typically more worried about the possibility of developing a serious illness than about getting strep throat or bending your ankle.

4. Dizziness

Health anxiety is often accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness and fainting. The anxiety and dizziness can be a vicious circle in which they are akin and lead to more frequent and severe symptoms.

Illness anxiety disorder, which was previously known as hypochondria, is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about developing rare or fatal diseases. It can be a debilitating condition, preventing people from living their lives to the fullest.

If someone suffering from anxiety disorder experiences a new physical sensation, they tend to think it's a sign of a serious condition. They can then look online for information that confirms the fears they are experiencing and can trigger more anxiety. They may even believe that their doctors do not take seriously their concerns, which could cause them to be more anxious.

If not treated, the symptoms of illness anxiety disorder can take a toll on relationships (since friends and family tire of hearing about your plethora of potential ailments every time you go out) and work (because you are constantly not able to work on important projects because of endless doctor visits). If you suspect that you have this condition, talk to your doctor about the treatment options. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for this mental disorder. It assists in identifying negative thoughts that can cause mild anxiety symptoms (click through the next document) or increase the risk of dizziness and then replace them with healthier ones.

5. Swelling

A typical symptom of anxiety-related health issues is swelling lymph nodes. This is due to increased stress caused by a fear of a serious illness. The body can react to stress anxiety depression symptoms in a variety ways, including by increasing the production of hormones that cause blood vessels as well as lymph nodes to expand.

It's normal to be concerned from time to time about your health, but especially during this era of pandemic. However, severe health anxiety can have devastating effects on the person as well as their family, and their professional career. Encourage a loved one who is suffering from illness-related anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria) to seek mental health advice on how to manage their symptoms.

Illness anxiety disorder, sometimes called hypochondria, or health anxiety, is a particular kind of generalized moderate anxiety symptoms disorder. It is characterised by a preoccupation with the notion that you may be in danger of developing a serious illness, and extreme fear or anxiety about your health and wellbeing, frequently coupled with avoidance, body checking or seeking reassurance or both. It could also be caused by misinterpreting body sensations, such as an itch or a small color change in your bowel movements as indications of a serious illness.

6. Heart palpitations

Heart palpitations could be a sign of health anxiety. It could feel like your heart is racing or thumping out of rhythm. Others report a fluttering, or a fluttering sensation in the chest. If the palpitations are regular and disrupt your everyday activities, your healthcare provider may recommend an ECG or heart monitoring to determine if there is a medical issue that could cause them. If they are caused by anxiety, medications or psychotherapy can help.

People with health anxiety mistakenly interpret benign or normal physical symptoms as serious. They could also be more prone to panic attack, which is a severe bout of fear, including chest pain, breathing difficulties sweating, chills, as well as the feeling that you're losing your consciousness.

It's normal to be concerned about your own health, especially when a pandemic is underway. If a concern turns into an obsession that can result in a condition known as hypochondria or anxiety about health. Fortunately, you can get treated for this disorder, which is more prevalent than most people realize. Treatment options include talking therapy, medications like beta blockers and lifestyle adjustments. You can even try yoga or meditation to calm your body and mind. It is essential to obtain an accurate diagnosis.

7. Leg swelling

People who suffer from health anxiety often have a preoccupation with one or more of the somatic symptoms and believe that they have or are about to get a serious illness. This can lead to excessive monitoring (such as frequent medical checks or an over-interpretation of bodily sensations) or seeking assurance and other unhealthy behaviors. It is not uncommon for those who suffer from anxiety disorders to suffer physical symptoms like chest pains, numbness or stomachaches as a result of their excessive worrying.

Health anxiety can be triggered by a myriad of factors. These include the death or serious illness that a loved person has suffered, or witnessing an accident or working in the healthcare field or being exposed by the media to distressing information on illnesses and diseases. However, it would be deemed to be health anxiety if the person's concerns are out of proportion and significantly interfere with their daily functioning and quality of life.

If you or someone you know suffers from anxiety-related health issues an evaluation by a doctor is crucial. You might also want to consider psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) and medications, if needed. This will teach you how to manage your anxiety and lead an active life.