Health Anxiety Treatment
Health anxiety is a condition that is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about an illness that is serious. The anxiety is accompanied by frequent checking and requests to be reassured.
The condition, known as hypochondria is caused by mistaken interpretation and false beliefs about illnesses. Psychotherapy (or talk-therapy) and medication are two options for treating the condition.
Medicines
Health anxiety is a serious mental disorder that affects one's ability to work and socialize. There are a variety of treatments available to help people manage their symptoms and live an active life. The treatments can include medication, psychotherapy or a combination. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy, is commonly used to treat this disorder. This kind of therapy helps you recognize and confront harmful beliefs, behaviors, and thoughts that cause anxiety. It helps you to find alternative ways to cope with worries, like relaxation and exercise techniques.
There are medications that can be used to treat anxiety-related episodes that are severe. Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium are fast-acting medicines that can offer immediate relief. They target the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA) and reduce the activity of specific neurons in the brain that are overexcited by anxiety. These drugs shouldn't be taken more than four weeks consecutively because they could become addictive.
Antidepressants are frequently prescribed to treat anxiety, and can be beneficial to depression-related symptoms as well. Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors, including SSRIs, boost levels of serotonin in the brain, which can reduce depression and anxiety. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors which block both absorption of serotonin as well as norepinephrine absorption can also be effective.
People with health anxiety often have a strong conviction that they suffer from medical issues and can't stop worrying about their symptoms, even when provided with reassurance from doctors. They might also be suffering from delusions, such as somatic illusions, where they think their symptoms are linked to their mental or psychological state. They are unable to eat and sleeping, as well as experiencing physical discomfort. They may also be angry and impatient and may avoid their family and friends. The best way to address anxiety-related health issues is to find a diagnosis and assistance from a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist. They can assess whether the anxiety is being caused by a medical issue and help you set limits on lab testing, imaging and referrals to specialists.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
A little bit of worry about your health is normal, but if this gets out of hand, it could be a major cause of stress. Fortunately cognitive behavioral therapy is among the most effective treatments for mental health anxiety.
This therapy involves teaching you new ways to respond to your anxiety in a more productive way. It is typically several sessions that last between 45 and 60 minutes. A typical treatment plan includes 12 to 20 sessions. However it will be contingent on the specific requirements of each patient. Through CBT, you will be taught to recognize your faulty safety behaviors like checking and reassurance seeking. You will be taught various mindfulness techniques, which are used to reduce anxiety and promote recovery after illnesses.
People with health anxiety often fear developing or having serious medical ailments. This can trigger a number of maladaptive behavior such as frequent checking-ups, seeking assurance from other doctors or others, and avoiding places and people that make them think of illness. These behaviors can have a negative effect on relationships and life over time.
In some cases health-related concerns, anxiety can be accompanied by other disorders like depression or delusional disorder (somatic type). The majority of the time, they are based on misinterpretation and exaggerated fear of a medical condition.
Health anxiety can be a major cause of stress and can interfere with your daily life. When anxiety over health becomes an issue, it's essential to seek help to be relieved and resume living life to the maximum.
There isn't a single reason for health anxiety. However, common causes are the sudden death of a family member, serious illnesses in adulthood or childhood, or a history of omitted diagnosis of physical ailments. It is recommended to discuss these causes with your therapist in order to understand how they have contributed to your health anxiety. Together, you can create a plan to break free from the cycle of anxiety and reassurance seeking and start to experience more of what life has to offer.
Talk therapy
People suffering from health anxiety frequently mistakenly interpret bodily sensations as a sign of illness, or exaggerate their chances of contracting a specific illness. This constant preoccupation can cause distress and prevent the person from functioning in their everyday lives.
A counselor can help you correct your perception of dangers and help you find ways to manage your anxiety. You can learn to stop avoiding situations, checking for answers, or seeking comfort. These behaviors only reinforce your thoughts and beliefs about anxiety. In addition, you'll learn to challenge unhelpful beliefs and look at things from a more balanced perspective. anxiety treatment therapy can also be helpful in managing symptoms and reducing the level of discomfort. They are often used to treat depression however, they can be beneficial for health anxiety as well.
If your GP determines that you suffer from illness anxiety disorder, they might recommend psychotherapy or prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is offered by a variety of NHS therapy services for this condition. Alternatively, you can contact an accredited psychologist or counsellor privately to receive psychotherapy. You can locate an accredited psychotherapist by searching the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies register or the British Psychological Society directory.
Talk therapy is the best option for treating anxiety-related health issues, since it can help you identify negative or destructive thoughts and behaviors. In general your therapist will utilize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is the most effective strategy to treat anxiety disorders.
CBT helps you identify and challenge harmful or unrealistic beliefs about yourself, your body and medical procedures. It helps you react to anxiety in a healthier manner, such as by avoiding excessive medical testing or reassurance-seeking behavior. In some cases your therapist might use exposure therapy, which is confronting your fears in a safe setting and retraining your brain to respond in a different way.
Harriet, for example, is 36 years old and has not been diagnosed with any serious health issues. She is concerned that she has arthritis because of discomfort in her two knuckles. She has visited an orthopedic surgeon and received reassurance but her anxiety persists. She begins to avoid activities and restricting her social life because of her fear. A therapist could teach her CBT and help her discover ways to manage the hand pain.
Family therapy
Health anxiety patients spend a lot of their time worried about serious illnesses like HIV and dementia, as well as cancer. Their anxiety about their health may be so intense that it interferes with everyday functioning and creates anxiety in their relationships. They often feel that any physical sensation could be an indication of a serious health issue. They may spend time researching symptoms or seeking advice from friends and family. They might also visit numerous doctors for unnecessary tests. This can cause fatigue, financial stress and a lack of enjoyment in life.
Psychotherapy is usually the mainstay in treating health anxiety disorders. This form of therapy is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Medications can also be used in conjunction with psychotherapy to improve results. If medication is prescribed for treatment, small doses are typically given to avoid side effects.
The first step of a family therapy session is to conduct an initial conversation with the therapist. This meeting will allow the therapist to gain an understanding of how the anxiety affects the entire family and what the underlying issues are. It's important for all family members to be involved in this process.
It's a good idea to set up an appointment with your primary healthcare professional when you are suffering from severe health anxiety. This will help you determine if there are any medical issues that could be the cause of your anxiety.
People with health anxiety tend to interpret common physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches or muscle twitch signs of a disease that is fatal. They visit a variety of doctors, and they are told that their symptoms are a result of their imagination. They can be dissatisfied and depressed by this experience, leading to a lack of desire to seek treatment for their anxiety. Patients with anxiety are not just emotionally and financially stressed, but they also have to miss social or work-related activities in order to attend doctor's appointments. They also frequently have disagreements with their spouses regarding their worries about their health. In some instances family members believe that they are being blamed by their loved one and start to behave in unhealthy ways.