Lesley Dorfman, PhD
ILLNESS ANXIETY DISORDER (HEALTH ANXIETY DISORDER)
ILLNESS ANXIETY DISORDER (HEALTH ANXIETY DISORDER)
Illness Anxiety Disorder, also known as Health Anxiety Disorder, and sometimes referred to as Hypochondriasis, is experienced by excessive worry that you are or may become seriously ill. The worry can take over your life as any sensation ‘could be’ a serious sigh that something is catastrophically wrong with you . You may believe that ordinary body sensations are not to be ignored as they could be a serious illness, even though through exams reveal that there is no serious medical condition.
The excessive anxiety is what results in the extreme focus and distress that can wreak havoc in you daily life, taking over your family life, relationships, career, as well as self esteem. Often a twitch is a sign of Parkinson’s, or a headache is a brain tumor. These thoughts about your physical sensations are very real and create such anxiety often seeking multiple trips to the ER or to your physicians office, with getting momentary relief, that there is no real danger. That is until the next sensation occurs, then its back to the Doctors again. There is a certain amount of shame that accompanies this disorder, as well as depression can co-occur when you feel like this is a loop that won’t stop. Through CBT education, learning coping skills and exposure training, as well as looking at the trauma that can start the health anxiety cycle. Getting help to gain back the perspective is within reach. CBT has been shown to be empirically helpful for this disorder, at times in conjunction with medication.
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR ONSET
- Having a medical issue early on in life
- Witnessing a loved on experiencing a medical issue
- Difficulty tolerating uncertainty over unusual or uncomfortable body sensations
- Having had parents or loved ones who worried too. Much about their own health, and or your health
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/hypochondria/
BOOKS
MInd Over Mood, Christine Padesky, PhD and Dennis Greenberger, PhD
The Anxiety & Worry workbook, David A. Clark, PhD, Aaron T. Beck, MD