Physical Symptoms of Health Anxiety
Health anxiety can be brought on by a variety of factors like watching a loved-one get sick or die, or working an extremely stressful job in healthcare. People with this condition have a fast-moving stomach and sweating excessively.
They also mistakenly interpret common bodily sensations such as headaches or coughs as a sign of an illness that is serious. They can spend hours searching on the internet for answers and seek advice from medical experts.
1. Headache
Everyone is concerned about their health, but the irrational fears that are associated with anxiety and illness can disrupt your life. You can spend a lot of time looking for symptoms, and think that the most benign sensation is a sign of something serious. For example a headache can make you believe that you have brain tumor, but it's actually a hangover.
People suffering from anxiety-related illnesses are constantly vigilant about any changes in their bodies. They are unable to control their fear, despite repeated reassurance from medical professionals and negative test results. The anxiety associated with illness can cause other issues, such as avoidance of social and work activities and battling to maintain close relationships.
It is essential to seek help when anxiety affects your life. Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy is the most popular treatment for health anxiety. Sometimes, your doctor might prescribe medication for anxiety. To start, see your GP or contact the Priory for a world-class mental health assessment. Our specialists are able to diagnose anxiety disorders and offer treatment. Our therapists work with you to assist you in understanding your anxiety and help you learn coping strategies.
2. Muscle is twitching
Another physical symptom of anxiety-related health issues is muscle twitching. These involuntary muscle spasms could occur anywhere on the body and are caused by constant stress and nerve system stimulation. If people are suffering from severe anxiety about their health, they could be prone to interpret any discomfort or unusual sensations to be indications of a serious illness. They may become obsessed with their
symptoms of breath holding anxiety, "Google" them or seek out a lot of reassurance from family and friends. They also tend to avoid certain places and people due to fear of contracting an illness.
The twitching may get worse as the anxiety increases. This is because the twitching is caused by the same fight or flight response that is activated when people experience anxiety.
While it is important to try to not to be distracted by your twitching, you should also speak to an expert in mental health about it. Counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapies can aid in managing your anxiety and stop the twitching.
3. Sweating
The habit of sweating is a common symptom of health anxiety. Whether it's a sheen of sweat on your forehead or patches of sweat under the arms, this symptom can be extremely uncomfortable and can lead to further concerns about your health.
People suffering from illness anxiety disorder (also known as hypochondriasis) are prone to misinterpret small symptoms as signs of more serious illnesses. They may spend hours Googling symptoms and seeking out a lot of reassurance from medical professionals or friends. In some cases they are forced to avoid certain activities, and even miss out on important social occasions.
When people are stressed, the brain activates the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is also referred to as the "fight-or-flight" response. This triggers an increase in stress hormones that can trigger the body's response in various ways, such as sweating.
Rather than focus on your anxiety, try to shift your focus to something that creates positive or peaceful feelings. This can help you understand that your body's reactions the majority of the time are not a warning sign. This can help you remember that you're more worried about the possibility of a serious illness than a twisted or strep ankle.
4. Dizziness
Health anxiety is often accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness and fainting. They can also be part of a vicious cycle where anxiety and dizziness exacerbate each other, resulting in more frequent and severe episodes.
Illness anxiety disorder, previously referred to as hypochondria is characterized by constant and constant worry about the possibility of developing rare or deadly diseases. The condition can be crippling and hinders people from living an active and joyful life.
When someone with an illness-related
separation anxiety disorder symptoms disorder experiences a new sensation, they typically assume that it is an indication that an illness of serious nature is present. They can then look on the internet for information that confirms their fears, which can result in additional anxiety. They might even believe that their doctors do not take seriously their concerns, which could further fuel their fears.
Untreated, the symptoms can have a negative impact on your relationships (since your family and friends get tired of talking about your possible illnesses every time you go out) and at work (because you don't get to work on important tasks due to going to the doctor). If you think you might be suffering from this disorder, speak to your doctor about treatment options. Cognitive
behavioral symptoms of anxiety therapy is the most effective treatment for this type of psychiatric disorder. It assists in identifying negative thoughts that can cause
anxiety centre symptoms or increase the risk of dizziness, and then replace them with healthier ones.
5. Swelling
A common symptom of anxiety and health concerns is swollen lymph nodes. This is because of the increased stress triggered by the fear of a serious illness. The body responds to stress in various ways, such as increasing hormone production that causes blood vessels and lymphatic nodes to expand.
It is normal to worry from time to time about your health, but especially in the midst of this epidemic. However, severe health anxiety can have devastating effects on the person, their family and even their job. Encourage someone you love who is suffering from illness-related anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria) to seek mental health advice on
how reduce anxiety symptoms to manage their symptoms.
Illness anxiety disorder is also known as hypochondria, generalized anxiety or health anxiety disorder. It is described as a preoccupation of the belief that one has or is in danger of developing serious illness and extreme fear and anxiety about health and wellbeing. It is usually associated with avoidance behavior, body checking, or reassurance seeking behavior. It is also associated with misinterpretation of normal bodily sensations, like the sensation of a tingling in your arm or a slight change in the color of your bowel movements, as being the sign of a fatal illness.
6. Heart palpitations
Heart palpitations are a sign of health anxiety. It could feel like your heart is skipping or thumping out of rhythm. Others describe a fluttering or flapping sensation in the chest. If you experience frequent heart palpitations or hinder your daily activities, your doctor may recommend an ECG to rule out medical conditions that may be causing them. If they are triggered by anxiety, treatment with psychotherapy or medication (talk therapy) may aid.
People with health anxiety misinterpret normal or benign physical symptoms as a sign of something serious. They are also more likely to suffer from panic attacks, which is a severe feeling of anxiety, which can include chest pain, difficulty breathing chills and sweating and the sensation that you are losing consciousness.
It's natural to worry about your health, especially when a pandemic is in the midst. But, if a concern becomes an obsession and becomes an illness known as hypochondria or anxiety about health.