Health anxiety—sometimes called illness anxiety or hypochondria—is a persistent worry about having a serious medical condition, even when there’s little or no evidence to support it. This fear can stem from past health scares, family illness, or a heightened sensitivity to bodily sensations.
Common ways health anxiety can show up include:
- Constantly checking your body for signs of illness (like lumps, rashes, or changes)
- Frequent doctor visits or seeking repeated medical reassurance
- Googling symptoms excessively, which often increases anxiety
- Avoiding health-related information altogether due to fear of being triggered
- Struggling to believe medical results, even when they show you’re healthy
Over time, these patterns can become exhausting and interfere with your ability to enjoy life. Therapy can help you break the cycle of worry, understand the underlying causes, and build confidence in your body and your ability to cope with uncertainty.
