Hypochondriac Disorders/Health Anxiety

Hypochondriac disorder is where one spends a lot of time worrying that they’re ill or about to become ill, to a point that it starts to take over their life. It presents with:

• Constantly worry about health

• Frequently checking body for signs of illness e.g. lumps, pain

• Always asking people for reassurance that they’re not ill

• Worry that a Dr or tests have missed something

• Obsessively looking at health info on the internet/media

• Avoid anything to do with serious illness e.g. medical tv shows

Management:

• Keep a diary - Noting how often body is checked, people asked for reassurance or looked at health information

• Challenge thoughts

• Distraction

• Gradually get back to normal activities

• Relaxation techniques