Illness Anxiety Disorder
Overview
Illness Anxiety Disorder involves excessive worry about having or developing a serious medical condition, despite minimal or no physical symptoms. Individuals may frequently check their bodies for signs of illness, seek repeated reassurance, or avoid medical care due to fear. Psychotherapy can help reduce health‑related anxiety and improve daily functioning.
Common Symptoms
- Persistent worry about health or illness
- Frequent checking for signs of disease
- Difficulty tolerating uncertainty about health
- Repeated reassurance‑seeking
- Avoidance of medical appointments due to fear
- Preoccupation with normal bodily sensations
How Psychotherapy Helps
Psychotherapy helps individuals understand the patterns that maintain health‑related anxiety, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and reduce reassurance‑seeking or avoidance behaviors. Treatment focuses on improving tolerance of uncertainty and reducing the impact of anxiety on daily life.
Treatment Approaches Used
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure‑based strategies to reduce avoidance
- Skills for managing worry and uncertainty
- Behavioral interventions to reduce checking behaviors
- Stress‑management and coping skills training
When to Seek Help
If health‑related worry is persistent, difficult to control, or interfering with daily functioning, a diagnostic evaluation may be helpful.
Please note that we do not provide emergency mental health services. If you are experiencing an emergency, please seek care at the nearest emergency department or contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for immediate support by calling or texting 988.
Disclaimer
This page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.