Health Anxiety Treatment
Health anxiety is a disorder which is characterized by an excessive worry and anxiety about the possibility of being diagnosed with a serious medical issue. These feelings are accompanied by excessive checking behavior and frequent requests for reassurance.
Illness anxiety -- sometimes called hypochondria caused by misinterpretation and the misinterpretation of body sensations as well as beliefs about the disease. Psychotherapy (or talk-therapy) and medication are two options for treating the condition.
Medicines
Health anxiety is a serious mental disorder that interferes with one's ability to work and socialize. Fortunately, there are several treatments available to help people manage their symptoms and lead a full life. The treatments can include psychotherapy, medication or a combination of both. Psychotherapy is usually the first step in dealing with this condition and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a typical treatment. This type of therapy teaches you to recognize and address unhelpful thoughts, behaviors and beliefs that cause anxiety. It helps you to find alternative ways to cope with anxieties, such as relaxation techniques and exercise techniques.
These medications can be used as a short-term treatment for severe anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines, like Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam) are quick-acting drugs that can provide immediate relief. They affect the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutryic acid (GABA), and reduce the activity of specific neurons in the brain that are stimulated by anxiety. These drugs should not be taken for more than four weeks at a time, as they may become addictive and lose their effectiveness after that time.
Antidepressants can be prescribed to treat anxiety and depression. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, like SSRIs, raise levels of serotonin within the brain, which can reduce anxiety and depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that block the reabsorption of both norepinephrine and serotonin are also effective.
People who suffer from health anxiety frequently have a strong conviction that they have medical problems and cannot stop worrying about their symptoms, even if they are provided with reassurance from doctors. In certain cases, they also have delusions, like somatic delusions. They believe that their symptoms are linked to their emotional or mental state. They have difficulty eating or sleeping, and are experiencing physical discomfort. They can also be irritable and impatient and tend to avoid friends and family. To combat health anxiety it is recommended to get an evaluation from a psychologist or psychiatrist. They can determine if anxiety is caused by a medical issue and help you set the limits of lab testing, imaging and referrals to specialists.
Cognitive therapy for behavior
It's normal to be concerned about your health, but if it gets too much, it could cause a lot stress. Fortunately cognitive behavioral therapy is among the most effective psychological treatments for anxiety related to health.
This treatment focuses on learning new skills to aid you in dealing with anxiety in a more efficient manner. It is typically several sessions that last between 45 and 60 minutes. A typical treatment program will comprise 12 to 20 sessions, but it will vary depending on your unique needs. Through CBT, you will be taught to recognize your maladaptive behavior, like checking and reassurance seeking. You will also be taught to use a variety of mindfulness techniques known to reduce anxiety and aid in recovery from illnesses.
People who suffer from health anxiety are enthralled by fears of having or developing serious medical ailments. This can result in a number of maladaptive behavior such as frequent checkups, seeking reassurance from doctors or other people as well as staying away from places and people who remind them of health issues. Over time, these behaviors can have a significant negative impact on your life and relationships.
In some cases health-related concerns, anxiety can be accompanied by other disorders, such as depression or delusional disorder (somatic type). Most of the time, they are based on misinterpretation and exaggerated fear of a medical condition.
Health anxiety can cause a amount of stress and interfere with your daily activities. It is essential to seek help if it becomes an issue so that you can find relief and get back to living life to the maximum.
There isn't one reason why people develop health anxiety, but some common factors include sudden deaths of close family members or illnesses that are difficult to treat in the early years or later, and/or the history of misdiagnosis for physical issues. You should discuss these factors with your therapist in order to comprehend how they contributed to your anxiety. Together, you will be able to create an action plan to assist you in breaking the cycle of anxiety.
Talk therapy
Health anxiety sufferers often mistakenly interpret bodily sensations as a sign of illness or overestimate their chances of contracting a particular disease. The constant worry can cause anxiety and hinder the ability of a person to function normally in their daily lives.
A therapist can help you identify the misappraisal of threats and ways to manage your anxieties in a healthy way. You can not avoid situations, searching for answers, or seeking comfort. These actions only reinforce your anxiety-inducing beliefs and thoughts. Additionally, you can learn to challenge unhelpful assumptions and see things from a more balanced perspective. Medicines can also help in managing symptoms and reducing the degree of discomfort. They are frequently employed to treat depression, but they can be beneficial for health anxiety as well.
If your GP diagnoses you with an illness anxiety disorder, they could recommend psychotherapy or prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. A lot of NHS talking therapies services provide cognitive behavioral therapy for this condition. You can also contact a psychologist or counsellor accredited to provide psychotherapy in private. You can search the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies Register or the British Psychological Society Directory to find a registered psychologist.
Talk therapy is the most effective method to treat anxiety. It helps you identify harmful or destructive behaviours and thoughts. Your therapist will likely employ cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) which is the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders.
CBT helps you identify and challenge unhelpful and unrealistic beliefs about yourself and your body. It helps you comprehend the medical procedures and challenges any unhelpful or unreasonable beliefs. It teaches you to respond to your anxiety in a healthier manner, such as by avoiding excessive medical testing or reassurance-seeking behavior. In some cases your therapist might use exposure therapy, which involves confronting your fears in a secure environment and retraining your mind to react differently.
For example, Harriet is 36 and has had no serious health issues. However, she is worried that she might have arthritis in her hands due to discomfort in two of her knuckles. She has visited an orthopedic surgeon and received reassurance but the fear persists. She begins to avoid activities and limit her social life because of her fear. A therapist can assist her understand CBT and how to effectively deal with the discomfort she feels in her hands.
Family Therapy
Health anxiety sufferers spend a lot of their time worrying about serious diseases like HIV or dementia, or cancer. The anxiety they experience can be so severe that it could affect their daily routine and create anxiety in their relationships. They often feel that any physical symptom is an indication of a serious health issue. They might spend hours researching symptoms or seeking out reassurance from family members and friends. They might also visit numerous doctors for unnecessary tests. This can cause you to feel exhausted, financially stressed and have lower quality of life.
Psychotherapy is often the primary method for treating health anxiety disorders. This form of therapy is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is also possible to use medications alongside psychotherapy to improve results. If medication is prescribed for treatment, small doses are typically administered to prevent adverse effects.
The initial step of a family therapy session involves a brief intake meeting with the therapist. This session will allow the therapist to gain a better understanding of how the anxiety affects the entire family and what the underlying issues are. Everyone in the family should be involved in the process.
If you are struggling with anxiety that is severe, it's best to arrange an appointment with your primary healthcare provider. This will allow you to rule out any medical issues that could be the cause of anxiety.
IamPsychiatry suffering from health anxiety are more likely to misinterpret common physical sensations such as nausea, headaches or muscle twitch signs of a disease that is fatal. These individuals visit several doctors, and are told that their symptoms are a result of their imagination. They can be dissatisfied and depressed by this experience, leading to a lack of desire to seek proper treatment for their anxiety. They are not just emotionally and financially stressed, but they also are unable to participate in social or work-related activities in order to attend appointments with their doctors. They also frequently have disagreements with their spouses regarding their worries about their health. In some cases family members may feel that they are being blamed by their loved ones and behave in unhealthy ways.
