What Is Health Anxiety?

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Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder or somatic symptom disorder, is a mental health condition characterised by excessive worry, fear, or preoccupation with the possibility of having a serious medical condition. Individuals with health anxiety often experience intense anxiety and distress related to their health, despite minimal or no medical evidence to support the presence of a severe illness. The condition can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life.

Key Features of Health Anxiety:

Excessive Worry About Health:

Individuals with health anxiety are preoccupied with the fear of having a serious medical condition, even in the absence of clear evidence or medical diagnosis.

Frequent Checking of Symptoms:

There is a persistent tendency to monitor the body for any signs or symptoms that may be interpreted as indicative of a severe illness. This can involve frequent self-examinations, online searches for medical information, or seeking reassurance from healthcare professionals.

Misinterpretation of Bodily Sensations:

Normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms are often interpreted as evidence of a severe illness. For example, a headache may be perceived as a sign of a brain tumour.

Medical Avoidance or Seeking Reassurance:

Individuals with health anxiety may either avoid medical settings out of fear of receiving a severe diagnosis, or they may excessively seek reassurance from healthcare professionals through repeated medical consultations, tests, or procedures.

Impact on Daily Functioning:

Health anxiety can significantly interfere with daily life, leading to impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. It may also result in unnecessary medical expenses and time spent on healthcare-related activities.

Persistency of Concerns:

The worries and concerns about health persist for at least six months, and they are not easily alleviated by medical reassurance or negative test results.

Differentiating Health Anxiety from General Concerns:

It's important to note that health anxiety goes beyond general concerns about health. While being mindful of one's health is a normal aspect of self-care, health anxiety involves excessive and distressing fears that significantly disrupt a person's life. Individuals with health anxiety may find it challenging to control their worries, and the fear of having a severe illness may dominate their thoughts and actions.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic approach initially developed for the treatment of trauma-related conditions. While it is not considered a first-line treatment for health anxiety, EMDR has been explored and used in some cases where health anxiety is linked to traumatic experiences. Here's an overview of how EMDR may be applied to address health anxiety:

Assessment and Preparation:

Identifying Trauma Connections: The therapist works with the individual to identify any traumatic experiences or events that may be contributing to health anxiety. Trauma, in the context of EMDR, can include distressing memories, images, or beliefs related to health or medical situations.

Building a Therapeutic Alliance: Establishing a trusting and collaborative relationship between the therapist and the individual is crucial. This includes explaining the EMDR process, addressing any concerns, and ensuring the individual feels comfortable with the therapeutic approach.

Targeting Traumatic Memories:

Processing Traumatic Memories: EMDR involves the processing and desensitisation of distressing memories through bilateral stimulation. For health anxiety, this may include targeting memories or images related to traumatic medical experiences, surgeries, or other health-related events.

Desensitisation of Emotional Charge: Bilateral stimulation (often using eye movements) is used to help the individual process and reduce the emotional charge associated with traumatic health-related memories. This can contribute to a decrease in the intensity of anxiety and distress.

Addressing Negative Beliefs:

Identifying and Modifying Negative Beliefs: EMDR focuses on identifying and modifying negative beliefs that have developed as a result of traumatic experiences. In the context of health anxiety, this may involve addressing beliefs about vulnerability, fear of illness, or catastrophic thinking related to health.

Installation of Positive Cognitions:

Strengthening Positive Beliefs: EMDR incorporates the installation of positive and adaptive beliefs to replace negative ones. This process helps individuals develop a more balanced and realistic view of themselves and their health.

Resourcing and Future Template:

Building Internal Resources: EMDR may involve incorporating resourcing techniques to help individuals build internal resources and coping mechanisms. This can provide a sense of safety and stability during the processing of traumatic material.

Future Template:Envisioning a positive and healthy future, free from the impact of traumatic health-related experiences, can be part of the EMDR process. This contributes to a more optimistic outlook and helps individuals visualise themselves managing health concerns differently.

Integration and Closure:

Integration of Experiences: EMDR sessions include processing and integrating the experiences that arise during the bilateral stimulation. This can involve discussing insights, shifts in beliefs, and changes in emotional responses.

Closure: Each EMDR session is closed in a way that ensures the individual feels grounded and stable. This may involve relaxation techniques or other strategies to manage any residual distress.

Important Considerations:

EMDR for health anxiety is typically considered when there is a clear link between health anxiety and traumatic experiences. It may not be appropriate for all cases of health anxiety - this will be collaboratively discussed in your initial assessment when creating a treatment plan