Health Anxiety: When Worry Becomes a Symptom

It’s normal to worry about our health from time to time. A new ache, a strange sensation, or a headline about illness can easily grab our attention—especially in an age of 24/7 news and instant online searches. But for some people, health worry becomes something more persistent, exhausting, and disruptive.

If you’re finding yourself constantly checking your body for signs of illness, frequently seeking reassurance, or feeling unable to stop googling symptoms, you might be experiencing health anxiety.

The good news? You’re not alone—and there is highly effective treatment available.

What Is Health Anxiety?

Health anxiety is a persistent fear or preoccupation with having (or developing) a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence to support it. It’s sometimes called illness anxiety disorder, and in the past was known as hypochondriasis.

People with health anxiety often experience:

• Frequent checking of the body for signs of illness (e.g. lumps, heart rate, sensations)

• Repeated online searches for symptoms or conditions

• Seeking frequent reassurance from doctors, loved ones, or test results—yet still feeling uncertain

• Avoidance of medical information or appointments due to fear

• Difficulty concentrating on anything other than health concerns

• Feeling temporarily better after reassurance, but only for a short time

It’s important to note: this isn’t “attention-seeking” or being dramatic. Health anxiety is deeply distressing and very real to the person experiencing it.

Why Does Health Anxiety Develop?

Health anxiety can develop for different reasons, such as:

• A history of serious illness (personal or in the family)

• Losing a loved one to illness

• Growing up in an environment where health concerns were overemphasised

• Traumatic medical experiences

• Times of increased stress or uncertainty (e.g. during a pandemic, life transitions)

At its core, health anxiety is often driven by a strong urge to gain certainty and avoid threat. The problem is, when the brain is stuck in a fear loop, even normal body sensations can start to feel dangerous—and no amount of reassurance feels like enough.

How CBT Helps with Health Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective and well-researched treatments for health anxiety.

CBT helps by addressing the thought patterns, behaviours, and emotional responses that keep the anxiety going.

Some of the things we work on in CBT for health anxiety include:

Understanding the cycle

CBT helps you identify how worry, checking, and reassurance-seeking might unintentionally reinforce your anxiety over time.

Reducing safety behaviours

These are behaviours like googling symptoms, checking your pulse, or repeatedly asking for reassurance. Although they feel helpful in the moment, they often feed anxiety in the long run.

Shifting unhelpful beliefs

CBT helps challenge beliefs like “Any symptom means something serious,” or “If I don’t check, I’ll miss something deadly.” You’ll learn to tolerate uncertainty and build trust in your body.

Developing healthier coping strategies

Rather than trying to eliminate all health concerns (which isn’t possible), CBT helps you respond to health-related thoughts with more balance, compassion, and flexibility.

What Does the Research Say?

CBT is one of the most evidence-based treatments for health anxiety. Studies consistently show that it helps reduce both anxiety levels and health-related behaviours.

• A landmark randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet (2014) found that patients with health anxiety who received CBT showed significant and lasting reductions in anxiety and medical usage—compared to those receiving usual care.

• A 2019 meta-analysis in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy confirmed that CBT has a moderate to large effect on reducing health anxiety symptoms.

What If I Actually Do Have a Health Condition?

Health anxiety isn’t about denying that health conditions exist. In fact, many people with chronic illnesses also experience heightened worry about symptoms or new sensations. CBT can help you distinguish between reasonable medical management and anxiety-driven fear, so you can live more freely even while managing a real health concern.

You’re Not Alone—And You’re Not “Making It Up”

Health anxiety is common, especially in times of uncertainty or after experiencing illness or loss. It can feel incredibly isolating, but you’re not broken or irrational.

Therapy can help you:

• Break free from the cycle of worry and reassurance

• Learn to trust your body again

• Focus on the life you want to live—not just what you’re afraid of