Imagine this: your heart starts racing. Sweat begins to bead on your forehead and you feel a tightness in your chest. No, this isn't a horror film and you're not being chased by a slasher. You're experiencing health anxiety, commonly referred to as hypochondria. It's a complicated and misunderstood mental health issue that's more common than you'd think.
Health anxiety is a kind of anxiety that revolves around the fear of being sick or getting sick. This anxiety can become so intense that it affects daily life and well-being. There’s no denying it, it's a real pain in the proverbial, and for those of us with healthy bodies, it can seem bizarre that our minds can trick us into fearing otherwise. Trust me, I've been there. I once spent weeks convinced that a simple bug bite was a sure sign of a fatal illness. Desmond, my lovely spouse, had a good chuckle about my sudden Google degree in 'Entomology'.
Dealing with health anxiety isn’t just about popping a pill and calling it a night, no no, it's a little more complicated than that. Understanding the root causes and triggers of your anxiety is a big part of moving forward.
Having lived with health anxiety myself, I know what you're going through. It's all-consuming, energy-sapping and an absolute anxiety party at 3 a.m. when you're trying desperately to fall asleep. But you know what? You've got this. I did, and you can too. So, what should you know about the first steps to overcoming health anxiety? Let's delve into it.
The beauty of mindfulness is in its simplicity. It's all about being present, being aware of what's happening in your body without attaching a meaning or an outcome to it. Sometimes, the fear isn't about the "what if," but about the "what does this mean?"
For example, I once hyperventilated during a yoga class – oh boy! To a casual observer, I'd just pushed it a little too hard in downward dog. But to me, it was something more sinister. Taking a step back and viewing it as simply breathing a little too hard helped me get through it.
Call it the Swiss army knife of mental health tools. CBT is a popular, effective, and scientifically proven form of therapy that helps restructure negative and unhelpful thought patterns. Essentially, it can help you move from asking "why am I always unwell?" to "why do I feel like I'm always unwell?". For me, it wasn't a quick fix but it was a game changer.
Get your heart rate up and let those endorphins flood your system. A good workout or even a brisk walk can do wonders for your mental state and overall mood. It's also a fantastic distraction and a healthy way to spend your time. But don't be like me and confuse the post-workout soreness with some rare muscle disease – remember, sometimes sore means you've just had a good sound workout!
There is absolutely no shame in seeking help from professionals. They're not there to judge you, but to assist you in navigating your health anxiety. A caring, impartial third-party perspective could be just what you need to start unravelling your tangled thoughts. Trust me on this, it was my compassionate and patient psychologist who helped me challenge my warped perception of health.
Remember my entomology quip earlier? Let me be clear: Google is not a medical degree. It's important to balance any online research with professional medical advice. It's all too easy to go down the rabbit hole as I did, trying to self-diagnose your symptoms. What you need is clear, professional advice that will put your fears into perspective.
Chill out. Relax. Treat yourself to that bubble bath or that guilty pleasure Netflix show. You deserve it. Self-care isn't selfishness. It's about giving yourself permission to relax and recharge. For me, a hot cup of jasmine tea and a Catch-22 re-read usually does the trick. Find your zen zone and enjoy it, regularly.
Health anxiety isn't easy but bear in mind, it's a journey. It takes time to navigate through this terrain, but remember, you're not alone. With understanding, patience, and the right support, you can find the path that leads you towards managing your health anxiety effectively.
Take it from someone who’s been there, conquered it and got the t-shirt – you can cope with health anxiety. Take a deep breath and remember: you have the power to get through this. You are stronger than you think.
Written by Madeline Sterling
View all posts by: Madeline Sterling