Understanding Health Anxiety: A Counsellor’s Perspective

Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder, involves a preoccupation with having or developing a serious illness. As a counsellor, I often work with clients who feel trapped in a cycle of worry about their health. This is more than just being health-conscious - it’s a persistent fear that something is seriously wrong with the body, even when medical reassurance says otherwise. This experience is called health anxiety, and it can be exhausting, overwhelming, and deeply isolating.

Feeling anxious about your health?

If you are experiencing health anxiety, you might notice every twinge, flutter, or sensation in your body and immediately worry that it’s a sign of something catastrophic. This heightened awareness can lead to a cycle of panic where even minor aches or unusual feelings are perceived as serious medical issues.

Perhaps you’ve been down endless Google rabbit holes, searching for symptoms that match your own, which can often lead to misinformation and increased fear.

You may find yourself constantly seeking reassurance from doctors, loved ones, or the internet, hoping for confirmation that you are not seriously ill. While this reassurance may ease the anxiety briefly, it often doesn't last. The worry almost always returns, sometimes even stronger than before, as the mind becomes trapped in a loop of negative thinking.

Physical, not just emotional

Additionally, health anxiety can manifest physically, leading to symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, or stomach issues, which can further reinforce your fears. The more you focus on these sensations, the more intense they can become, creating a vicious cycle.

You might also notice that your daily life is affected; social situations can become daunting as you fear experiencing symptoms in public or worry about what others might think of you.

You're not alone

It’s crucial to understand that health anxiety is a common issue faced by many individuals, and recognising it is the first step towards managing it effectively. Techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or talking openly about your fears can help break this cycle and reduce the grip of anxiety on your life.

The condition can stem from many different places. Sometimes it follows a personal health scare or the illness of a loved one. For others, it may be rooted in early life experiences - perhaps growing up in a household where illness was feared or where emotional needs were often overlooked. For many, it’s the mind’s way of trying to manage uncertainty and vulnerability, channelled through the body.

What’s important to know is that health anxiety is not a sign of weakness, nor is it “all in your head.” It’s a genuine struggle, and it’s incredibly common.

But more importantly - it’s treatable.

How counselling can help with health anxiety

In counselling, we begin by gently exploring the underlying thoughts and beliefs that fuel the anxiety. Often, these are rooted in cognitive distortions - like catastrophising, black-and-white thinking, or intolerance of uncertainty. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is particularly effective in helping clients identify and challenge these unhelpful thinking patterns.

But it’s not just about changing thoughts. Many people with health anxiety are caught in a loop between their body and mind. The more you focus on the body, the more sensations you notice - and the more anxious you become. So part of the therapeutic work involves helping clients learn how to respond to bodily sensations differently, with less fear and more curiosity. This might include grounding techniques, mindfulness, or learning to observe thoughts and sensations without reacting to them immediately.

We also work with the behaviours that keep health anxiety going - like constant reassurance-seeking, symptom checking, or avoidance of anything health-related. In therapy, we gradually reduce these behaviours in a safe, supported way, so that anxiety can naturally begin to settle.

Most importantly, counselling provides a non-judgemental space to understand what health anxiety might be protecting you from. Often, it’s not really about illness at all - it’s about fear, uncertainty, or emotional pain that hasn’t yet been acknowledged.

How to get help