Health Anxiety Treatment
Health anxiety is a condition characterized by excessive worry and anxiety about the possibility of a serious illness. The anxiety is accompanied by excessive checking behaviors and repeated requests for reassurance.
Illness anxiety -- sometimes called hypochondria -- is caused by confusion of body sensations and beliefs about illness. Psychotherapy (or talk-therapy) and medication are two options for treatment.
Medications
Health anxiety is a serious mental illness that interferes with one's ability to perform work and social interactions. Fortunately, there are several methods available to help sufferers manage their symptoms and live a full life. These treatments could include medication, psychotherapy or a combination. Psychotherapy is usually the first step in dealing with this issue and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a typical treatment. This kind of therapy helps you to recognize and address negative thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs that contribute to anxiety. It also assists you in finding different ways to manage anxiety, including exercise and relaxation techniques.
You can use medications to treat anxiety-related episodes that are severe. Benzodiazepines like Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium are quick-acting drugs that can provide immediate relief. They can reduce the activity of specific brain neurons that are overexcited due to anxiety, by targeting the neurotransmitter GABA. These drugs shouldn't be taken more than four weeks at a time in order to avoid becoming addictive.
Antidepressants are often prescribed to treat depression and anxiety. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as SSRIs increase serotonin levels in the brain. This can decrease depression and anxiety. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, that block the reabsorption of both norepinephrine and serotonin can also be effective.
People suffering from health anxiety typically are convinced that they are suffering from medical conditions and can't not stop worrying about their symptoms, despite being provided with reassurance from doctors. In certain cases, they also have delusions, like somatic delusions, where they believe that their symptoms are due to their emotional or mental state. They are unable to eat, sleeping and experiencing physical discomfort. They may also be frustrated or impatient and avoid family and friends. To combat health anxiety it is recommended to get a diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist. They can help you determine whether your anxiety is caused by medical issues and set limits on laboratory tests, imaging and referrals.
Cognitive therapy for behavioral problems
It's normal to be concerned about your health, but if this becomes excessive, it can cause a lot of anxiety. Fortunately, cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective psychological treatments for anxiety related to health.
This therapy involves teaching you new techniques to manage your anxiety in a more productive way. anxiety disorder treatments at home consists of a series of individual sessions that last about 45-60 minutes. A typical treatment program includes 12 to 20 sessions. However it will be contingent on the individual requirements of each patient. In CBT, you will learn to recognize your maladaptive behavior such as checking and reassurance seeking. You will be taught various mindfulness techniques that are known to reduce anxiety and promote recovery after an illness.
People who suffer from health anxiety are consumed by the fear of developing serious medical illnesses. This can trigger an array of unproductive behaviors such as constant examinations, seeking out reassurance from doctors or other people, and avoiding places and people that remind them of health issues. As time passes, these habits can have a negative impact on your life and relationships.
In some instances the health concerns anxiety are associated with other disorders, such as depression or delusional disorder (somatic type). However, most times, they are based on misinterpretation of bodily sensations and over-inflated fears of the possibility of suffering from a medical malady.
Health anxiety can trigger a amount of anxiety and can cause a lot of disruption with daily functioning. When health anxiety becomes an issue, it is important to seek out help so that you can get relief and return to living life to the maximum.
There isn't a single reason for health anxiety. However, common causes include the sudden loss of a close family member, serious illnesses in childhood or adulthood and/or a past of missed diagnoses of physical problems. It is important to discuss these issues with your therapist in order to understand how they have contributed to your anxiety. Together, you can create the plan that will help you break the cycle of anxiety.
Talk therapy
Often, people with health anxiety are often misinformed of bodily sensations or an exaggerated belief regarding their chances of developing a condition. This constant preoccupation may cause distress and interfere with the ability of a person to function normally in their daily lives.
A therapist can help you correct threat misappraisal and find ways to manage your anxiety in a healthy way. You can learn skills to stop avoiding, checking and seeking comfort that only reinforce your thoughts and beliefs about anxiety. Additionally, you can be taught to challenge negative beliefs and try to see things from a more balanced viewpoint. The use of medications can ease symptoms and ease discomfort. They are commonly used to treat depression, however, they can be beneficial for anxiety-related health issues as well.
If your GP diagnoses illness anxiety disorder, they might recommend psychotherapy or prescribe medication in order to ease your symptoms. Many NHS talking therapies services provide cognitive behavioral therapy for this condition. You can also contact an accredited psychologist or counsellor privately to receive psychotherapy. You can look up 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 because it can help you identify negative or unhelpful behavior and thoughts. Most often your therapist will employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is the most effective strategy to treat anxiety disorders.
CBT helps you recognize and challenge negative or unrealistic beliefs about yourself, your body, and medical procedures. It teaches you how to deal with anxiety in a healthier way, such as by avoiding excessive medical testing or reassurance seeking behavior. In some instances exposure therapy can be utilized by your therapist. This is about confronting your fears and training the mind to respond differently.
For instance, Harriet is 36 and has had no serious health issues. She is concerned that she has arthritis because of pain in two knuckles. She has visited a doctor and received assurance, but her anxiety persists. She is avoiding activities and restricting her social activities due to her anxiety. A therapist can teach her CBT and help her learn how to deal with the pain in her hands.
Family therapy
Patients suffering from health anxiety spend a large portion of their time worrying about severe illnesses like HIV or cancer, or even dementia. Their anxiety about health can be so intense that it affects their daily routine and create anxiety in their relationships. They may believe that any physical sensation could be a sign of illness. They may spend time researching symptoms or seeking reassurance from family and friends. They might also visit numerous doctors for unnecessary tests. This can lead to fatigue, financial stress and a lack of enjoyment in life.
Psychotherapy is typically the most effective treatment for health anxiety disorders. This kind of therapy is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Psychotherapy and medications can be used together to improve results. If prescribed medication is used in small doses, they are typically administered to prevent adverse effects.
The first step of the family therapy session is to have an initial meeting with the therapist. The meeting will enable the therapist to get an understanding of how anxiety affects the entire family and what the underlying issues are. It's important for all family members to be involved in this process.
It's a good idea make an appointment with your primary healthcare professional when you are suffering from severe health anxiety. This will allow you rule out any medical conditions that could be the cause of anxiety.
Health anxiety sufferers tend to misinterpret common physical sensations like headache, nausea or muscle twitch signs of a deadly disease. They often see a variety of doctors and are told that their symptoms are caused by their own imaginations. This can lead to feelings of despair and frustration, which may cause them to be less inclined to seek treatment for their anxiety. In addition to causing financial and emotional stress, these patients often have to miss work or social events to go to doctor appointments. These patients also often argue with their spouses about their concern for their health. In some instances, family members might feel that they are being blamed by their family members and may behave in unhealthy ways.