Illness Anxiety Disorder

In the US 11.2% of adults will experience a panic attack in their lifetime (DSM)

What is Illness Anxiety Disorder?

Illness Anxiety Disorder, often called “Health Anxiety,” “Hypochondriasis,” or “Hypochondria,” occurs if a person excessively worries about their health or becoming ill. They misinterpret normal bodily functions and sensations as problematic. People with illness anxiety have seen a doctor and had illness ruled out. Distress from illness anxiety comes from anxiety around the meaning, significance or cause of the health complaint.

Signs of Illness Anxiety

  • Worrying that minor physical sensations are symptoms of a serious illness

  • Feeling alarm, fear and anxiety related to health

  • Engaging in a lot of checking regarding body and health

  • Not feeling reassured after any doctor appointment

  • Going to the doctor too frequently

  • Not going to the doctor enough because you are afraid of what illness could be discovered

  • Avoiding places/people/situations for fear you could become ill

How I Treat Illness Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Research shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy  has been shown to be the most effective treatments for treating Illness Anxiety. During CBT individuals learn to change thoughts and behaviors which results in reduced anxiety.

Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) addresses the doubt (the “what if”) that happens before the obsession even takes off. When you can identify what is a here-and-now problem and what is a problem OCD has used the imagination to create, you then get to leave behind the things that don’t need to be attended to in reality

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Oftentimes I will pull in skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you rebuild what OCD has taken away. ACT helps individuals understand that experiencing pain is a part of life and supports them in committing to a values-based life, providing purpose during difficult times.

Sources:

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

  • Illness anxiety disorder - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic. (2021, April 19). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373787

  • Illness anxiety disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (2021, April 19). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20373782