What's The Ugly Facts About Physical Symptoms Of Health Anxiety
Physical Symptoms of Health Anxiety
Health anxiety can be triggered by a variety of factors that can trigger it, like watching a loved one get sick or die or having an uneasy job in the healthcare sector. Iampsychiatry with this condition experience a churning stomach and sweating excessively.
They also mistake physical sensations like headaches or coughs as signs of serious illness. They can spend hours searching on the internet for answers and seek reassurances from medical experts.
1. Headache
While everyone worries about their health at some point, the unfounded anxiety that is associated with illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria) can be disruptive to your daily life. You could spend hours researching your symptoms online and conclude that even the most innocuous sensations could be a sign of something serious. A headache, for instance, could lead one to believe that they have a tumor on your brain when it's actually a hangover.
Patients suffering from anxiety disorders are hyper-vigilant and are frightened of any changes in their bodies, despite being reassured by medical professionals and having negative test results. Anxiety from illness can also lead to other issues, such as avoiding social and work activities, and having trouble maintaining close relationships.
It is essential to seek help if your anxiety is affecting your daily life. Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy is the most popular treatment for anxiety. Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat anxiety. Contact your GP for a mental health assessment or call The Priory to receive a top-quality assessment. Our experts are able to diagnose anxiety disorders and offer treatment. Our therapists work with you to help you understand your anxiety and teach you coping techniques.
2. Muscle twitches
Another physical symptom of health anxiety is muscle shaking. These involuntary spasms of the muscles can happen everywhere on the body as a result from constant stress and nervous stimulation. If one is suffering from severe anxiety about their health, they could be prone to interpret any discomfort or unusual sensations to be signs of a serious disease. They may become obsessed with their symptoms, "Google" them or seek out a lot of reassurance from family and friends. They might be hesitant to interact with certain people or places for fear of getting sick.
In certain instances, the twitching may increase as anxiety rises. The reason for this is that the twitching is caused by the same fight-or-flight response that activates when people experience anxiety.
You shouldn't just try to ignore your twitching, but also speak to a mental healthcare professional about it. Counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapies may aid in managing anxiety and stop twitching.
3. Sweating
Sweating is among the most common physical signs of anxiety-related health. This sign is a sheen on your forehead or patches on your arms, can be very troubling. It is often the cause of additional health concerns.
People suffering from illness anxiety disorder (also called hypochondriasis) are prone to misinterpret small symptoms as a sign of serious diseases. They may spend hours Googling symptoms and get a lot of assurances from family members or medical professionals. In some instances they are forced to avoid certain activities, and even miss out on important social occasions.
When people are anxious, the brain activates the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is also known as the "fight-or-flight" response. This can result in a rise in stress hormones that can trigger the body's response to sweat.
Instead of focus on your anxiety, try to shift your thoughts to something that inspires peaceful or positive feelings. This can help you realize that your body's reactions the majority of the time are not an indication of a health issue. It will also help you remember that you're typically more worried about the possibility of contracting a serious illness than about getting strep throat or tripping your ankle.
4. Dizziness
Health anxiety is usually accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness and fainting. They are also often a part of a vicious cycle, where the dizziness and anxiety reinforce each other, leading to more frequent and severe episodes.
Illness anxiety disorder (previously known as hypochondria) is characterized by excessive and persistent worry about deadly or rare illnesses. This condition can be crippling and prevents people from living an active and joyful life.
When someone with illness-related anxiety disorder experiences a new sensation, they usually assume that it is an indication that an illness of serious nature is present. They can then look on the internet for information that confirms their fears, which can cause additional anxiety. They may even believe their doctors do not take them seriously, which could cause them to be more anxious.
When left untreated, the symptoms of illness anxiety disorder can be detrimental on relationships (since your family and friends get tired of hearing about your myriad of possible ailments each time you hang out) and also at work (because you're always not able to work on important projects due to never-ending doctor visits). Consult your doctor if you suspect that you might be suffering from this disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for this psychiatric disorder. It helps to identify negative thinking patterns that cause anxiety and increase the chance of a dizzy spell, then replace them with healthy ones.
5. Swelling
A typical symptom of health anxiety is swollen lymph nodes. This is because of the increased stress triggered by the fear of an illness that is serious. The body reacts to stress in many ways, including increasing hormone production that causes blood vessels and lymphatic nodes to increase.
It's normal to be concerned occasionally about your health, but especially during this pandemic. However, serious health anxiety can have devastating consequences on the person as well as their family, and their professional career. If you or someone you love suffers from illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria) be sure to encourage them to seek out an appointment with a mental health specialist to learn more about how to manage the symptoms.
Illness anxiety disorder is also called hypochondria, generalized anxiety, or health anxiety disorder. It is defined by a constant concern with the belief that you are at risk of developing a serious illness and an extreme anxiety or fear of your health and well-being, often combined with avoidance behaviour such as body checking or seeking reassurance, or both. It can also be a result of the misinterpretation of normal bodily sensations such as a tingling in your arm or an occasional change in your the color of your bowel movements, as an indication of a serious illness.
6. Heart palpitations
Heart palpitations are a common sign of anxiety. They may feel like your heart is skipping beats or beating out of tune. Some describe a fluttering, shaking sensation in the chest. If frequent heartbeats hinder your daily activities, your healthcare provider might suggest an ECG to determine if there are medical conditions that could cause them. If they're due to anxiety, medication or psychotherapy may help.
Health anxiety sufferers mistake normal or normal physical symptoms as a sign of something serious. They are also susceptible to panic attacks that are intense bouts of anxiety that can include chest pain, trouble breathing chills, sweating, and the feeling you're losing consciousness.
It's normal to worry about your health, particularly during a time of pandemic. However, when a concern becomes a source of anxiety and becomes a condition known as hypochondria or health anxiety. Fortunately, you can get treated for this condition, which is much more frequent than most people think. Treatment options include talk therapy, medications like beta blockers and lifestyle adjustments. You can also try yoga and meditation to relax your mind and body. It is crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis.
7. Leg swelling
People with health anxiety are usually preoccupied by a variety of somatic symptoms and signs and are convinced that they suffer from or are likely to be suffering from an illness that is serious. This can lead to excessive checking (such as frequent medical check-ups or an over-interpretation on everyday bodily sensations) or seeking assurance and other unhealthy behavior. It is not uncommon for people suffering from health anxiety to suffer physical symptoms like numbness, chest pains, or stomachaches as a result of their anxiety-related worry.
Health anxiety can be caused by a myriad of factors. It could be due to the death or serious illness that a loved one has suffered, witnessing an accident or working in the healthcare field or being exposed by the media to distressing information on illnesses and diseases. But, it will only be diagnosed as health anxiety if the person's concerns are out of proportion and significantly interfere with their daily functioning and quality of life.
If you or a loved one suffer from anxiety or health issues it is essential to see a doctor to conduct a thorough medical examination. It's also a good idea to go through psychotherapy, like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), in addition to taking medication if required. This will teach you how to manage your anxiety and live a healthy life.