Health anxiety is a condition characterised by excessive worry about having a serious illness. It is a common anxiety difficulty that can affect both adults and children. At My Online Psychologist we have a few psychologists and also some child psychologists that have a high level of experience in treating this particular form of anxiety.

Typical symptoms in health anxiety includes:
- often misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as signs of illness
- obsessively researching symptoms online
- seeking frequent medical tests
- regularly asking for reassurance from loved ones
- avoiding situations that they fear could trigger illness.

This persistent preoccupation with health can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life. Over the past 15 years I have treated a countless number of people for health anxiety, and although I do not know of research to back this up, I do have a sense that it has become more prevalent since COVID.

Treatment for Health Anxiety is best done either online via video or in-person. The most effective treatment (according to research) is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

One of the benefits of Online therapy for health anxiety can be the ease of engagement. For some individuals, health anxiety can make it challenging to leave their homes or visit a psychologist's office due to fears of encountering germs or triggering their symptoms. Therapy with an online psychologist allows them to receive treatment from the comfort of their own environment, reducing barriers to seeking help and increasing the likelihood of consistent attendance.

Moreover, feedback from some clients has shown that speaking to a psychologist online can help to alleviate feelings of embarrassment or shame associated with discussing their fears and symptoms. This can create a safe space for clients to open up about their experiences and work through their concerns without fear of judgment.

In addition to traditional therapy modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychologists at My Online Psychologist have specialisms in other therapies that can help, including (but not limited to) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfullness. One of the benefits of having treatment with a psychologist is that they are trained in a variety of therapies, not just one. This means that it is easier to tailor treatment to you. Health anxiety can be difficult to overcome so having a clinician with knowledge of more than one approach can be very beneficial.

Please do get in contact if you are wanting treatment for health anxiety and I would be happy to help - either through treatment with myself, or one my associates who specialises in treating Health Anxiety.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Ben