4 Red Warning Flags of Health Anxiety

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Health anxiety, formerly referred to as hypochondria is diagnosed as Illness anxiety disorder, somatic symptom disorder or sometimes panic disorder. It behaves like OCD due to the cycle caused by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors like reassurance seeking, body symptom checking, ruminating, excessive googling and avoidance and safety behaviors.
I am going to share 4 big red flags of health anxiety so that you can catch your red flags as well and learn to change your response.
The first (#1)-big red flag is when you have a doubt or ask "what-if" questions about a sensation or ache or pain in your body.
Then, almost spontaneously, the second (#2) red flag appears. I refer to the second red flag as misinterpreting the sensation or symptom as dangerous. People with health anxiety and ocd score high in a trait called anxiety sensitivity. This means that they tend to misinterpret anxiety sensations in the body as threatening and dangerous.
The third, (#3) big red flag, is what I refer to as taking a giant leap. It happens so fast, you can miss it and not recognize that it is something you are doing, mentally.
You might take a giant leap from noticing a bodily sensation, interrupting it as dangerous and then imagining and attaching a scary story to it. And it usually is not just any story, it is usually the worst possible story.
By imagining the worst case scenario, you unintentionally activate fight or flight, or your fear response. This creates more hyper vigilance and focusing on feeling and internally monitoring that sensation.
This is when you may be driven, motivated by survival instincts to get help, because you truly believe your life is dependent on it. And this is red flag number 4. you likely experience strong urges to gain reassurance that you are safe. And here compulsions of googling, body monitoring, doctor visits, and a multitude of other safety and avoidance behaviors likely begin.
Health anxiety can hook your attention and reel you in. It can convince you that something may be seriously wrong, and can activate your fear response. It pulls you in and away from everything else that’s important to you.
Health anxiety thrives on your vulnerabilities and catastrophic thinking, where minor symptoms are blown out of proportion, leading to thinking of the worst case scenarios. But, health anxiety is a treatable condition.
#healthanxiety, #hypochondria, #illnessanxiety
Reach out to me at 👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼 paigepradko.com if I can be of help to you. And signup there for my weekly newsletter where I share weekly help for anxiety and OCD.
Until next time, I will see you in session,
Paige
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(Although Paige Pradko is a licensed psychotherapist, the views expressed on this video and this KZbin channel including comments or any related content should not be taken for medical, psychological or psychiatric advice. Always contact your physician and mental health provider before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.)