Rehab Educates Community About Health Anxiety

Erlanger, KY — In their latest blog post, SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky, an Erlanger rehab, educates the community on health anxiety. Previously, this condition was known as hypochondriasis or hypochondria. It is no longer referred to as this due to the weight of these words' stigma. Instead, medical professionals opt to use "health anxiety disorder." People with this disorder will often believe that any minor symptoms are an indication of a severe illness. Muscle twitching and fatigue may create severe anxiety that impacts the person's ability to function.

"Typically, people who have this disorder will have one of two variations: care-seeking and care-avoidant. Care-seeking occurs when people are worried about their health to the point they frequently make appointments or change doctors to seek multiple treatments or investigations. Care-avoidant health anxiety occurs when someone avoids medical care. They believe that if they visit the doctor or receive a test, they will be diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. They might feel it is better not to know this information at all," the blog post states.

There are several signs that someone with health anxiety might have. One of those signs includes being worried about getting a severe disease or condition like cancer. They may also find no reassurance from a negative test result or doctor visit. They are usually concerned about a specific medical illness or repeatedly check for signs. Some people may make frequent medical appointments, while others will avoid medical care altogether because they fear a diagnosis. People with this condition will often avoid people and places to prevent sickness. They will "google" these to self-diagnose if they find a symptom.

It is uncommon for physical conditions to develop because of their anxiety. This doesn't mean that they won't have anxiety-related physical symptoms, like heart palpitations. Often, someone with this condition will have a challenging time functioning daily or maintaining relationships due to their excessive worries about their health. They can also incur expensive medical debts due to medical bills from tests and visits, leading to financial concerns.

There are several reasons as to why health anxiety may happen. One of those reasons is if a parent was excessively worried about their physical health when they were younger, it could result in fears around this topic. Alongside that, having a severe medical disorder as a child can lead to anxiety surrounding health as they grow older. They may also believe that uncomfortable sensations are a sign of a severe disorder, leading to any sensation being a medical concern. Generalized anxiety, if left untreated, can specialize into a different anxiety type, including health anxiety.

When medical professionals diagnose someone with health anxiety, they rule out diagnosable medical conditions and check for indications of illness. They will also consider the criteria of excessive worry about developing a life-threatening condition, extreme anxiety about health-related concerns, and having had these anxiety symptoms for at least 6 months. The good news is that health anxiety can be treated. Typically, this involves cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medications, or a combination of both. CBT can help people learn skills that change their beliefs into more productive ones.

"A health anxiety disorder feels overwhelming for everyone involved. For loved ones, it may feel frustrating to watch someone you love undergo multiple tests and treatments for a disorder that doesn't seem to exist. For those with the disorder, it is distressing. Treatment can help," the blog post continues.

SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky solves unmet needs in Erlanger. Their crisis care is available 24/7. If someone requires stabilization, calling ahead is not necessary. They also offer no-cost care assessments that allow potential patients to work with them and design a treatment plan that best suits their needs. In addition to treating health anxiety, they can treat co-occurring disorders if someone has a substance use disorder with their anxiety.

To learn more about SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky or health anxiety, visit their website or call them at 859-429-5188. SUN Behavioral Health solves unmet needs.