In short
- Three habits that keep health anxiety going are checking your body, searching symptoms online and seeking reassurance from others.
- Checking your body for symptoms brings brief relief but keeps your attention fixed on it, and the more closely you look, the more you find to worry about.
- Seeking reassurance about your health helps only briefly, and over time teaches your brain that the worry can only be settled by someone else.
- CBT for health anxiety maps the cycle and gradually reduces checking, searching and reassurance, so your confidence in your own judgement can grow.
Health anxiety is exhausting. A twinge or a mark becomes the start of a frightening story, and it can be hard to think about anything else. Three habits tend to keep it going.
1. Checking
Pressing on a sore spot, examining your skin, taking your pulse. Checking brings a moment of relief, but it also keeps your attention fixed on your body, and the more closely we look, the more we find to worry about.
2. Searching symptoms online
Searching promises an answer and rarely delivers one. Search results tend to surface the most alarming possibilities, and even reassuring information soon gives way to “but what if…”.
3. Seeking reassurance
Asking a partner, a friend or a doctor whether you’re okay helps, briefly. Then the doubt returns, and the reassurance needs topping up. Over time this teaches your brain that the worry can only be settled by someone else.
“Each of these feels like it is helping, which is exactly why they’re so hard to stop.”
What helps instead
CBT helps us map this cycle and gradually reduce the checking, searching and reassurance, so your confidence in your own judgement can grow. Of course, any new or worrying symptoms should always be checked by your GP. Therapy works alongside medical care, never instead of it.
Common questions
Why does googling my symptoms make my anxiety worse?
Searching symptoms online promises an answer but rarely delivers one. Results tend to surface the most alarming possibilities, and even reassuring information soon gives way to 'but what if'.
Should I still see my GP if I have health anxiety?
Yes. Any new or worrying symptoms should always be checked by your GP. Therapy for health anxiety works alongside medical care, never instead of it.
Why is it so hard to stop checking for symptoms?
Checking, searching and asking for reassurance each feel like they are helping in the moment, which is exactly why they're so hard to stop. The relief is brief, and then the doubt returns.
This article is general information, not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. If you are in crisis, call 999 or the Samaritans on 116 123.
