illness anxiety disorderAlso known as hypochondriasis, is a health anxiety in which you worry excessively that you are or could become seriously ill. You may either have no physical symptoms or you may believe that normal body sensations or minor symptoms are signs of serious illness.

The Mayo Clinic says you may experience extreme anxiety that body sensations, such as muscle twitches or fatigue, are linked to a specific, serious illness. This excessive anxiety, rather than a physical symptom, can cause serious distress that can disrupt your life. It is a long-term condition that may worsen with age or during times of stress.

Symptoms of Illness Anxiety Disorder

Here, take a look at the signs and symptoms of illness anxiety disorder.

• Being worried about having or having a serious illness or health condition
• Worrying that minor symptoms or physical sensations mean you have a serious illness
• becoming easily worried about your health condition
• Getting little or no reassurance from doctor visits or negative test results
• Excessive worrying about a specific medical condition or your risk of developing a medical condition because it runs in your family
• Being so worried about possible illnesses that it makes it difficult for you to work
• Checking your body frequently for signs of illness or disease
• Making frequent medical appointments for reassurance – or avoiding medical care out of fear of being diagnosed with a serious illness
• Avoiding people, places, or activities out of fear of health risks
• Constantly talk about your health and possible diseases
• Repeatedly searching the Internet for symptoms or causes of possible diseases.

Causes of Illness Anxiety Disorder

Although the exact cause of illness anxiety disorder is not known, here, take a look at some of the factors that can cause illness anxiety disorder.

• Assumptions: You may have difficulty tolerating uncertainty over uncomfortable or unusual physical sensations. This may cause you to misunderstand that all body sensations are serious, so you look for evidence to confirm that you have a serious illness.
• Family: If your parents worry a lot about their health or your health, you may be more likely to have health anxiety.
• Previous Experience: You may have experienced serious illness in childhood, so the physical sensations may be frightening for you.

Ways to prevent illness and anxiety disorder

Here, take a look at some ways to prevent illness anxiety disorder.

• If you have anxiety problems, seek professional advice as soon as possible to help prevent symptoms from getting worse.
• Learn to recognize when you are stressed and how it affects your body and practice stress management and relaxation techniques regularly.
• Stick to your treatment plan to help prevent symptoms from recurring or worsening.

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