Do you find yourself constantly Googling symptoms, convinced a headache might be a tumour or a stomach ache might be something life-threatening? If so, you're not alone — and there's a name for it.
Illness anxiety disorder (sometimes called health anxiety) is a condition where the main problem isn't a physical illness — it's the fear of having one. People with health anxiety get caught in a cycle: they notice a body sensation, worry it means something terrible, seek reassurance (from doctors, family, or the internet), feel briefly relieved, then the anxiety comes back stronger than ever.
Research suggests that up to 13% of adults experience significant health anxiety — making it far more common than most people realise.
The good news is that it's very treatable. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is highly effective at breaking the worry-reassurance cycle. The therapy helps you understand why your brain keeps sounding the alarm, and teaches you to respond differently so the anxiety gradually loses its grip.
Health anxiety is often misunderstood — even by doctors — because it can look like someone is "just being a hypochondriac." But it's a real anxiety disorder that causes real distress, and it deserves real treatment. If this sounds familiar, speaking with a psychologist is a great first step.