I thought I was dying but it was health anxiety - here's how to recognise the signs
Summary
Hollie Sharman experienced severe health anxiety, causing her to frequently visit hospitals despite no medical problems being found. Health anxiety involves constant worry about being seriously ill, often leading to repeated checking of symptoms and seeking reassurance. Clinical psychologist Dr Kirren Schnack explains ways to recognize and manage this anxiety.Key Facts
- Hollie Sharman went to the emergency room 4 to 5 times a week with chest pain but had no health issues.
- Health anxiety is a strong, ongoing fear of having a serious illness when one is actually healthy.
- Common signs include frequent body checks, looking up symptoms online, and constantly asking others for reassurance.
- Some people with health anxiety avoid doctors or ignore their body because they fear bad news.
- Health-related obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can occur alongside health anxiety.
- Writing down symptoms and reviewing them later helped Sharman realize she was not dying.
- Support from family and partners can improve outcomes for people with health anxiety.
- Dr Schnack suggests checking trusted health websites and consulting a doctor if symptoms persist longer than two weeks.
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