How To Deal With Health Anxiety and Hypochondria

This video is long, but it’s packed full of information. Here is a breakdown. I answer the following questions:
What does hypochondria/health anxiety look like?
What’s the difference between hypochondria and generalized anxiety disorder?
How do you get hypochondria?
Why don’t pills work for hypochondria?
What does CBT for hypochondria-health anxiety look like?
What is a self-help version of CBT for hypochondria?

With hypochondriasis, you misinterpret body sensations and assume you have a serious disease, even after you’ve been told you don’t. You may believe that the doctor missed something. You may even believe the anxiety you have will turn into something more serious like dying in your sleep or having a heart attack.

In 2013, the new edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual 5th edition changed the name from hypochondriasis to somatic symptom disorder. Somatic means body. Therefore, it’s a disorder of being over focused on body symptoms and having an illness. People who have this problem, know they have it because they are in a lot of distress.

Self-talk script to use when you are triggered by a body sensation.
I have been checked out by my doctor, my new body symptoms does not mean I really have a medical illness. I have anxiety and this is what I tend to think,. Anxiety makes me believe I have something I don’t. I am not more of a medical expert than the people who have seen and examined lots of sick people. I don’t know what sick people look like, I only know what I look like. I don’t have a point of comparison to know what the illness I’m concerned about really looks like. The internet will not give me a complete picture of what it really looks like to have [fill in the blank with the illness you’re worried about.

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[tsap]

who else have the symptoms only when they're alone? And not even think about them when you're having fun

[ashleyward]

I started tearing up when you said how exhausting it is to live this way. I'm so tired of feeling like this.

[hosnaarzani]

Googling symptoms is an ADDICTION and never ever ever make things better.

[DanielMartinez-dkte]

Anyone feels like you tell your body “No, stop, I know this is anxiety, we felt it in the past, nothing is going to happen” and your body is like. “I know that, but what if, like, what if THIS is the actual, real health problem, and not anxiety anymore”

[heposlis]

I want to hug everybody in the comment section.

[melsavoie]

Anybody else feel emotional because you realize this has been dominating your life for so long :(

[masonandrews]

Who else watched this video with hypochondria and felt better right after

[cakesinspace]

Honestly a huge thing is seeing cancer all over the internet, on tiktok instagram, everywhere its about getting chemo, or cancer awarness. It's gotten to the point for me where im constantly stressed about having cancer, even with no symptoms. Even just the word cancer is kind of triggering to me.

[BigPapaPenguin]

Does anyone else feel like if they ignore a fake symptom it will actually turn out to be something and then by the time you get it checked it'll be to late

[teetamtamera]

I’m crying. I’m exhausted. My life has been taken over by health anxiety. Everyday I swear I’m having a heart attack or stroke. I’m afraid to die, I’m afraid to live.

[vegavein]

I hate living with health anxiety. I overthink too much about my health.

[dun]

She literally just explained what I got through every single day

[xezal]

Does anyone else feel worse at night? I wake up feeling happier and more positive in the morning and as the day goes on my health anxiety just creeps back when there is something happening with my body. And at night I just feel gloomy.

[ScissortailMom]

I feel a lot of peace just reading these comments and knowing I’m not alone or crazy.

[abanez]

I pray everybody here including myself overcomes this and any other troubles we're having

[Ladyybird]

I am driving MYSELF crazy. I literally feel i can’t breathe all day cause anxiety is taking over. This video helps calm me down

[sbblgjn]

Pandemic increased my health anxiety. Staying home all day alone, always thinking about my health

[Arya-sujv]

Your body starts making up symptoms to match a disease process that you are worrying about.

[lyndsey]

who is like "im fine" and then "wait, what if it actually turns about to be what i think it is this time"

[userxoxo]

This is the hardest thing to deal with! Praying for the health and safety for everyone dealing with this.