HEALTH ANXIETY: When You Can’t STOP Worrying About Your Health | Dr. Rami Nader
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2022
- Health anxiety is known by a variety of different terms, including hypochondriasis and, more recently, Illness Anxiety Disorder. Regardless of the term, health anxiety or hypochondriasis can be an extremely distressing and debilitating condition. At its core, hypochondriasis is associated with a preoccupation of having or acquiring serious medical disease or illness. In health anxiety, physical symptoms are often not present, but if they are present, they are very mild and are not necessarily indicative of a serious health condition. For a person with Illness Anxiety Disorder or hypochondriasis, they have a high level of anxiety about their health and are easily alarmed about any signs or symptoms suggesting potential disease. The person engages in excessive health related behaviours like repeatedly checking their body for signs or symptoms of the feared illness, reassurance seeking behaviour from their doctors or maladaptive avoidance. The hypochondriasis or health anxiety causes the person high level of distress and can lead to interference in their engagement in recreational activities, their social relationships or their functioning at work.
#Hypochondriasis #HealthAnxiety #IllnessAnxietyDisorder
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14014 (113)
my health anxiety went away when I was leaving home for living my own life. Came back during pandemic 15 years later in a brutal different form.
…and (forgot to say) many people may study health anxiety articles and videos, such as your excellent series, in an attempt to persuade themselves that “it’s all in the mind” and not actual physical disease. This in itself can, paradoxically, also be anxiety-provoking!
Every ache, pain or sensation that I get I jump to the worst case scenario. Even being hot, cold, hungry or tired makes me really anxious sometimes. I know deep down that I'm being irrational and overthinking everything but that doesn't help me at the moment of fear and panic. I just can't seem to accept that it's 'normal' for us to have different aches, pains and sensations. I think with me it's a case of everything has to be ok all of the time or I feel like something is wrong.
It's not just my health. I also worry about my adult children, grandson, partner, I worry about their health or if they're ok or I worry that my partner will cheat on me for example. I assume I'm also suffering with generalised anxiety disorder? All this is making me agoraphobic too but that's because of the symptoms that I always seem to have. Some of the symptoms I can't even pinpoint. I very often get a horrible all over body worried/anxious/nerves buzzing feeling...It really is exhausting!
I do find your videos to be really helpful though Rami
so thank you so much for doing them ☺
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I'm glad you have found the videos helpful.
That is exactly what I'm experiencing.
@@L-ln5fk I still experience it daily but it's not as constant or severe as it was when I wrote the comment...It will get better! ♥️ It really is about how we react to things, but it's so hard not to react when we feel so bad isn't it
@@snm7654 Thank you. The last few days it's a little better for me too. I'm better at coping with the problem.
I juat became a father 7 months ago and I never been so concerned about my own personal health until I became a parent. I went for an annual checkup with my doctor and everything came back fine which is a miracle cause thinking back I really neglected my health. I feel as if I'm constantly worrying like somethings wrong when whats on paper shows other wise. I certainly developed health anxiety since then and "Dr. google" made everything way worse smh.
This is me. Everytime I have a relapse with my anxiety in general, I develop major health anxiety that lasts for a long time! It's frustrating. My most recent relapse happened in November 2022, and since the health anxiety has been in overdrive. My most current symptoms right now are digestive and I'm so afraid of it being cardiac related, even though I've had several ekgs and blood work done to rule out anything cardiac related. I'm just having a hard time accepting it
I didnt even realize that I've been doctor shopping for years. Sometimes avoiding someone I don't trust. Developing epilepsy has changed my life for the worst for years now swearing I have brain cancer. I'm finally going to a nuerologist that I trust will do the proper testing and I'm praying to not being diagnosed with something bad. I'm terrified. But I'm just gonna see what happens. But this video kind of relaxed me into thinking it may not be that. Maybe I can control it. I'm done avoiding bad news so that I can begin proper treatment. If it's something deadly.. Thanks for the video. I gratefully appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm glad you found the video helpful.
Dr Rami this is me body checking it was taking over my life thank you
It's a very common driver of health anxiety. I hope you have found some of the other health anxiety videos helpful.
Thank you so much 😊
You're very welcome!
Very clear explanation, thanks. Obviously there are also those whose health anxiety causes them to do the exact opposite…and avoid as much as possible visiting their GP / MD for fear of being told they may have a bad disease! Maybe this section of the population go unnoticed and therefore “unlabelled”? But their fears can be equally impactful & chronically life-restricting.
Very much so. It all generally relates to intolerance of uncertainty, which can lead to either (or both) information gathering or avoidance.
@@DrRamiNader Absolutely 👍
Also, I'm totally looking forward to seeing more of your videos about health anxiety. Your videos about panic disorder and anxiety have helped me immensely.
Hi Chelsea, so pleased to hear you have found the videos helpful. I have more health anxiety videos in the pipeline, so please keep an eye out for them.
Found your video interesting and helpful and a different way of looking at health anxiety that I never thought of thank you
You're very welcome. Glad you found the video helpful!
Thanks..great talk..helped me a lot..I’m quite happy if a doctor says I’m OK…but have over my life thought I had serious disease from my toe to my head..my mother suffered health anxiety and used to ask me as child about medical,terms!! I was only 10 too
Very informative Doc 👍.
Glad you found it helpful.
Very helpful and insightful video, thank you for creating this.
You're very welcome. Glad it was helpful!
hi,
very interesting and illuminating, your video on hypochondria disorder.
thanks a million.
You're very welcome.
Thank you for this video, Dr. Nader. It's great. Do you think you might do a video at some point comparing somatic symptom disorder (and criteria) to illness anxiety disorder? I don't think SSD quite gets the recognition it deserves, especially in the medical community.
Hi Chelsea, that's a great idea. I'll add it to my list of future videos.
Dr Nadar, firstly thank you for this explanation. Is it possible to have health anxiety about my diagnosis of anxiety and depression? I often find that I have fears about becoming suicidal and the fear of dying and the dear of something being drastically wrong with me mentally
You have described me exactly in the video. Do you have a video to help me stop these thoughts?
Consult a good psychiatrist. I had to suffer for 1.5 years , now I am completely fine , thanks to my doctor
@@abhisekboral5285 been suffering for 5 years and I am so exhausted and feel so all alone in the world.wish I could have one hour of happiness and peace. I cannot stop the sadness.
Thank you so much. This is exactly what my daughter is having. It is sending immediately family friends and work colleagues crazy. All is suffering REAL BAD. my daughter think every one has the problem. She is fine. Thinks she got it under control 😢😮😢😮
Very true
I’m in the medical field and I don’t think I should be. I worry constantly about EVERYTHING!!! Covid sent me into this hyper awareness that I cannot shake. Anytime a coworker has an illness I get so worried that well she was next to me all day..... GREAT!!!! Then I stress and stew. I am the only one who still wears a mask 😷 and I find myself getting so irritated at my coworkers bc since they don’t bother to mask up and come to work sick now we’re all doomed. It truly makes me feel anger bc I feel like see, I mask up for your protection but I can’t get the same courtesy?? Thanks!! I’ve always been a worrier and a germaphobe but it’s out of control now. Not just with covid. It’s every ache or pain and I’m worrying. It’s literally debilitating and exhausting. Thank you for this video there are people like me out there who needed this more than you know!!
Glad you found the video helpful. I'm sorry to hear you are having a difficult time. I plan on doing more videos about health anxiety, so hopefully they will be of help as well.
@@DrRamiNader thank you so much! I will definitely be watching out for them!!
Ha e you still got pain
Each and every word you uttered is happening to me. Please help me to treat this havoc causing disease.
You can find more videos on health anxiety in this playlist: Health Anxiety (Hypochondriasis): czcams.com/play/PLG_XiSJeP3s2xNmqsyrCkIBmGXJ6voFi-.html
hi Rami - this is a good video once again and very informative. Health anxiety I believe has increased in prevalence since covid days right? Many people struggle with this.
Certainly any societal attention that gets drawn to health conditions can trigger higher levels of anxiety about health.
I can relate to almost everything you said having developed this condition when I was very young.
Also I think it has very similar patterns to OCD ...am I wrong?
Can't wait for the next videos about it.
I would like to suggest you to do videos about BDD too, it would be very helpful.
Greetings for your great job.
There are some similarities between OCD and health anxiety, but some notable differences as well. OCD tends to be characterized by more intrusive, nonsensical thoughts that are described as "ego dystonic".
OCD recovery says they are the same obsessing over and over
My health anxiety definitely brings my ocd back up sadly..
I have health anxiety, and have physical pain, mainly in the upper right abdominal area,around the liver, iv had bloods, ultrasound and even a ct scan , and endoscopy in the last 12 months and all clear?..but i suffer the same pain daily and for the last 12 years...is it in my head, or not?.the more i stress ,seems the more its there?..
This is me , my cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health concerning my heart DONT have to see him until a year, but my anxiety always have me believing something wrong with my chest.. dealing with this for two years , I just want to feel normal, it’s a lot dealing with this everyday all day no matter what I’m doing…
I am in the same situation. I am 23 and been to a cardiologist and gotten multiple EKGs and bloodwork done and they say I am perfectly healthy. However every time I workout or get a chest pain, I think my heart is failing, and then that just causes anxiety and then I check my pulse that is elevated and it makes me worry more lol.
We will get through it, I am just going to stop reading things in the news or online. What really worsened my health anxiety was the fact I took notice to a lot of random people in the news dying to heart attack.
We got this 💪💪
Somatic symptom disorder for myself pain or fybro
Sir i always have anxiety and panic related symtoms like palpitations, sense of impending doom, cardiophobia and dizziness..will start cbt..will it cure my cardiac symptoms
Sir I have this problem and indigestion problem
Yup
I totally relate and what can we do about it?
Health anxiety is treated the same way that OCD is treated and that is with Exposure and Response Prevention therapy.
I'll be doing more videos on treatment approaches to health anxiety.
@@DrRamiNader thank you, please do
I'm here because I think I qualify for this category. And I think this is a good sign to recognize the possible real problem which is just fear because I know that wherever I go and whatever I do I end up at the same road of being told everything is fine with me after lab results came out negative of anything I fear about.. I have seen 2 doctors, and had taken the test and the ecg test I took 2x and same diagnosis but I still didn't have total peace. Now should I take another doc?. I know what I'll going get again. So thats why I think im supposed to be here. Looking forward to your vids soon thank you for taking time :)
I have a playlist on videos about health anxiety and will be adding to these videos in the coming weeks, so please keep an eye out for more videos on this topic. In the meantime, you can check out this playlist: czcams.com/play/PLG_XiSJeP3s2xNmqsyrCkIBmGXJ6voFi-.html
Thats me right now. I have a headache dizziness and weird eye floats i think its a tumor
I have had many MRI and CT but im back in this cycle again
CZcams doesnt help cuz there are videos that make u belive u have it
Have had health anxiety for more than 20 years. I’ve tried various medications and CBT. Still have it nevertheless. Frustrating waste of time to deal with it.
Can i ask you,from that 20 years how much time you been super anxeity and stressed?
@@stevanmilenkovic8843
That’s difficult to answer. The most stressful times are controlled by the thought that I will go to my regularly scheduled checkup appointment in due time. The worst part is the pervasive underlying thought in the back of my mind that I’m not healthy. This inhibits me from fully enjoying life. Getting out and doing activities is a good distraction though.
@@ellenrissman6057 am feeling ill get cancer when i get stressed so when some stresfull situation happens am affraid ill get cancer becouse i got stressed then i get stressed becouse of that stress its been 2months now? Did you had some stresfull periods in life and hoe long? Idk if am only one whos going thrue this..its been 1year since am anxious
@@stevanmilenkovic8843 You’re not alone. I have the same phobia. Schedule a doctor appointment for just a checkup. Anti anxiety meds may help.
I have had hypochondria all of my life. Unfortunately, at the age of 29, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It had ruined my life, because now I feel like EVERYTHING is cancer.
QUESTION: Is there a link to health anxiety in patients whom as a child had a parent that was always stated they were sick or dying? Or to a patient who spent numerous years in hospital that became institutionalized from birth to age 3? With health anxiety is it plausible that a patient may only have their health anxiety triggered due to getting physical symptoms, which scares them and then they jump into the negative what if scenarios? I have health anxiety, however, I don't doctor shop, I further don't label the physical symptoms I experience. I further don't google symptoms either. I have a difficult time differentiating whether or not the physical symptom is an acute issue, or whether it is anxiety that is exasperated due to the physical sensations my body experiences. Curious to kn
Hi Jolene, I have done a video addressing this topic: czcams.com/video/CtnSSmMTga4/video.html
I can't stop it comes in goes. My grandma had pancreatic cancer and every time it flares up my mind goes to thinking I will get it too. Some days it defeats me and I spend all day in bed or searching the internet.
I've had HA for years. 5 years ago my husband died of bowel cancer. Now I fixate on my dog's health and it's becoming debilitating. It's never anything minor either.
I in the midst of a bout with this right now. Terrified of having cancer for no apparent reason. Several blood tests and ct scans says I'm healthy but still can't accept it???
That's very common in health anxiety. I've posted a number of videos on health anxiety and will be posting more, so please keep an eye out for those.
now im worried if i have this or if it's just that im using google when im worried i have a disease oml this is so circular
This is me
I went nuts thinking I had aids in the 90s, now I’m terrified of getting als
Dr. Rami, could you make a video on how to be emotionally strong ? I have depression, anxiety, too much worry. I can't cope even with my imaginary fears, but to worse the situation, real "bad things" are happening in my life, like the death of people I love, problems with justice, bad people wanting to destroy me, etc. How can I be emotionally strong to cope with the bad things of life without despair ? Due to the depression, I was in the brink of falling apart, and now with real problems added, I'm feeling destroyed.
I'm planning on doing some videos in building resilience, but I'm not sure when I'll have those done.
I just had surgery and I worry that I will develop something else in the future. I’m trying not to get depressed. I’m an over thinker too. I hope you feel better.
My PCP told me that my air hunger is a manifestation of my anxiety. My question is, how do I conquer it?
I was like that for almost 6 months. The only thing that got rid of it was calming my anxiety. It took a lot of keeping busy, meditating for it to go away. I felt like I could only breath at 90% when trying to take a deep brearh
I really hate this is been one thing after another after getting covid is just me thinking different things is something different every week
Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time. I will be posting more videos on health anxiety, so please keep an eye out for them.
This advice is a little shortsighted, I have health anxiety, and I feel very nervous going to the doctor and sometimes I am avoidant. What about if you’ve seen a loved one become ill and there was nothing they can do that can also be causing it.
I explain this in some of the other videos I've done on health anxiety: czcams.com/play/PLG_XiSJeP3s2xNmqsyrCkIBmGXJ6voFi-.html
@@DrRamiNader what if it’s not health anxiety but the anxiety of going to get something investigated on your body? To me that is so frightening and I think that’s why people don’t go to doctors.
I love hypochondria, but I know I’d be better without it. No pun intended.
I have health anxiety for potentially getting a severe mental illness. My psychologists has reassured me over and over again that it’s just health anxiety but when I am anxious I always think it’s something worse. Something that may lead to something bad
That's a very common sentiment in health anxiety.
since retiring 4years ago covid a financial scam and mistreatment of antidepressipn medication I have developed severe ice amnd health anxiety
doctors prescribing anything to get me out of room it's terrible loosing weight by the stone having serious effect on my wife who now has stress pneumonia from me and my only child 34years severe bipolar now worse
treat heath more than money I did not and the price id now huge a virtual reclusecat 70years
Looks like You have no idea what the Health Anxiety truly is If You say that our symptoms are mild. I can't even count how many times I had to go to the ER because of the chest pain, dizziness and overwhelming doom feeling in my worst days of having a Hearth Anxiety.
If You're looking for a worthy knowledge about a Health Anxiety go and check Trey's Jones channel on YT.
I never said that health anxiety symptoms are always mild.
Of course when you're having a panic attack the symptoms are not mild. It's the general body sensations that we might otherwise not even notice, but because of health anxiety we freak out about. Like I have intermittent mild back pain and I keep fearing it might be liver or kidney cancer, despite it being mild and coming and going, in addition to my flatmates' comments about my terrible posture. Before I developed health anxiety after my dad's diagnosis I wouldn't have paid any mind to the back pain.
You don't even need to have a panic attack for the symptoms to be super strong, I've been struggling with shortness of breath and chestpain for over 2 months now.
Meant to say constantly, not a single break from them.
@@P11n4 Exactly. You can be really relaxed, just chilling and then you can start to feel a strong pain in your chest
Well my symptoms aren’t mild at all so I guessed I’m fcked smh