Phobias come in all sizes and shapes, and lots of of us fear every kind of unusual and fantastic things. From birds to clowns to insects- they barely present any real danger, but they feel very real to those who do. One fairly common phobia is health anxiety – it includes everything from thinking you are sick, to worrying that you might be sick. You may be afraid of any kind of medical setting and avoid places like doctors, dentists and clinics. This is particularly hard to deal with, as many people with health anxiety fear doctors and the physician’s setting — which is the place they should go for help with the condition. If you think you suffer from health anxiety, here are some things to consider.
Accept that you have a problem
Health anxiety is a real problem, it isn’t something you feel ashamed or embarrassed about. Sometimes it’s a problem on its own but is commonly related to generalized anxiety, OCD, and other mental health problems. It’s not your fault, it isn’t something you caused or deserved and knowing and accepting this can be your first step.
Educate yourself about the real risks
Googling and searching too much is never a good thing, but if you feel the need to search then educate yourself on the true risks of your concern. If for example you have a phobia of contracting a certain disease, learning about precisely how it’s transmitted might put your mind relaxed because the misinformation you hear may make it seem more risky than it truly is. If you are worried about things like going to the hospital and getting sick with an infection, find out about medical office cleaning and hospital cleaning techniques can convince you how small this risk is. Unfortunately, the media are troublemakers and love to sensationalize and worry people as a way of getting people to read their newspapers and watch their videos. Always do your research on trusted, peer-reviewed websites like NHS.com to get your information.
searching for help
Seeking help can be a big step for those with health anxiety, as dealing with a medical professional may be part of your phobia. Reach out and ask family and friends for help if you need it, this can get them to book an early appointment for you and attend with you. For many people, talking to their doctor will be the first place of call but if you want to get personal and reach out to a therapist directly then this is a route you can take as well. Psychotherapy. The most common treatment for health anxiety is psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can be very effective in treating health anxiety because it teaches you skills that can help you manage your disorder.
