Health Anxiety

Individuals can become preoccupied with very specific health worries, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease and others. Fears of getting sick and dying result in overwhelming anxiety and can even lead to panic attacks. These worries can be difficult to control, and typically cause individuals to seek reassurance from doctors and specialists, and possibly undergo numerous medical tests. Despite the reassurance of medical professionals or the negative findings of medical tests, individuals with health anxiety will continue to fear there is something wrong with them. A vicious cycle of worry, fear and anxiety followed by reassurance-seeking maintains this form of anxiety.