Health Anxiety Treatment Chicago

Looking for a Chicago health anxiety treatment therapist? Hoping to find local therapists for health anxiety nearby? Do you need cognitive behavioral therapy for health anxiety?

If the answer is yes, you have come to the right place. One of the reasons people in Chicago seek out one of our health anxiety therapists is to gain a better understanding of why they fear illness.

What Is Health Anxiety?

You may have heard of the term “health anxiety” but are unsure of what it means. In simple speak, health anxiety can be defined as excessive fear or worry about getting sick, contracting an illness, or dying.

If you have health anxiety, there is a good chance that you have struggled with this problem for a long time. The intensity of your fears may go through cycles, with intensity being strong during certain periods and less so for others.

Health Anxiety Symptoms

Many of our Chicago health anxiety treatment clients report the following as common experiences and symptoms.

Being preoccupied with physical symptoms and sensations.
Ongoing use of health-related websites, portals, and forums.
Constantly seeking reassurance from friends and family that you are not sick.
Irrational fears about visiting a doctor or taking a medical test.
Experiencing moments of panic (panic attacks) around your personal health, causing an increased heart rate and sweating.
Constantly believing you have a serious health condition.
Strong fears of death or dying.
Problems with concentration or focus because your mind is preoccupied with having an illness.
An inability to enjoy pleasurable activities or relaxing moments because worries around health occupy your mind.

“I had a persistent cough that wouldn’t go away and convinced myself it was cancer. After waiting months to go to the doctor, I found out I was allergic to my girlfriend’s cat.”

– Chris in Gold Coast Chicago

What is Illness Anxiety?

The terms “illness anxiety” and “health anxiety” are interchangeable and effectively the same. In the past, these terms were also known as hypochondria or hypochondriasis.

As time has gone on, counselors, therapists, and other wellness providers have realized terms of “hypochondriac” contain negative stereotypes and are not helpful when working with people who struggle with this very challenging problem.

Triggers for Health Anxiety

There are many reasons your health anxiety may be triggered or become activated. Research suggests the following may have an influence:

Family history where someone had a serious illness and/or died.
Major life changes, such as moving, losing a job, or switching employers.
A recent illness or injury that caused you to reflect on the long-term ramifications of sickness.
Physical symptoms that are new to you or seem unusual and cause your mind to spiral to dark places.
Personal loss, such as the death of a friend or family member.
Pre-existing issues with anxiety and depression that influence distorted thinking about your health.

Here is a personal recollection from Elizabeth, a woman who struggles with health anxiety on Chicago’s North Side.

“After my mom died of a heart attack, I was constantly worried that I might have one too. Even though I’m only 30 and in good health, it doesn’t stop me from searching the Internet and self-diagnosing.”

-Elizabeth in Andersonville, Chicago

Treatment for Health Anxiety

There are several ways you might receive treatment for health anxiety from one of our Chicago therapists. Keep in mind that each person is different, meaning one size doesn’t fit all.

That said, therapeutic interventions over a series of sessions may include:

Mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy designed to create change around automatic negative thoughts.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); a form of therapy that helps you to soften the intensity of fears while accepting their presence.
Self-calming tools in the form of affirmations, meditations, and guided imagery.
Journaling and other expressive outlets that are designed to process and create catharsis around pent-up anxiety.
Existential interactions in the counseling office that are designed to stir calmer thinking.
Other relaxation techniques that are designed to soothe and calm the mind.
Homework assignments that are offered to reinforce concepts from sessions.

You Don’t Have to Let Health Anxiety Control Your Life

Should it be appropriate and with your written permission, your health anxiety therapist may want to speak with your medical doctor for the purposes of collaboration and coordination.

Goals of Health Anxiety Treatment

In most cases, your illness anxiety therapist will develop a set of common goals that are part of counseling. Here are some examples:

Reduce excessive worries and fears around health.
Challenge automatic negative thoughts about your health and to help you stop arriving at the worst possible conclusion.
Offer coping skills and strategies that are designed to help you dial down the intensity of your anxiety.
Reduce avoidance-type behaviors, such as not going to the doctor or fearing a specific medical test.
Encourage healthy behaviors and allow space for alternatives that are different than the worst possible outcome.
Improve the quality of your life by creating balance and greater happiness.

Chicago Office Location

Our main offices are located in the Lakeview community of Chicago. We are near Wrigley Field and on the corner of Roscoe Street and North Paulina Street, just one block off the CTA Brown Line Paulina stop

While some clients work with one of our health anxiety therapists in person, others choose to engage in virtual sessions because of the convenience.

Health Anxiety Therapy Appointment

If you would like to make an appointment for the treatment of health anxiety with one of our counselors, please contact us using the confidential contact form.

If you need help with your health anxiety, our Chicago therapists want to help.

References:

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Health Anxiety. From the web at: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/health-anxiety. 2023