About Illness Anxiety Disorder
Illness Anxiety Disorder or Hypochondria is a mental health disorder in which one starts to presume that small symptom such as little stomach aches means they have a life-threatening condition like cancer.
Symptoms of Illness Anxiety disorder
- Repeatedly checking the body for symptoms– As their anxiety makes them presume that even smallest symptom means they might have a serious illness they check their body multiple time a day and look for the symptom.
- Excessive googling- They tend to research a lot about their symptoms a lot, a long ago I also had this illness phase you know the worst thing about this while researching my mind was stuck on only struck on serious and life-threatening conditions and it was ignoring the the simple reasons that might be causing the symptom.
- Worry occupies their whole day- They spend most of their day looking for symptoms, Googling their symptoms and overthinking the worst case scenario.
- Seeks a lot of reassurance- I remember I used ask my brother “A small headache is not a big deal right ?” even after that reassurance it only gave me relief for couple of hours and again my mind uses to say “ohh what he knows ” and again the cycle begins
- Doctor shopping- Seeking opinion from one doctor but not believing their diagnosis is a common symptom, so they seek another opinion fron another doctor and the cycle continues.
What Causes it
How To Manage Illness Anxiety Disorder
Managing Illness anxiety disorder will require conscious effort here are things that have helped me and other people manage this disorder and return to normal life.
- Limit Internet usage- No matter what no more googling symptoms as mind with IAD has this bias that focuses on information that confirms their worst fears.
- Worry time limits- Every day allocate 20-25 mins to address the worries and after that don’t think about them at all the whole day in this worry period you can use our free IAD worksheet it may help you manage your worry.(more on it below)
- Affirmations–You can Create custom affirmations for yourself and repeat them before starting your day like “I am grateful for my body’s ability to heal and adapt” it could be anything as I used to do it gave me some mental strength to continue my day you also use our IAD affirmation sheet with 10 big affirmation reading these will give you mental strength to fight this anxiety and effectively manage it.
- Keep yourself busy- Engage in exercise, go for a walk, or meet friends no matter what stay busy during my IAD phase I had lot of studies to do so I will stay at home but staying at home became counterproductive as IAD took over so first 2 weeks I kept myself busy after my mind was pretty relaxed and it’s focus was shifting for symptoms so I gradually started my studies back.
- Other common advice include- Limit Caffeine, Exercise regularly and Reduce alcohol consumption
Illness Anxiety Disorder Worksheet
This worksheet consists of 5 pages and is designed to help people with IAD with 5 Sections it is definitely worth a shot in process to deal with this disorder
It’s sections include-
- Self-assessment
- Identifying Triggers
- Cognitive Restructuring
- Coping Strategies
- Progress Monitoring
Download it by clicking the button below.
Illness Anxiety Affirmation Sheet free download
With 10 big IAD-related affirmations reading these every day will help people with it to gain mental strength and a sense of comfort.
Download button below
Disclaimer:
The strategies and information provided in this blog post are intended to offer guidance and support for individuals dealing with Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD). It is essential to remember that each person’s experience with IAD is unique, and what works for one individual may not work for another.
If you find that these strategies are not effectively alleviating your health-related anxieties, or if you believe your quality of life is significantly impacted by IAD, please do not beat yourself up. It is entirely normal to seek professional help when facing such challenges.
Contacting a healthcare professional, therapist, or counselor who specializes in anxiety disorders can provide you with personalized guidance and tailored treatment options to address the root causes of your health anxieties. You are not alone in your journey, and seeking help is a courageous step towards improving your mental and emotional well-being.
Moreover, using these strategies under the guidance of a healthcare professional can enhance their effectiveness and provide you with a more comprehensive approach to managing IAD. Your health and well-being are of paramount importance.