When to seek treatment for Health anxiety

Using relaxation techniques, journaling your thoughts and feelings, and actively challenging unhelpful thoughts are all methods you can implement into your everyday life to help you cope with your health anxiety.

Although self-help methods can help manage symptoms, it might be beneficial to also seek out professional help if you are struggling. Talking therapies are a common treatment for health anxiety.

You should consider treatment for your health anxiety when:

You are very preoccupied and worry about your health in such a way that it impairs day to day living.

You notice that the preoccupation regarding the potential of suffering from an illness varies over time (e.g., one month the focus may be cancer, but another it may be multiple sclerosis).

You notice others are commenting on how often you worry about your health.

You check your body often for small lumps/bumps/skin changes and may engage with medical professionals frequently to gain their opinions or reassurance.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for health anxiety

As the leading provider of private mental health services, supporting over 60,000 people a year with a range of mental health conditions.

We pride ourselves on offering expert, evidence-based therapy for adults. We offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for health anxiety as there is a good evidence base to suggest this is one of the most effective treatments available.

CBT for health anxiety

CBT is an evidence-based, goal-oriented and collaborative psychological therapy approach that focuses on understanding the past and present connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours (termed the ‘formulation’).

It offers powerful tools, strategies, and techniques to identify, challenge, and reframe unhelpful thought patterns, feelings, and behaviours. As a therapy for health anxiety, CBT can teach you ways of managing your worries and significantly improve your mental health and quality of life.