What is health anxiety?
Health anxiety is characterised by various physical complaints which lead to neurotic thoughts, feelings and behaviours associated with the symptoms you may have. Note that the symptoms may not always be imaginary or self-produced. They may in fact accompany an actual medical condition, and that is why, if symptoms persist, it is always best to visit the doctor for a comprehensive examination.
However, some people who suffer from health anxiety may refuse to go to the doctor as they are afraid of what the diagnosis might be. This is a bad idea as there could be a life-threatening issue lurking in the shadows that needs urgent attention.
What happens if the diagnosis is bad?
By definition, it is agreed by most people that possibly the worst diagnosis a person can get is that of cancer. The very word cancer by the doctor is a shock, and can catapult you into the idea that death is imminent. However, once the initial shock is over, and some calmness sets in, you realise that there are lots of questions you need to ask the doctor.
For example, if it is a breast cancer diagnosis, or perhaps prostate cancer, the first thing a person wants to know is what stage the cancer is, and what the treatment will be. To get these answers, the doctor might order more tests, and you – the patient - has to wait for results to come in. Studies have shown that waiting for further test results is often more stressful than the initial diagnosis, and results in higher levels of anxiety. This anxiety gives rise to alarming thoughts and wild ideas about what may come, no matter how reassuring the doctor might be about successful treatments. The symptoms may be real, but mostly the thoughts are false, and the result of an over-active imagination which feeds more anxious feelings.
When you are anxious about something, it is worse if you are specifically anxious about health issues. If you have had a bad diagnosis about some health symptoms, then you can add fear to the mix of anxiety and stress. Any new physical sensation, no matter how minor, can make you feel even more uncertain and panicky. Other thoughts that can torment you, are those focused on how you will cope with treatments and any side effects.
Anxiety symptoms include high blood pressure, negativity, panicky feelings, fear, lack of motivation, and fatigue. These symptoms are magnified if you suddenly have to cope with a cancer diagnosis, along with general anxiety issues. After much research, medical doctors agreed that most people lack coping skills, and the more the anxiety or depression grows, the harder it will be to get positive results from treatments. It was agreed that the first line of treatment when cancer, for example, is diagnosed, is to treat the underlying anxiety which may be hampering recovery.
Learning to cope from within.
Anxiety, fear and stress are all located in the subconscious mind. There are certain triggers which set off responses in the conscious mind, and affect behaviours. According to further studies, it was agreed that the key to accessing the subconscious mind is by means of therapy – hypnotherapy is regarded as the most successful go-to treatment. The aim of the therapy is to eliminate negativity, anxiety and fear, and to create a new mindset with a different outlook. The mind is the most powerful tool which we as humans have, and learning to use the correct tools will help to restore feelings of calm, and teach you to take life on a day-to-day basis.
Always opt for a qualified, experienced therapist to help restore calm and confidence to your life.