Health Anxiety

When every sensation feels like a warning sign

Health anxiety can make it difficult to trust your body. You might notice a change or sensation and immediately worry that something serious is wrong, then find yourself checking your body, researching symptoms online, seeking reassurance or repeatedly thinking through what it could mean.

The reassurance might help for a little while, but the worry can quickly return. You may become increasingly alert to changes in your body and start avoiding things that could trigger health worries. For teenagers, this can affect school, sleep, friendships and independence, particularly when they become frightened by normal bodily sensations.

How can CBT help?

CBT can help you understand the cycle between noticing a sensation, interpreting it as a threat, becoming anxious and then checking or seeking reassurance. We'll work on responding differently to uncertainty and bodily sensations, without dismissing genuine concerns or telling you to simply stop worrying.

What could change?

The goal isn't to never notice a change in your body or feel concerned about your health. It's to stop health worries from taking over your thoughts and decisions.

You might spend less time checking and researching, feel less need for reassurance and become more able to experience everyday bodily sensations without immediately assuming something is wrong.

You don't have to keep living on high alert

A free, confidential consultation gives us the chance to talk about what's been happening and explore whether therapy could help you feel more at ease with your health and with uncertainty.