Definition: Health anxiety is a broad term that can encompass any fears that are related to health or illness. Health phobias such as nosophobia, somatoform disorders such as hypochondria, and generalized anxiety with a health focus are common examples of health anxiety.
Health anxiety is not a diagnosable disorder, but rather a blanket term that encompasses numerous possible diagnoses. Because the various conditions often have similar symptoms, diagnosis can be tricky.
If you find that your anxiety over your health is interfering with your day-to-day life, consider talking to your doctor.
Examples: Jeffrey sought medical treatment for recurring headaches. After medical tests ruled out a physical cause, his doctor suggested that Jeffrey's headaches might be due to health anxiety.
