Health Anxiety Treatment Resistant Anxiety  
  
Health anxiety is a disorder which is characterized by an excessive worry and anxiety about the possibility of experiencing a serious medical condition. These feelings are often accompanied by frequent checking and requests to be reassured.  
  
The anxiety associated with illness -- often called hypochondria -- is triggered by confusion of body sensations and beliefs about disease. Treatment options include psychotherapy (or talk therapy) and medications.  
  
Medications  
  
Health anxiety is a serious illness that limits one's ability to work and interact with other people. There are a myriad of ways to treat symptoms and allow people to live a fuller life. These treatments may include psychotherapy and medication, or the combination of both. Psychotherapy is typically the first step in dealing with this condition and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a typical treatment. This type of therapy teaches you to identify and confront negative thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs meds that treat anxiety cause anxiety. It also helps you find different ways to manage your anxiety, like exercise and relaxation techniques.  
  
There are medications that can be used to treat anxiety-related episodes that are severe. Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam) are rapid-acting medicines that offer immediate relief. They reduce the activity of specific brain neurons that are overexcited due to anxiety by targeting the neurotransmitter GABA. These drugs should not be used for more than four weeks at a time, as they can become addictive and become ineffective after that time.  
  
Antidepressants are frequently prescribed to treat anxiety, and they may be beneficial to the symptoms of depression as well. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors like SSRIs, boost serotonin levels in the brain. This can decrease depression and anxiety. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors that block both serotonin absorption and norepinephrine reabsorption may also be effective.  
  
Health anxiety is a condition in which people believe that they have an illness that is medical and they are unable to stop worrying about symptoms even after being reassured by doctors. They may also suffer from delusions such as somatic illusions which make them believe that their symptoms are linked to their psychological or mental state. They usually have trouble sleeping, have trouble eating and are often physically uncomfortable. They can also be irritable and impatient, and often avoid family and friends. The best method to tackle health anxiety is to seek a diagnosis and get assistance from a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist. They can help you determine whether the anxiety is due to an illness or medical condition and establish limits on laboratory tests imaging, referrals and other tests.  
  
Cognitive therapy for behavior  
  
A little worry about your health is normal, but if this gets out of hand, it could be a major cause of stress. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one the most effective psychological treatment for health anxiety.  
  
The treatment involves learning new skills to aid you in dealing with anxiety in a more effective manner. The treatment usually consists of several individual sessions lasting 45-60 minutes. A typical treatment program includes 12 to 20 sessions. However, it will depend on the specific requirements of every patient. Through CBT, you will learn to identify your maladaptive safety behaviors like checking and seeking reassurance. You will also learn to practice various mindfulness techniques that are known to reduce anxiety treatment plan and aid in recovery from illness.  
  
Often people with health anxiety are consumed by worries about having or developing serious medical ailments. This can lead to various maladaptive behaviors such as constant examinations, seeking out reassurance from doctors or other people as well as avoiding places and people that are a reminder of their illnesses. As time passes, these habits can have a negative impact on life and relationships.  
  
In some instances health-related concerns, anxiety are associated with other disorders like depression or delusional disorder (somatic type). Most of the time they are caused by an incorrect interpretation of an illness.  
  
Health anxiety can be a significant cause of stress and can interfere with your everyday life. When health anxiety becomes an issue, it is important to seek out help so that you can find relief and continue living life to the fullest.  
  
There isn't one reason why people suffer from anxiety-related health issues, but some common factors are sudden deaths of family members close to you and difficult illnesses that occur in the early years or later, and/or a history of missed diagnoses for physical problems. It is essential to discuss these issues with your therapist to discover what has led to the development of your health anxiety. Then together you can develop strategies to break out of the cycle of anxiety and reassurance, and begin to experience more of what life offers.  
  
Talk therapy  
  
People with health anxiety often make mistakes in interpreting bodily sensations or overestimate their chances of contracting a specific illness. This constant worry can create stress and affect the person's ability to live a normal everyday lives.  
  
A therapist can help improve your understanding of threats and ways to manage your anxieties in a healthy manner. You can stop avoiding situations, looking for answers, and seeking out reassurance. These actions only strengthen your thoughts and beliefs about anxiety. In addition, you'll be taught to challenge negative beliefs and look at things in a more balanced way. The use of medicines can help manage symptoms and reduce discomfort. They are frequently employed to treat depression, but they can also be beneficial for anxiety-related health issues as well.  
  
If your GP diagnoses you with illness anxiety disorder, they could refer you to psychotherapy or prescribe medication to ease your symptoms. A lot of NHS therapy services provide cognitive behavioral therapy for this condition. Alternatively, you can contact an accredited psychologist or counsellor privately to receive psychotherapy. You can find a psychotherapist who is registered by searching the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies register or the British Psychological Society directory.  
  
Talk therapy is the most effective way to manage health anxiety. It helps you identify negative or unhelpful behaviours and thoughts. Your therapist will most likely employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders.  
  
CBT helps you recognize and challenge unhelpful and unreasonable beliefs about yourself and your body. It also helps you understand the medical procedures and challenges any unhelpful or untrue beliefs. It helps you respond to your anxiety in a healthier manner, such as by avoiding excessive medical testing or reassurance seeking behavior. In some instances exposure therapy can be utilized by your therapist. This involves confronting your fears and retraining the mind to respond differently.  
  
Harriet for instance is 36 years old and has not suffered from any serious health issues. But, she is terrified that she might have arthritis in her hands due to pain in two of her knuckles. She has visited an orthopedic surgeon and received reassurance but the fear persists. She starts to avoid activities and reduce her social life because of her anxiety. A therapist can teach her CBT and help her to discover ways to manage the pain in her hands.  
  
Family Therapy  
  
People who suffer from anxiety related to their health have a tendency to spend a lot of their time worrying about serious illnesses like HIV or cancer, as well as dementia. Their anxiety about health can be so intense that it affects their daily routine and cause anxiety in their relationships. They often feel that any physical sensation could be a sign of a serious health issue. They may be able to spend hours researching symptoms or seeking out reassurance from friends and family. They may also visit numerous doctors for unnecessary tests. This can cause you to feel exhausted and financially stressed. You may also experience lower quality of life.  
  
Psychotherapy is often the primary method for treating health anxiety disorders. This type of therapy is known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is also possible to use medications in conjunction with psychotherapy to improve results. If medication is prescribed, it will generally be administered in small doses to prevent negative side effects.  
  
The first step in a family therapy session is to have an initial conversation with the therapy therapist. The meeting will enable the therapist to get a better understanding of how anxiety affects the entire family and what the underlying issues are. It's important that all family members be involved in this process.  
  
If you're struggling with anxiety that is severe, it's best to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. This will help you to rule out any medical conditions that could be causing anxiety.  
  
People suffering from health anxiety are more likely to interpret common physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches or muscle twitch signs of a disease that is fatal. They often see a variety of doctors and are told that their symptoms are caused by their imaginations. They may become unhappy and discouraged by this experience, leading to a lack of motivation to seek treatment for their anxiety. In addition to causing financial and emotional stress, these patients often have to miss work or social events to attend appointments with their doctors. They also tend to argue with their partners about their concern for their health. In some cases, family members may feel they are being blamed by their loved ones and behave in unhealthy ways.