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Coping with Health Anxiety

Most of us worry about our physical health on some level, but hypochondria can send some people diving under their duvets and locking themselves away from the world. So, if we are too afraid to leave our house, then how we expect to meet with a therapist - who can help usRather than abandoning your therapy sessions and riding out the anxiety by yourself, you should be looking for alternative ways to get the mental health support you need. Mental health problems can worsen due to anxiety or hypochondria and without the right support, their fears can spiral out of control.Please keep reading to learn more about hypochondria and how it can affect your mental health. I will also talk about the benefits of Skype sessions to allow you to slowly overcome your anxieties while gaining the mental health support you deserve.

What is Hypochondria?

Hypochondria is an anxiety disorder where a person believes they have distressing symptoms or multiple symptoms of an illness, even if they are showing mild or no signs at all. For a person facing this form of anxiety, their life can be taken over by constant worrying about their physical health. Rather than being able to enjoy life and meet friends, visit family and take part in social groups, people with hypochondria find it hard to even leave their homes. The constant worry that they might fall ill or hurt themselves is crippling, and can negatively impact their quality of life.People who have hypochondria can frequently check their body for signs of illness such as lumps, tingling or pain. The need to always look for signs of illness can even lead them to believe they are seeing symptoms even if they are only mild or don’t exist. They can even start to gradually separate themselves from others and stop doing normal activities in fear that they will fall ill.

What About Therapy?

For those wanting to start therapy or those already meeting with a counsellor, getting to a therapist can feel like the hardest thing in the world. It would be best if you didn't let the fear of health issues prevent you from meeting with your therapist. Therapy is essential for many of us to understand the psychological problems and ways in which we can suppress and defeat mental health problems like depression and anxiety. Missing sessions because of fears over our physical health can be detrimental to our mental health in both the short-term and the long-term.As a therapist myself, I understand how anxiety over our physical health can keep us from wanting to leave the house. But isolation from others over a long period of time can lead to other mental health issues like depression. You need to start trying to overcome these anxious thoughts as soon as you can, as this will benefit your mental health, happiness and social life. I have always offered Skype sessions for my clients who cannot or find it difficult to come into my office to meet with me. Face-to-face sessions allow me to have a personal conversation with my clients, but for those who cannot come in, Skype is a fantastic alternative which doesn’t reduce the benefits of therapy. I can still create a relaxed and safe setting for my clients, learn more about their needs and provide expert support and advice from the comfort of their own home. People often think we have to be thrown into the deep end to overcome issues or learn something new. But those facing hypochondria won’t be able to just walk out the door on day one. Skype is a great way to ease them into therapy and help them overcome their anxieties at home before trying to venture to new places without the fear of illness or injury. Check out my website to learn more about my services as a counsellor and how I can support your mental health journey. As the world is consumed with fear over physical health, we have to remain aware of our mental health too, and the impact this anxiety will have on it. Don't stop seeking the expert guidance you need to improve your mental health in the coming months, but instead try to find alternative ways, like Skype. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]