Stress does not only take a toll on you mentally, but it can also worsen any health condition you may be dealing with. Moreover, anxiety surrounding health issues can also cause undue stress. There have been many studies on health issues caused by stress.
Stress can cause and increase the chances of heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, diabetes and depression, asthma and gastrointestinal problems.
On the other hand, anxiety regarding health concerns can be unhealthy for you. A symptom of health anxiety is that when you have a minor health concern such as a sore throat, you automatically assume you are suffering from a serious ailment such as cancer.
Moreover, you constantly search your symptoms online and assume the worst-case scenario. Even when tests come back clear, it does not make you feel better- at some level, you still feel like something is not alright.
A fear of life-threatening illnesses on the daily is a part of your routine and interferes with basic, everyday functioning. If this sounds like you, you may be suffering from health anxiety. Not all health worries constitute health anxiety. The following are a few tips to deal with health stress:
Stress is Manageable
The most significant tip is that health stress is manageable. There is a stigma associated with accepting you have health anxiety instead of actually being ill. If health anxiety reaches levels that make it difficult for you to carry out everyday activities, it may be time to consult a mental health professional. Your primary care doctor may provide you a referral. You can find a doctor for your needs at Hashmani hospital.
Working On Your Mindset
After you have identified your health anxiety worries and beliefs, you should work on changing unwarranted and unhelpful thoughts about changing bodily sensations. By being vocal about your worries, you can confide in a family member or friend. Who can assist you in deciding whether you are overly stressed over a genuine health concern or not?
That being said, try not to attain constant reassurances about your health by repeatedly looking for symptoms of illness when examining your body. This is, in fact, counter-productive and will only add pile up further stress and a greater preoccupation with the subject of your health. Each new scan or test without any solid basis will provide your mind with new possibilities about everything that can be wrong with your health.
Indulging in New or Old Hobbies
Another way of coping is indulging in activities that take your mind off of the stress. Taking up a sport is ideal because it activates your immediate responses and allows you to pay full attention to winning the game at hand.
Alternatively, exercising, in general, leads to the release of ‘feel-good’ hormones in your body known as endorphins, which may alleviate your stress regarding your health. Exercising, in fact, tends to your health, and this belief may help you believe you are healthier than you give yourself credit for.
Involving yourself in more activities at home, work or school is another great way of overcoming health stress. If you spend more energy elsewhere, and more time interacting with people around you, you will feel relatively at ease. Social settings are beneficial in creating and maintaining relationships with others whereby the reassurance that you have support may do wonders in calming your nerves.
Severe Health Anxiety
In the case of full-blown health anxiety that is greatly hampering your ability to focus and indulge in activities, you used to enjoy. Psychotherapy and medication are two routes that can assist in treating your condition. Individual differences play a great role, whereby some people do not respond to psychotherapy alone, while others do. If you are one of those people who do not respond well to psychotherapy, your doctor can recommend appropriate medication.
Medication for health anxiety includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). And if you have already been administered these to help alleviate. Your existing mood or anxiety disorders, they may help substantially.
It is essential to ask your doctor about the potential risks and side effects of the medications. So that you may be better prepared to deal in case you undergo any of them.
Moreover, if your medication does not suit you, knowing that becomes extremely essential so that either the dosage is adjusted. Or the doctor replaces your medication with one that may suit you better. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a blog that might help you feel understood.
If you find yourself overly preoccupied with stress regarding your health. And feel like it is causing you to discomfort in other areas of your life. Please do not hesitate to book an Online video appointment with a leading doctor at online doctor video consultation.
A physician there can examine you and put you to rest regarding your concerns. Alternatively, upon repeated visits, your physician can recommend you to a leading psychologist or psychiatrist. Depending on the severity of your health anxiety symptoms.
Tags: health stress