Health anxiety — constant fear of serious illness
बीमारी का डर (हेल्थ एंग्ज़ायटी)
In health anxiety, normal body sensations are interpreted as signs of a serious disease. Reassurance helps only for a short time before the worry returns.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kuldeep Budania, MBBS, MD Psychiatry
Common symptoms
- Constant fear of having a serious illness
- Frequent checking of body, pulse or BP
- Repeated doctor visits and tests
- Searching symptoms online for hours
- Short relief after normal reports, then doubt again
Causes
- Illness or death of someone close
- Anxious temperament, OCD-like doubting
- Misleading online health information
Risk factors
- Serious illness in yourself or a close family member in the past
- Frequent searching of symptoms online
- General anxiety or depression
How it is diagnosed
- Persistent fear of having a serious disease despite normal tests and medical reassurance
- Repeated checking of the body, tests or doctor visits — or avoiding doctors completely
- Coordinating with your physician so that genuine physical problems are not missed
Classification: ICD-10 F45.2 · ICD-11 6B23Hypochondriasis / health anxiety disorder.
Treatment options
- 1One coordinated review of reports — stopping the cycle of tests
- 2CBT for health worry, reducing checking and reassurance-seeking
- 3Antidepressant medicines when anxiety is severe
- 4Treating associated depression or OCD
Psychotherapy and counselling
- CBT for health anxiety: reducing checking, reassurance-seeking and online searching
- Understanding normal body sensations and how attention amplifies them
Guidance for family
- Gently limit repeated reassurance; agree on a plan with the doctor instead
- Avoid joining in internet searches for symptoms
When to see a psychiatrist
- Health worry takes hours of your day
- Many normal tests have not reassured you
- Family life or work is affected
Thoughts of self-harm or a medical emergency? Call Tele-MANAS 14416 (24×7, free) or 112.
Free self-assessment
A short screening in Hindi or English. Private — nothing is saved. Screening does not establish a diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
What if something is really wrong?
Your reports are reviewed carefully, and new symptoms are always checked properly. The aim is appropriate testing, not ignoring you.
Should I stop searching symptoms online?
Reducing searching is an important part of treatment, done gradually.
Is health anxiety the same as somatic symptom disorder?
They overlap. Health anxiety centres on fear of illness; somatic symptom disorder centres on distressing body symptoms.
Help is available — confidential, in Hindi or English.
Private video consultation from anywhere in India with an Ajmer-based psychiatrist. Psychiatry consultation ₹500.
This page is for education and does not replace a personal consultation. Do not start or stop any medicine without a doctor's advice.