Hypnotherapy for Health Anxiety
Do you spend countless hours online, researching potential illnesses and questioning your health? When even a minor headache strikes, do you jump to the worst conclusion, fearing something serious rather than a simple explanation like dehydration?
Do medical tests confirming your health fail to ease your worries? If so, you might be experiencing health anxiety—a condition that can quickly become overwhelming and difficult to manage on your own.
People with hypochondria often experience a preoccupation with normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms, misinterpreting them as severe medical issues. Being worried about your health is not the same as health anxiety!
This can lead to a cycle of worry, frequent doctor visits, and endless internet research, making it hard to tell real health issues from anxiety-driven fears. But there is hope. Hypnotherapy for health anxiety could help you resolve the issue through acceptance, compassion and affirmative action. You don’t have to simply live with health anxiety – you can learn to overcome it.
I provide health anxiety help through hypnotherapy, helping you break free from negative thought patterns and rediscover a sense of calm and control in your daily life.
Darren - Clinical Hypnotherapist
Qualifications & Experiences
- AIM Award Hypnotherapy & Counselling Skills
- Hypno – Gastric Band Registered Practitioner
- CPD Hypnotherapy Regression Masterclass
- Smoking Cessation Practitioner HSOH
- Anxiety CPD
- Depression CPD
- Hypno Anti-Depressant
darren@stophypnosis.co.uk
Book Your Health Anxiety Relief Packages
What is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety, or hypochondria, is a form of anxiety characterised by excessive concern over one’s health, often without substantial medical evidence to support these fears. A Harvard Health study reveals that health anxiety affects approximately 5-10% of people at some point.
This condition typically involves intense worry about normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms, frequently escalating into fears of serious illness. Even with medical reassurance, these fears persist, significantly impacting daily life and overall well-being.
Signs of Health Anxiety
Here are some signs to look out for:
- Constantly seeking health information.
- No actual symptoms but fear you may be sick.
- Read about an illness and then fear you have it.
- Fear still being ill after Doctor reassures you (after tests) you are fine.
Health Anxiety is Real Anxiety
Dealing with health anxiety is not “all in your head”; it’s a very real and often debilitating type of anxiety disorder. If you have this condition, you may feel misunderstood or dismissed by others or even ashamed of your symptoms.
But health anxiety deserves understanding and compassion, just as any mental health challenge does. Hypnotherapy can empower you with the tools and strategies to break this cycle of worry and find peace of mind and body.
Testimonials: Finding Relief from Anxiety
Causes of Health Anxiety
Health anxiety often develops from various factors and is usually tied to deeply rooted personal experiences. Here are some common contributors:
- Personal or Family Illness: A history of illness in yourself or a family member can make you more sensitive to health concerns.
- Trauma or Loss: The sudden illness or death of a loved one can heighten health anxiety.
- Genetics and Environment: A family history of anxiety or a health-focused upbringing can increase susceptibility.
- Psychological Traits: Perfectionism, fear of uncertainty, and catastrophising tendencies often contribute to health anxiety.
Understanding the roots of your health anxiety can be a powerful step in reducing its hold on your life.
How Stress Affects the Body
Health anxiety is frequently linked with chronic stress, which can manifest in physical symptoms. Persistent stress impacts the body in many ways:
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Frequent headaches and muscle tension
- Difficulty sleeping and digestive issues
- Elevated cortisol levels increasing abdominal fat storage
Often, these stress-related symptoms are mistaken for signs of illness, which can further intensify health anxiety.
Hypnotherapy works by addressing the stress response, equipping you with relaxation techniques to manage stress and ease these physical symptoms.
Hypnotherapy for Health Anxiety
Hypnotherapy is a powerful, evidence-based approach that addresses health anxiety at its core by engaging with the subconscious mind, where thought patterns and habits are deeply ingrained. According to a study by Valentine et al. (2019), hypnosis can reduce anxiety in 84% of cases, especially when combined with cognitive-behavioural strategies. [Source]
Benefits of Hypochondria Hypnosis
- Retrain Your Mind: Hypnotherapy helps reframe anxious thoughts about health, reducing the impact of health anxiety symptoms and allowing you to view bodily sensations without alarm.
- Reduce Compulsive Checking: Techniques help diminish the urge for self-scanning or unnecessary doctor visits.
- Build Coping Tools: Hypnotherapy provides tools to manage anxiety in daily life through relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and positive visualisation.
£85.00
- Includes a consultation and three personalised sessions.
- Each 90-min session incl. 60 mins of hypnosis to address panic.
- Tailored strategies target the root causes of health anxiety and distorted beliefs for a holistic healing.
- Stay connected with weekly progress updates and access recorded sessions for continuous reinforcement.
🔊 I also supply digital recordings of the session to listen to later, helping you to strengthen the insights you’ve gained.
How Hypnotherapy Techniques Work
During my hypnotherapy sessions, I use a blend of techniques specifically tailored to your needs:
- Guided Visualisation: I help you create calming mental images to counteract anxiety.
- Reframing Thoughts: Hypnotherapy reshapes how you interpret bodily sensations, helping you distinguish between actual symptoms and anxious thoughts.
- Deep Relaxation and Mindfulness: I guide you to deeply relax, helping to alleviate the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.
Each session is customised to your unique experiences and challenges, focusing on dismantling the patterns that drive health anxiety.
Online Health Hypnotherapy Sessions
Offering online hypnotherapy sessions at Stop Hypnosis allows you to access support from the comfort of your own home. For many clients, the familiarity and privacy of their own space can enhance relaxation and make it easier to open up.
Online sessions are especially beneficial for those who feel anxious in new environments or public spaces.
Benefits of Online Health Anxiety Counselling
- Book sessions at times that suit you, without needing travel.
- Participate in therapy from a familiar setting, which can enhance your ability to relax.
- Online sessions ensure discretion, allowing you to discuss your concerns openly and confidentially.
My online hypnotherapy sessions provide the same effective support as in-person sessions, allowing me to work with clients worldwide to overcome health anxiety.
Contact Me For Help!
Frequently Asked Questions about Health Anxiety & Treatments
Q1. I’ve been to multiple doctors, but my health anxiety doesn’t go away. How is hypnotherapy different from seeing a doctor?
While medical tests and visits can reassure you physically, health anxiety often persists because it’s rooted in your mind, not in any actual health issue. This is likely why doctors can’t find any health issues. Hypnotherapy however, targets the psychological triggers behind your anxiety—like fear of illness and catastrophic thinking—allowing you to break free from the patterns that keep you trapped in a cycle of worry.
Q2. How do I know if I have health anxiety or if I’m just being cautious about my health?
Health anxiety goes beyond typical health concerns. If you constantly research illnesses, check your body for signs of disease, or fear the worst despite medical reassurance, it may be health anxiety. Unlike occasional worry, it’s persistent and can impact your quality of life.
Even without real health issues, distinguishing between actual concerns and the fear or misinterpretation of normal bodily sensations can be difficult, leading to ongoing worry and distress. Feel free to get in touch if you need someone to talk to!
Q3. I’m nervous about trying hypnotherapy. How will I know if it will work for me?
It’s completely normal to feel apprehensive about trying something new like hypnotherapy. I tailor every session to your unique experience and needs, and we will go at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Many clients report feeling deeply relaxed and more in control of their thoughts and anxieties after just a few sessions. If you’re unsure, we can start with a consultation to see if hypnotherapy feels like the right fit for you.