If you have health anxiety…

[olderbutwiser]

…what do you do to calm it? What can clinicians do or say to help you during an emergency or medical appointment?

Health anxiety is awful, I struggle myself so my heart goes out to you.

I got myself into such a state earlier this year checking my pulse all the time and other things.

What are you worried about? For me, there was some validity in the worries and I knew that. But I know when things are really bad we can fully invent health issues in our mind.

Have you ever spoken to anyone about your health anxiety?

I don’t have health anxiety, but I come into contact in medical settings with those who do. I’m keen to know how I can best help, especially as my contact tends to be in moments of medical stress. Often things are nothing like as bad as the patient thinks they are, even though they are not 100% good. What’s the best approach?

I have family members with health anxiety and I just can’t understand it so would love to hear how to see things from their perspective and how best to support.

It seems that absolutely no logic or explanation makes any sense at all, we go round in circles so I would love to know how to prevent this.

Thanks.

Often people with health anxiety latch on to negative comments and dismiss the positive in medical situations. Then they spiral, extrapolating what they think they heard into a story, and they are unable to combat the spiral with the balance of the positive.
Ultimately they need tools to stop the spiral and the negative storytelling, for example an alternative story, but it's up to them to practice combating the negative story. Best thing to do is be factual and reiterate the balance in the message,cand just keep repeating that. Don't go overboard on the positive as they will just be thinking that you are covering up or ignoring the bad news and that makes them focus on it more. Stick to the facts, repeat the facts, and get them to repeat it back to you, check their understanding, check if they have any questions or worries. If you can, write it all down and give it to them so they can re-read it.
Sometimes people with HA will have a specific fear, so it can be helpful to say it's definitely not a brain tumour, or whatever their fear is, if you can.
Ruling out worst case scenarios very firmly can be helpful.
Remember that this isn't logical. Don't exhaust yourself trying to combat it, you can't do it for them. Just listen and respond factually and calmly. Journalling is very useful for people with HA.

Use of language is important. Keep it factual and if you can rule out a worse case scenario do it. It's the simple don't tell someone "not to panic" tell them to "stay calm" .

Health anxiety isn't logical but by keeping your commentary factual and use specific language you can help reduce spiralling.

Keep the message simple - think about the actual words you’re using and repetition helps - if there’s any clear simple advice write it down and give it to them on a piece of paper

Nothing helps my healthy anxiety