Health Anxiety
Health anxiety is an intense worry about your health which is usually distressing and interferes with your day-to-day life. You may convince yourself that you have a serious illness even if your GP can not find anything wrong.
Various physical symptoms are associated with health anxiety, for example chest pain, general aches and pains, palpitations (your heart 'skips a beat' or 'flutters'), tingling sensations, sweating, rapid heartbeat and tightness in the throat.
(Adapted from "An Introduction to Coping with Health Anxiety" by Brenda Hogan and Charles Young).
How can we help you
- Gateway Team - the access to mental health services
- Poole Book Prescription Scheme
The following books available from local libraries and bookshops:
- An Introduction to Coping with Health Anxiety by Brenda Hogan and Charles Young.
- Stop worrying about your health by George D Zgourides
Below are detailed web links to further information on health anxiety:
- www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/docs/selfhelp/Health%20Anxiety.pdf
- www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2003/04/17/1835641.htm
Directgov