What is Health Anxiety and Evidence-Based Ways To Manage It

This content has been updated from the previous article published on January 9, 2026.

Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder or formerly called hypochondria, involves persistent worries about having or developing a serious illness, even when medical reassurance is provided or no significant symptoms exist. People with health anxiety, sometimes referred to as hypochondriacs, often misinterpret normal bodily sensations or mild symptoms as signs of serious diseases such as cancer or chronic conditions.

Health anxiety can intensify when a new infectious disease enters the news cycle, and the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship has had this effect for many people. The COVID-19 pandemic left a lasting psychological imprint, and a 2022 systematic review of more than 2 million people found that roughly 35% of the general population experienced anxiety during the pandemic. A more recent systematic review on pandemic-era health anxiety suggests that elevated patterns of worry have persisted for some individuals.

For people who developed pandemic-related health anxiety that never fully resolved, headlines about a rare but serious virus may reactivate familiar patterns of hypervigilance, symptom-checking, and worst-case thinking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the current hantavirus cluster poses an extremely low risk to the general public. However, for individuals prone to health anxiety, emotional responses can still feel disproportionate to the actual level of risk.

Understanding why the brain reacts this way, and learning practical tools to help manage it, is an important step toward regaining a sense of calm.

What Are the Symptoms of Health Anxiety?

People with health anxiety may experience a variety of distressing symptoms and behaviors, including:

  • Frequent checking of the body for signs of illness (such as lumps, rashes, or pain)
  • Repeated requests for medical tests or second opinions, even after receiving normal results
  • Excessive time spent researching health information online
  • Compulsive consumption of news about viruses, outbreaks, or disease threats (such as repeatedly checking updates on COVID-19, hantavirus , or other infectious disease coverage)
  • Avoidance of medical settings out of anxiety
  • Persistent fear or preoccupation about having an undiagnosed serious illness
  • Difficulty trusting healthcare provider reassurance
  • Strong emotional responses (such as fear, panic, or irritability) related to health concerns

These symptoms can cause significant distress and interfere with work, relationships, and daily functioning. Health anxiety is not simply “worrying too much”; it is a recognized mental health condition that may require professional support.

LifeStance Health is a national leader in mental, behavioral, and emotional wellness with multiple locations in 33 states. Services vary by location.

Find a provider near you:

How Can You Stop Health Anxiety?

  • Avoid Excessive Internet Searching: Looking up symptoms online can often increase anxiety, as results tend to emphasize worst-case scenarios. Instead, write down your concerns and bring them to your provider, rather than search online for answers.

  • Find a Supportive Healthcare Provider: Not every provider will approach health concerns in the same way. Seek a clinician who listens carefully and provides clear information about your health. Let your provider know about your anxiety so they can explain things thoroughly and help you feel at ease.

  • Reassess Your Risk Rationally: If you notice a symptom, pause to consider the most likely explanation rather than assuming the worst. For example, swollen lymph nodes are much more often due to mild infections than to cancer. Taking a few deep breaths and assessing the situation calmly may help you manage anxious thoughts until you get professional advice.

  • Consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is an evidence-based therapy with studies showing how it helps many individuals manage health anxiety (Kikas et al., 2024) . CBT often helps identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, develop practical coping tools, and ultimately reduce distress.

According to recent LifeStance data , 79% of patients* showed improvement in anxiety symptoms during treatment.

Remember, you do not need to manage health anxiety alone. Reaching out to trusted providers can help you develop effective coping strategies and regain confidence in your well-being.

*amongst 140,000 LifeStance patients with at least moderate anxiety

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, May 8). 2026 multi-country hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship. Health Alert Network (HAN). https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00528.html

  2. Delpino, F. M., da Silva, C. N., Jerônimo, J. S., Mulling, E. S., da Cunha, L. L., Weymar, M. K., Alt, R., Caputo, E. L., & Feter, N. (2022). Prevalence of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 2 million people. Journal of affective disorders, 318, 272–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.003

  3. Kikas K, Werner-Seidler A, Upton E, Newby J. (2024). Illness Anxiety Disorder: A Review of the Current Research and Future Directions . Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2024 Jul;26(7):331-339. doi: 10.1007/s11920-024-01507-2. Epub 2024 May 15. PMID: 38748190; PMCID

  4. LifeStance Health. (2026, March 27). Measuring Outcomes of Depression and Anxiety Treatment: LifeStance Insights. https://lifestance.com/insight/depression-anxiety-treatment-outcomes/

  5. National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Anxiety Disorders .

  6. Plackett, R., & Ferris, E. (2024). The prevalence and determinants of health anxiety during the covid-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS mental health, 1(7), e0000120. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000120

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Authored By 

Aimee McWilliams, PsyD

Dr. Aimee McWilliams has been working with children, adolescents, and adults for over 10 years, providing outpatient therapy and psychological testing. She specifically enjoys working with adolescents and adult with chronic and acute medical conditions, assisting them in adjusting to...

Reviewed By

Lesley Roy, MSW, LICSW
Lesley, a licensed independent clinical social worker. Lesley’s practice is grounded in a culturally responsive, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach. She specializes in helping people to gain insight and develop self-compassion that helps them to tap into their strengths and tackle challenges such as navigating change, identity development, and improving relationships across the spectrum (friend, family, intimate partner, professional). Lesley considers it a privilege to be a part of ones journey toward wellness and content. Lesley uses evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness/Meditation, Internal Family Systems, and DBT skills. She customizes her therapeutic approach in response to client needs as they address anxiety, depression, self-esteem/assertiveness concerns, mood disorders, and other challenges that serve as barriers to reaching their goals. When Lesley is not working with her clients she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, listening to informative podcasts, and caring for her pets.

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