Effective Counselling and CBT Therapy for
Health Anxiety in Hampshire

Counselling, CBT and EMDR for Health Anxiety in Fareham

What is health anxiety?

It’s natural to care about your health, and sometimes, worry can motivate positive changes, like quitting smoking or adopting a healthier diet. However, health anxiety, also known as hypochondria, involves excessive worry about health that affects daily life. Health anxiety can be divided into two main types:

- Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD): People with SSD may misinterpret normal bodily sensations, such as tiredness or mild pain, as signs of illness. Their symptoms are real, but their reaction is often extreme.

- Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD): Formerly known as hypochondriasis, IAD involves intense fear of a specific illness, even without physical symptoms. Normal bodily processes, like sweating or bloating, may trigger fears of a serious illness.

Health anxiety also includes ‘cyberchondria’ - a term describing the compulsion to search online for medical information, often resulting in heightened anxiety.

Unfortunately, negative labels like "hypochondriac" can discourage people from seeking help, even though health anxiety can be deeply distressing and impact quality of life. Constant intrusive thoughts about being seriously unwell can consume one’s thoughts and emotions, leading to significant mental strain.

Happy man. Counselling, CBT and EMDR for Health Anxiety in Fareham

Counselling, CBT and EMDR for Health Anxiety

Can Counselling Help with Health Anxiety?

Yes, many people find that working with a professional counsellor or psychotherapist can be highly beneficial for managing health anxiety. Together, you can explore your feelings, understand the reasons behind your anxiety, and assess its impact on your life.

A therapist can introduce effective coping mechanisms, offer an external perspective to help you identify and manage unhelpful thought patterns, and support you in achieving a more balanced and rational mindset.

Which Therapy is Most Effective for Health Anxiety?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is widely regarded as an effective treatment for health anxiety, though there’s no single "best" approach. The most important factor is finding a therapist with whom you feel comfortable, as this partnership can help you to work through your symptoms, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and discover positive ways to handle anxiety.

Image shows a smiling therapist. Counselling, CBT and EMDR for Health Anxiety in Fareham.

“Hampshire Hypnotherapy are fantastic; I am only four sessions in but I can feel my anxiety lowering already”.

— Andy, Southampton

Find Trusted Counselling, CBT & EMDR Therapy for Health Anxiety in Fareham Hampshire

How Does CBT Work for Health Anxiety?

 CBT focuses on identifying and reframing anxious thoughts and behaviours. It helps you observe your thoughts about health concerns and assess how these thoughts contribute to your anxiety. Through CBT, you’ll learn strategies to approach situations differently, developing tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort.

For example, a therapist might guide you to explore why the fear of illness triggers anxiety and identify patterns in your behaviour. This can help you understand that it’s often the meaning you assign to a symptom - rather than the symptom itself - that intensifies your anxiety. In breaking this cycle, CBT enables you to take control of your thoughts, find calm, and improve your quality of life.

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“I have been seeing Patsy for the past couple of months, I feel so much happier within myself and couldn’t recommend coming here enough”.

— Anna , Winchester

ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COUNSELLING THERAPY FOR HEALTH ANXIETY IN HAMPSHIRE

Health anxiety, also known as hypochondria, can have a profound impact on daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. This condition is characterised by excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness, even in the absence of significant medical evidence. Health anxiety often leads to constant checking of symptoms, frequent doctor visits, and an overwhelming preoccupation with health-related concerns, which can disrupt sleep, work, and personal relationships.

Health anxiety is one of the common reasons people seek therapy. Talking therapies such as Counselling and Psychotherapy are effective in addressing these concerns. They help individuals identify and challenge irrational thoughts, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and regain a sense of control over their lives. At the Fareham Counselling Centre, many clients struggling with health anxiety find that even a few sessions can significantly reduce their distress. They gain practical skills to manage and minimise intrusive thoughts, enabling them to live a calmer, more balanced life.

Hypnotherapy can also be a highly effective treatment for health anxiety. By working with the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy helps address the underlying fears and thought patterns that fuel health-related worries. It can promote relaxation, reduce compulsive behaviors like symptom checking, and build a stronger sense of trust in the body’s natural resilience. Hypnotherapy often complements traditional therapies, providing a holistic approach to overcoming health anxiety.

If you're ready to break free from health anxiety, click here to learn more about how hypnotherapy can help.

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Counselling at the Fareham Counselling Centre, can assist you in managing your emotions at this difficult time, and can help you get your life back on track, no matter how much pain you are feeling at this time and whatever difficulties you are facing.

Call us now on 07946 641270, or complete our online form to book an appointment with one of our Counsellors in our Fareham Practice TODAY!