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Health anxiety increases with both aging and the news of an actual medical problem. Now a lifetime worry is your reality! Acceptance and coping with the changes to get healthy is a complex process. It can take years, even decades, and some are never able to fully embrace their health situation. The false belief that finding the correct pill will cure all health problems is often the issue.
Who has the time to do the work required to achieve optimal health? Solving a health problem requires scheduling tests and a series of provider appointments. Health anxiety can easily overwhelm with the demands to get well. Free time is priceless! The road to fully accepting a health condition becomes more problematic when the symptoms support a mental problem.
Health anxiety now worsened by this situation allow those suffering to ask, “How can I have a mental illness? Clearly, this health provider is incorrect in their diagnosis!” Denial and anger are common reactions. There are no words to describe the immediate gut-wrenching fear and stress associated with being diagnosed with an emotional illness. How do you correct the widely-held beliefs that mental illnesses are invisible “head problems”? The following four suggestions may reduce your health anxiety to start your healing journey.
Become an Expert
First – become a subject-matter expert. Peace of mind comes with being educated about the illness. Ideally, acquire knowledge from a reputable and trusted medical source. Accurate information allows you to reduce fears of the unknown. Sources of information can be academic institutions, research centers, and often-cited credible health associations. Over time, the reference material acquired from various sources becomes a body of knowledge with similar descriptions for a credible solution. This “sameness” creates a body of standard medical knowledge of the condition.
Acquire Social Proof
Second – you are not alone. There is a growing list of public figures who are sharing their mental illness diagnosis. Research their life stories to establish objective credibility and social proof of your condition. For example, Jennifer Lawrence, the world’s highest-paid actress for two years, struggles with anxiety. She shared her story of childhood onset in Esperanza magazine (summer 2018). So, you are not alone! It is common to assume that you are the only person in the world with a mental illness. Information is key to combat the negative thinking that hinders self-acceptance. Mental illnesses are perceived as rare and afflicting only weak personalities, when in fact the incidence of illness has increased. The recent American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2018 survey concluded that Americans are more anxious than they were a year ago.
Revisit Family Vault
Third – revisit the family vault. Many continually ponder whether they are susceptible to a mental illness, and ask, “How could this happen to me?” Most people overlook their genetic vulnerability. Families often keep secrets of mental illness, suicide, and institutional care. These histories are often interpreted as an embarrassment to the family, source of shame, and are not openly discussed.
The root causes of most mental illnesses are unknown. Their onset is often explained as the result of a random assortment of chromosomal genetics activated by exposure to environmental and life stressors. Genetics can increase vulnerability, but even with positive genetics, there is no guarantee of the disease. If diagnosed, knowledge of your family history with other identified members with a similar condition can provide stress relief. Yes, you are not the only person in the world with this problem. A positive family history can provide a sense of comfort of not being alone.
Health Anxiety Reset
Fourth – mindset reset. When confronted with stress from unexpected situations, negative thinking can intensify. Having a preexisting emotional baseline can cause you to magnify and negatively misinterpret real-time information. When feeling highly stressed, one can easily lock onto thoughts of bad outcomes. The worries of remaining permanently out of control can be reduced by reviewing the your trusted medical information. Having ready access to accurate information allows you to counter the thoughts of mental negativity. If possible, the presence of a trusted person knowledgeable about your health condition can also help you reset and challenge your anxiety.
Conclusions
Health conditions do not discriminate. They present themselves regardless of gender, race and socioeconomic status. Hopefully, these insights can help jump-start and reduce your health anxiety to begin the healing journey. Many people struggle for years and years before they can accept their condition. Fully embracing it improves your odds of optimal health wellness.