COVID-19 stress is real – here's how to deal with health anxiety

Hong Kong is going through its third wave of COVID-19 cases, and if you’re feeling more worried than usual about your health, you’re not alone. According to Hong Kong-based Reiki master teacher, numerology teacher and intuitive energy healer, Corie Chu, being concerned about your health is natural – what’s not so healthy is obsessing over every health concern. 

Below, Corie shares the truth about health anxiety (aka. hypochondria) and what you can do about it:

What is health anxiety?

Health anxiety – commonly referred to as hypochondria – is a healthy person’s misinterpretation of bodily sensations as dangerous and life-threatening. People with health anxiety can get overly obsessed and irrational when dealing with health unknowns, and go through excessive worry and concern that they’re ill (and possibly dying). Signs and symptoms of health anxiety may include: 

• Panic attacks
• Intense thoughts of death
• Feeling physically that one is ill
• Inability to focus 
• Disrupted routines
• Extreme checking of the body for lumps, bumps, fever, or painful areas
• Wanting to see the doctor often
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme sadness
• Frequently scouring the internet for answers

Due to the ongoing pandemic, health anxiety is becoming more common than ever. It can be triggered by stress – whether it’s from seeing a loved one suffer or die from a certain chronic disease or imagining that you could go through the same thing. And now with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no wonder that health anxiety levels are through the roof.

How to positively deal with health anxiety

One of the most common treatments for health anxiety is a treatment called psychotherapy – also known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which rewires your brain to positively deal with health worries.

Another way to support health anxiety, and often in addition to CBT is through Intuitive Energy Healing and Reiki. As a result, people suffering from health anxiety no longer feel the need to spiral into anxious states as much, and in some cases, they don’t spiral at all – even when keeping up with the latest COVID-19 updates from around the world.  

If you’re someone suffering from health anxiety, here are a few first steps to take:  

• Find someone you can talk to, or a support group
• Stop looking for illnesses in you
• Openly address your health concerns
• Believe the doctors’ words
• Be mindful and deal only with what you can control – the now 

Health anxiety is not easy to deal with, and it can cripple even the strongest of people. But, knowing how to deal with health anxiety positively and having an amazing support group can help a lot in your journey. 

Read the full article about dealing with health anxiety at coriechu.com

See also: Social etiquette for everyday situations during Covid