A skipped beat. A headache that won't quit. Before you know it, you're Googling again. The relief lasts a day, maybe a week. Then it all starts over.
Thoughts come and go. You don't have to answer every one.
Tap the ones that sound like you
If that sounds like you, you're not dramatic, and you're definitely not alone.
Health anxiety (also called hypochondria) isn't about imagining things. Anxiety creates very real sensations, and then it runs on a loop. Click through it.
A skipped beat, a headache, a tingle. Bodies make sensations all day long, and most of them come and go without you noticing.
Fighting health anxiety is like a tug-of-war with a monster: the harder you pull, the harder it pulls back. So we practice dropping the rope.
The what-ifs are still there. But your hands are free again.
Mostly ACT, plus CBT where it helps. Online or walking in Amsterdam. How working together works
I specialized in Health and Medical Psychology during my Master's at Leiden University. But my understanding of health anxiety doesn't only come from books. For years I had what I call “traveling” health anxiety: every day a new symptom, with my heart and blood clots in the starring roles. I know the late-night Googling, the checking, and the relief that never lasts.
I still get scared for a second sometimes. But I don't fall into the loop anymore, and I'd love to help you get there too. Read more about how ACTualize started.
Yes. Hypochondria (or hypochondriasis) is the older term, and today you'll also see “illness anxiety.” I use “health anxiety” because it describes the experience without the judgment.
No. New or changing symptoms belong with your GP. What we work on is the extra checking and reassurance-seeking that keeps the cycle going. And if you've been avoiding the doctor for years, booking that appointment might even become one of your goals.
Health anxiety can show up alongside real health issues, and that's often extra confusing. Your medical care stays where it is. We focus on how much space the worry takes up in your life, and on living well alongside it.
The easiest first step is a free intro call, with no commitment. We'll see together if we're a good fit.
Book a free intro call ›Not for crisis situations. In a crisis, contact your GP or the huisartsenpost. Thinking about suicide? Call 113 (free, 24/7). In an emergency, call 112.
