Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder or hypochondriasis, is a condition in which a person experiences excessive worry and fear about their health. It can manifest as a preoccupation with symptoms or a fear of developing a serious illness, even in the absence of any medical evidence to support such concerns.
Taking action on health anxiety is important because it can significantly affect a person’s quality of life, causing distress, disruption of daily activities, and unnecessary healthcare utilization. Furthermore, if left untreated, health anxiety may lead to the development of other mental health conditions such as depression and may even worsen physical health outcomes due to excessive worry and stress.
Ready to heal your health anxiety symptoms starting today? Click here:
Welcome to “The Anxiety Guy” YouTube.
Dennis is the author of The Essential Guide to Health Anxiety, Me vs Myself, F*** Coping Start Healing, Beyond Anxiety, Me vs Myself.
Here we focus on real health and wellness fundamentals targeted towards people with growing anxiety levels. Because that’s what we’re really building here – a natural, interactive solution for people who are confused and frustrated on what to do about their phobias, fears, panic attacks, and heightening anxiety levels.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Connect on Instagram
Get daily anxiety inspiration on Twitter
Remember, you are more than anxiety 🙂
Subscribe and please share with a fellow anxiety warrior in need.
#healthanxiety #hypochondriac #anxietyshorts
Depression – What You Need to Know
Depression is a common mental health condition that can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender or socioeconomic status. It is a serious illness that can lead to disability, social isolation and even suicide. Thankfully, it is treatable with proper treatment and support.
Definition of depression
Depression is defined as a clinically significant change in mood that interferes with your life, or your ability to function at work, school or in your relationships. This mood change is typically accompanied by symptoms including feeling hopeless, sad or irritable. It may also be accompanied by loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, such as cooking or playing a sport.
Symptoms of depression
Some of the most common symptoms of depression include: sadness, fatigue, weight gain or loss, trouble sleeping, and problems with appetite. These symptoms can be intense and last for weeks or months.
The first step in diagnosing depression is talking to your doctor or a mental health specialist, who can help you determine whether you are depressed and what kind of treatment will work best for you. They will examine your medical history, look for signs of other conditions and perform a physical exam to rule out any other causes of your symptoms.
If you do have depression, your doctor will prescribe medication. These medications are designed to boost the levels of specific chemicals (neurotransmitters) that your brain needs to feel well. They can take a while to work, but once they start to make you feel better, they can stay effective for some time.
Medication can be taken on its own, or in combination with psychotherapy or supportive care. Some types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), involve reprogramming your thinking to reduce negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your depression. Others, such as family and couples therapy, involve working with your spouse or partner to address issues that might be causing your depression.
Other treatments for depression are acupuncture, hypnotherapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). These treatments stimulate specific parts of your brain to relieve symptoms of depression. They can be useful for people who don’t respond to antidepressants or those who don’t want to use them.
The goal of these therapies is to improve your sense of well-being, restore normal functioning and prevent symptoms from coming back. They can be useful for those with moderate to severe depression and who have not responded to other treatments.
Getting treated early is the key to feeling better. This can mean starting treatment as soon as you recognize the symptoms of depression, or making sure you get regular treatment to maintain your improvement.
A mental health professional will ask you about your symptoms, what causes them and how they’re impacting your life. They will then complete a series of tests to determine what type of depression you have.
Your therapist will then recommend a plan of care, which might include a combination of psychotherapy and medication. They will also work with you to develop coping skills and strategies for dealing with difficult situations in your life, such as finding a job or resolving family conflicts.
