Have you ever noticed that when you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, you start to worry more about your health? You’re not alone. Health anxiety is incredibly common during times of stress and anxiety, and understanding why it happens can be the first step toward feeling calmer and more in control.
At Peacock Hypnotherapy, we support clients every day who experience health anxiety, helping them retrain their minds to feel safer and more at ease. In this post, we’ll explore why health anxiety often shows up alongside general anxiety—and how solution-focused hypnotherapy can help you break the cycle.
What Is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety, sometimes called hypochondria, is when you worry excessively about your health, even if medical tests show you’re physically well. You might find yourself constantly scanning your body for symptoms, Googling illnesses, or seeking reassurance from doctors, friends, or family.
Why Does Health Anxiety Get Worse When We’re Anxious?
1. Anxiety heightens body awareness
When you’re anxious, your brain goes into threat mode and becomes more sensitive to what’s happening in your body. You might notice sensations—like a flutter in your chest or a twinge in your head—that you’d normally ignore. But in an anxious state, they can feel frightening.
2. Anxiety mimics illness
Physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and even chest pain are all common responses to anxiety. These are normal signs of the fight-or-flight response, but when you’re not expecting them, it’s easy to misinterpret them as signs of a serious medical issue.
3. Health worry gives us a false sense of control
When life feels uncertain, health can become a focal point for anxious thoughts. Our minds try to regain a sense of control by focusing on something tangible, like a bodily symptom—even if that focus leads to more worry.
4. Anxious thoughts go to worst-case scenarios
A headache? “It might be a brain tumour.” A cough? “What if it’s something serious?” Anxiety makes it hard to stay grounded, and negative thought loops can spiral quickly, making health anxiety feel overwhelming.
How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help
At Peacock Hypnotherapy, we use a gentle, science-backed approach to help calm the nervous system, reduce anxious thoughts, and restore a sense of safety and balance.
Through guided relaxation and positive suggestion, solution-focused hypnotherapy helps:
•Rewire unhelpful thinking patterns
•Reduce the “fight-or-flight” response in the brain
•Promote calm, clarity, and emotional resilience
•Build confidence in your body and health
This approach doesn’t focus on what’s “wrong,” but instead supports you in moving toward how you want to feel. Many clients find that not only does their health anxiety reduce, but their overall sense of wellbeing improves as well.
You Don’t Have to Struggle Alone
If you’re experiencing health anxiety, it’s important to know that there’s support available. Hypnotherapy can help you feel more in control of your thoughts and more at peace in your body. At Peacock Hypnotherapy, we offer a safe, supportive space to explore these feelings and gently guide you back to balance.
Ready to feel more calm, confident, and in control?
Contact us today to book your first session or learn more about how hypnotherapy can support you.