The devastating impact of Coronavirus, both on an individual and on a global level has been troubling for everyone and for some has provoked health anxiety on a huge scale. For those already prone to health anxiety, Coronavirus can feel like yet another thing to worry about. Feeling that we shouldn’t ‘bother’ the doctor about health niggles and not knowing when our next smear test or blood pressure check will be, can cause alarm that we might be developing serious illnesses, which would otherwise have been picked up early.
Recent research in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders has established a link between Coronavirus and ‘cyberchondria’ (the phenomenon in which internet research convinces us that we have all manner of serious illnesses). More time spent online and less ready access to face-to-face medical treatment can cause our health anxiety to grow. While we should absolutely contact a medical professional if we have symptoms of a potentially serious illness or other genuine health concerns, it’s also important to manage health anxiety and prevent it having a detrimental effect on our lives.
Breathe
In order to prevent health anxiety from taking over your life at this time, think about carving out space in your day to practice meditation. Mindfulness-based therapies can allow you to focus on your body and acknowledge physical sensations such as noticing thoughts and feelings, rather than imagining worst-case scenarios can really help to manage health anxiety.
Write it down
Keeping a journal can also help you to get a handle on health anxiety. Writing thoughts and feelings down can help you to stop mulling over your anxieties, and is often particularly beneficial if your worries are affecting your sleep. Looking back over your journal, you may notice changes in the things that worry you. This, in turn, can help you get perspective on your anxieties. A study led by psychologist James W. Pennebaker at the University of Texas, Austin showed that participants who kept a journal were far less likely to seek medical attention than average, and were also less likely to take painkillers, suggesting an overall improvement in the feeling of physical as well as mental wellbeing.
Whether your health anxiety is Coronavirus-related or focused around other things, there are plenty of things you can do to help manage anxiety during this troubling time. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself, allowing yourself the time to focus on your mental and physical wellbeing. Working on yourself, with the support of a trusted professional can help you develop the resources to manage your anxiety and maintain a positive focus on your health.
