12/10/2026
When a small symptom becomes a big worry
Health anxiety can make it difficult to stop worrying about your health, even when there is little evidence that something is seriously wrong.
What can health anxiety look like?
You might find yourself:
• Constantly checking your body for changes
• Googling symptoms or looking for reassurance
• Worrying that a normal sensation could mean something serious
• Asking others if they think you’re okay
• Repeatedly checking or booking medical appointments
The cycle can be difficult to break
You notice a sensation → You start to worry → You check, Google or seek reassurance → You feel better for a little while → The worry comes back → You check again.
The more you check, the more you may notice.
“But what if something really is wrong?”
Health anxiety can make uncertainty feel very difficult to tolerate.
Even after receiving reassurance, your mind may find another possibility to worry about.
CBT can help
CBT can help you understand the thoughts and behaviours that keep health worries going.
Together, we can work on changing unhelpful patterns such as checking, reassurance seeking and repeatedly searching for symptoms.
You don’t have to keep living in the cycle of health worries.
If worries about your health are affecting your everyday life, talking to a qualified therapist could help.
Get in touch to find out more about CBT. 💚