Given the circumstances of 2020, probably every single adult, (and, unfortunately, quite a large number of children), have experienced health anxiety in the past 6 months.\u00a0 It is understandable, especially as the media have focussed on every single aspect of SARS-Covid 19 from its causes, transmission, symptoms to its mortality rate. If you are struggling with anxieties specific to the coronavirus epidemic and the risk of contagion, read the Tim Harford article below which is a balanced discussion of the current risk; you should find it reassuring.<\/p>\n
General health anxiety is a recognised psychological problem, and this heightened focus on disease may trigger its development in some people.\u00a0 Health anxiety often develops in early to mid-adulthood; once developed, it can worsen with age.\u00a0 How can you tell if you, or someone you know, have developed health anxiety?\u00a0 Dr Timothy Scarella of Harvard Medical School suggests that these are indications:<\/p>\n
Psychologist Irena Milosevic writes that between 3-10% of a given population can suffer from health anxiety.\u00a0 It is generally accepted that someone who is struggling with health anxiety can often be helped by counselling, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.<\/p>\n
Often, GPs pick up if their patients may be suffering from health anxiety by how often they attend the surgery and the symptoms they discuss.\u00a0 If, after reading this blog or the articles below, you believe you may be struggling with health anxiety, your first port of call could be your GP, to discuss how you are feeling.\u00a0 They could refer you for counselling help.\u00a0 Alternatively, you could contact the University\u2019s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to talk with the counsellors available, either by telephone or face to face.\u00a0 All the information you need to know about the EAP can be found on the OH website<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018A bluffer\u2019s guide to surviving Covid-19\u2019<\/a> by Tim Harford on the Financial Times website<\/p>\n \u2018Why we worry too much about our health\u2019<\/a> by Rob Sharp on The Independent website<\/p>\n \u2018Always worried about your health? You may be dealing with health anxiety disorder\u2019<\/a> on Harvard Medical School website<\/p>\n \u2018Health Anxiety\u2019<\/a> on NHS website<\/p>\n \u2018Health Anxiety\u2019<\/a> by Erica Cirino on healthline.com<\/p>\n \u2018Hyper-Worried About Your Health? 3 Tips to Help\u2019<\/a> by Margarita Tartavosky on psychcentral.com<\/p>\n \u2018Two Tips for Health Anxiety\u2019<\/a> by Dr Tracey Marks on YouTube<\/p>\n