Health Anxiety Therapy for Adults in New York
Does this sound like you?
Health anxiety, sometimes called illness anxiety disorder, often shows up in quiet but exhausting ways.
You might constantly monitor your body long after a sensation appears, second-guess what you feel, or worry that a minor symptom means you have, or will develop, a serious illness. Small changes can feel high-stakes, leaving you unusually hyperaware or fearful that something is wrong or about to go wrong.
You may repeatedly check your body, search online for answers, or avoid situations to prevent feeling unsafe. Even when medical tests or reports come back normal, it can be hard to trust them, relax, or feel fully reassured about your health anxiety.
You’re not broken — your nervous system is responding to perceived threat.
Health anxiety isn’t a flaw in your thinking or a sign that something is “wrong” with you. It’s a learned threat response shaped by past experiences, uncertainty, and your brain’s attempt to protect you from illness or harm through excessive worry or checking.
Therapy for health anxiety focuses on helping your mind and body relearn safety around normal sensations and uncertainty — not forcing reassurance or telling you to “just stop worrying.”
What health anxiety actually is
At its core, health anxiety, clinically known as illness anxiety disorder, is a fear of having or developing a serious illness. These anxiety symptoms often show up as persistent worries about bodily sensations, diagnoses, uncertainty, or missing something important. You may become overly focused on how your body feels, constantly monitoring sensations and scanning for signs of danger.
It’s common to replay symptoms long after they appear, second-guess what you noticed, or doubt whether you’re actually safe. You might feel unusually hyperaware and wonder if something is wrong, serious, or quietly getting worse.
How Therapy Helps
Feel calmer and grounded when noticing normal body sensations
Spend less time Googling symptoms or replaying health worries
Respond to discomfort without immediately assuming something is wrong
Approach medical visits or uncertainty with greater confidence
Reduce catastrophic thinking and build a more balanced inner voice
Trust their body and medical reassurance instead of constant checking
Experience daily life as manageable rather than driven by fear of illness
