HEALTH

ANXIETY
UNMASKED:
BREAKING THE CHAINS
OF HYPOCHONDRIA
WHAT IS
HYPOCHONDRIA?
• an excessive and undue preoccupation with the
fear of having a serious illness, causing
heightened worry and distress in affected
individuals
• somatoform disorder
• ˝illness anxiety disorder˝ and ˝somatic
symptom disorder˝
 • affects approximately 0.1% of the general population

A N XIE T Y
D IS O R DE
IL L N E S S

• affects men and women equally

R
• anxiety about being sick or becoming sick persists even without
symptoms

• affects approximately 0.1-0,7% of

D IS O R DE
S OMAT IC
S YMP TO

the general population

• affects more women than men
M

• real symptoms that can cause a person to

focus on worst-case scenarios

• often chronic, but can also be episodic

COMMO

• appears to worsen with age

IN

• more common among those without employment

and with minimal levels of education
 WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
GENETIC F A C T O R S C O G N I T I V E FA C T O R S
genetic susceptibility to heightened health-
dysfunctional thought patterns
related worries
PERSONAL TRAITS
E N V I R O N M E N TA L neuroticism or a tendency to focus on the
negative heighten sensitivity
FA C T O R S
cultural influences and exposure to media
portrayal of health issues AT T E N T I O N A N D
REASSURANCE SEEKING
PA S T M E D I C A L
EXPERIENCES
COPING
F E A R O F U N C E RTA I N T Y MECHANISMS
 WHAT ARE
OVERINTERPRETATION OF
BODILY SENSATIONS

OBSESSIVELY PERFORMING
SELF-HEALTH EXAMS
SYMPTOMS ?
FREQUENT MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS

IMPAIRED DAILY FUNCTIONING AND

EXCESSIVE HEALTH
HABITS

A STEADFAST BELIEF THAT A

CONDITION IS PRESENT, EVEN
WITHOUT EVIDENCE

FEAR OF MEDICAL TESTS

OR PROCEDURES
HOW TO COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL
THERAPY

TREAT IT?
SUPPORT GROUPS EXPOSURE
THERAPY
MEDICATION
 A DAY IN A LIFE OF
HYPOCHONDRIAC

AFTERNO

NI GHT
MORNI N

WAKE UP WITH APPREHENSION SOCIAL INTERACTIONS HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY

ON
G

DOCTOR APPOINTMENT
MORNING ROUTINE OBSESSIONS
ANXIETY
NIGHTTIME RITUALS

INTERNET HEALTH SEARCHES DOCTOR'S VISIT OR DIFFICULTY SLEEPING

SELF-MONITORING
 CEL
EB RIT I
frey
ES

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HISTORY
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DOCTOR SHOPPING
seeking multiple medical
opinions for reassurance
about health CYB
E RH
CHO
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ph en
om e
or ou
s
I A
non n ame
of ex f o r th
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a c au s abou terne
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Hy
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r es in ases
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m i n atio n
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THANK YOU
FOR
ATTENTION!