- Mental Health
Hypochondria
Hypochondria treatment available online today
Request treatment for hypochondria online from our trusted, board-certified doctors and find relief from worry and anxiety today. Get a new prescription to treat hypochondria or refill an existing prescription today.*
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Talk therapy and medications available for treatment*
Find relief from this long-term condition
Also known as Illness anxiety disorder
*Prescriptions are provided at the doctor's discretion. Learn more about our controlled substances policy and how to save up to 80% with our prescription discount card. PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of hypochondria. Our primary care physicians can conduct an initial evaluation of your symptoms but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Learn about hypochondria
Illness anxiety disorder, also called hypochondria, involves excessive worry about your health. You might worry that you are or may become seriously ill, even in the absence of physical symptoms. Or, you might believe that normal bodily sensations are symptoms of a serious illness, even if a medical exam does not indicate an underlying condition.
Hypochondria is a long-term condition that can vary in severity. For some people, health anxiety can increase with age or during times of stress. Fortunately, psychotherapy and medication can help ease health anxiety.
Hypochondria causes
The exact cause of illness anxiety disorder is unknown. Some risk factors for illness anxiety disorder may include:
Trauma, such as physical or emotional abuse
High stress levels
A family history of health anxiety or other mental disorders
Serious illness in your family during childhood
Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression
Hypochondria symptoms
Many people with illness anxiety disorder experience a persistent fear that they're seriously ill, based on bodily sensations (such as joint pain) or minor symptoms (such as a mild rash). Common hypochondria symptoms include:
Experiencing a constant fear of having or developing a serious illness or medical condition
Excessively worrying about minor symptoms or bodily sensations
Having so much emotional distress about possible illnesses that it's difficult to function
Feeling little reassurance from doctor visitors or negative test results
Worrying about specific medical conditions or your risk of developing genetic conditions
Constantly checking your body for signs of illness
Repeatedly talking about your health anxiety and possible illnesses
How to treat hypochondria
If your doctor believes that you have illness anxiety disorder, they may partner with a mental health professional to create a comprehensive treatment plan.
Treatment for illness anxiety disorder focuses on improving your quality of life and reducing symptoms. Effective treatment options include:
Talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to help you cope with negative thoughts and learn healthy coping skills.
Medications, such as antidepressants, to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Hypochondria medication
If your health anxiety doesn't improve with talk therapy alone, your mental health professional may prescribe medication to help manage your condition. Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are often prescribed to treat illness anxiety disorder.
Antidepressants
If you have a mood disorder or anxiety disorder in addition to your illness anxiety, medications used to treat those conditions may also help manage illness anxiety disorder.
Some antidepressants used to treat health anxiety include:It's important to consult with a qualified healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific situation, rather than attempting to self-prescribe or get antidepressants online.
How to prevent hypochondria
It's not always possible to prevent illness anxiety disorder. However, you can take the following steps to manage health anxiety:
Seek professional help if you have anxiety. Talk therapy can help you manage illness anxiety disorder symptoms and increase your functioning in daily life.
Learn to recognize when you're stressed. Stress can take a toll on your body, leading to psychological and physical symptoms. Finding healthy stress management and relaxation techniques can help reduce your anxiety.
Follow your treatment plan to prevent relapses and effectively manage your symptoms.
When to see a doctor or therapist for hypochondria
Because bodily sensations and minor symptoms may indicate health problems, it's important to visit your healthcare provider to rule out any underlying conditions. If your doctor believes that you have illness anxiety disorder, they may refer you to a licensed mental health professional for further treatment.
Related conditions to hypochondria
Anxiety
Many people with health anxiety also experience co-occurring anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or panic disorder. Anxiety disorders can make this constant fear harder to let go of, even after medical tests show that nothing is wrong.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Health anxiety OCD, a subtype of OCD, is marked by excessive worry about a serious illness. People with health anxiety OCD often share common compulsions, such as repeated visits to doctors, requests for unnecessary medical tests, and excessively checking their bodies for new symptoms.
Depression
Health anxiety can occur as a symptom of clinical depression. It's also common to experience depression due to an anxiety disorder. Many people have a diagnosis of both anxiety and depression.
Hypochondria treatment FAQs
What is the best treatment for hypochondria?
The best treatment for illness anxiety disorder involves a combination of talk therapy and antidepressants.
What is the best medication for hypochondria?
The best medications for illness anxiety disorder are antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase serotonin levels in the brain. Prozac (fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine) are commonly prescribed to treat health anxiety.
Most people experience significant symptom relief from a combination of therapy and medication.What triggers hypochondria?
Certain activities can trigger episodes of health anxiety, including:
Reading about disease symptoms on the internet
Watching television
Knowing someone with a serious medical condition
Listening to other people talk about their health status
Experiencing high levels of stress
How do I know if I'm a hypochondriac?
If you think you have illness anxiety disorder or somatic symptom disorder, talk to your doctor.
Hypochondriacs experience intense anxiety from bodily sensations and minor health symptoms. For example, you might think that something as simple as a pimple is a symptom of a serious medical condition.How do I stop being a hypochondriac?
If you're dealing with health anxiety, it's important to seek treatment. Start by talking to your healthcare provider to rule out any medical conditions. If needed, your doctor can refer you to a mental health professional for therapy and/or medication.
Self-help strategies for treating health anxiety include learning stress management and relaxation techniques. Whenever possible, avoid online searches for possible meanings behind your symptoms.How do therapists treat hypochondria?
Most therapists treat hypochondria with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy. During CBT, you'll learn how to identify your anxiety, recognize false beliefs that trigger health anxiety, and develop healthy coping skills to manage your anxiety.
3 simple steps to request treatment for hypochondria today
Step 1
Book a hypochondria treatment appointment.
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Talk to your clinician regarding your hypochondria symptoms.
Visit with a doctor or therapist on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
If prescribed, pick up prescription for hypochondria treatment.
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Hypochondria treatment pricing details
How pricing works
To see one of our therapists for hypochondria treatment or get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits.
Paying with insurance
Membership
$16.99/month
First month free
Visits
Copay
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price with insurance
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
- We accept these insurance plans and many more:
Paying without insurance
Membership
$16.99/month
First month free
Visits
$129
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price without insurance
Initial visits are $129.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Hypochondria treatment resources
Sources:
PlushCare is dedicated to providing you with accurate and trustworthy health information
Cleveland Clinic. Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondria, Hypochondriasis). Accessed on July 8, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9886-illness-anxiety-disorder-hypochondria-hypochondriasis
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Hypochondriasis. Accessed on July 8, 2022. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/hypochondriasis
Mayo Clinic. Illness anxiety disorder. Accessed on July 8, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20373782
Sheppard Pratt. Shedding Light on Health Anxiety OCD. Accessed on July 8, 2022. https://www.sheppardpratt.org/news-views/story/shedding-light-on-health-anxiety-ocd/#:~:text=Common%20Compulsions%20in%20Health%20Anxiety%20OCD&text=Repeated%20visits%20to%20multiple%20doctors,(professional%20and%20non%2Dprofessional)
PlushCare content is reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals. Learn more about our editorial standards and meet the medical team. The PlushCare site or any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.