For a person with an anxiety disorder, the world can be a really scary place. But when that generalized fear turns into health anxiety it makes each passing day a difficult series of disturbing thoughts.

Just like any other form of anxiety, health anxiety is an irrational fear that something more sinister is wrong with the sufferer. It really doesn't matter if the person is otherwise healthy and fit, the constant thoughts of diseases and sickness cause a lot of unnecessary stress.

Imagine that you were minding your own business in your life, when all of the sudden you started to get sick. Maybe you come down with a mild flu, or a sore throat. This is completely normal for all of us, because to become ill is to be human.

Well, for a person with health anxiety that type of thing is enough to cause massive anxiety and even panic attacks. Because a person with health anxiety will try to catastrophize every symptom something routine like a sore throat can be much worse in their mind.

How do I know if I have health anxiety?

If you tend to believe that any and every form of sickness is going to be the death of you, then it is very possible that you have an anxiety related to health issues. In addition, if you spend much of your time worrying about diseases and illnesses that you think you have and how bad they are making you feel, this is standard for health anxiety as well.

What should I do?

First, you need a proper diagnosis from a doctor to determine if you have an anxiety disorder or an actual health issue that needs attention. Once this is determined, then you can begin to look at the root cause of these obsessive thoughts that are controlling your life.

Accept the diagnosis:

When you receive word that you are suffering from an anxiety disorder and nothing else, it will be really important for you to accept this as true fact.

It is difficult to live with these types of disorders, but with your "all clear" diagnosis it should be your first priority to try to tame those thoughts that are causing you such grief.

Is there a cure?

Absolutely! Your mind is simply playing tricks on you which causes you to have these unwanted thoughts. There is simply a loop in your mind, called the anxiety cycle that makes you think inappropriate thoughts, worry about those thoughts and have more thoughts.

You have to believe that you are going to be alright. You do not have anything wrong with you at all, and one day all of these obtrusive thoughts related to your health issues will be a thing of the past.

People with phobias or anxiety really get the brunt of what life throws at all of us it seems. There is no rhyme or reason for why anxiety sufferers worry so much about things that they have no control over, but the good news is that it can be treated and life can go on as normal once again.