You are scrolling away on TikTok and suddenly come across a video of a young person sharing their story about how they were tragically diagnosed with cancer. It grips you. It is as if all of your fears are captured in one brief, random video. So, of course, you watch the whole thing. Maybe you even watch it a second time.
In what domains do you try to earn your self-worth? |
Most of us don’t look forward to the moment we draw our final breath. Why would we? It is human nature to want to remain alive. Thus, mild discomfort around death is normal. But for some people, the fear of death is so debilitating that it consumes them on a regular basis, to the point that they have a difficult time enjoying the fact that they are alive right now.
If you have health anxiety, you likely hold inaccurate core beliefs about health and disease. These beliefs have led you to be hypervigilant about your health status. Consequently, you have become hyper aware of all bodily functions, sensations and symptoms. And you probably misinterpret normal or benign bodily sensations and symptoms as indicating a serious health problem.
Chesworth Counseling & Support, PLLC, © 2020.