DeepSummary
The host discusses the psychology behind health anxiety, which is the fear or preoccupation with the belief that one has a serious illness or is at risk of developing one. She shares her personal experiences with health anxiety and how it can stem from childhood experiences, intolerance of uncertainty, and evolutionary instincts. The host explains that health anxiety often involves misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as dangerous symptoms and excessively focusing on the worst possible outcomes.
The host delves into the origins of health anxiety, such as overprotective parenting, catastrophic thinking, and the influence of the internet, which can contribute to "cyberchondria" (compulsively googling symptoms). She also discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health fears and worries, especially for anxious individuals in their 20s who are expected to feel invincible.
The host provides strategies to manage health anxiety, including getting comfortable with uncomfortable feelings through techniques like biofeedback and visualization, investing in overall health and wellness practices, challenging unhelpful thoughts with logic and rationality, and openly discussing anxiety with friends and family for reassurance and support. She emphasizes that health anxiety stems from a desire for control and fear of uncertainty, which can be addressed through these coping mechanisms.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Health anxiety is the fear or preoccupation with the belief that one has a serious illness or is at risk of developing one.
- It often involves misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as dangerous symptoms and excessively focusing on the worst possible outcomes.
- Origins of health anxiety include childhood experiences, intolerance of uncertainty, evolutionary instincts, and the influence of the internet and media.
- Strategies to manage health anxiety include getting comfortable with uncomfortable feelings through techniques like biofeedback and visualization, investing in overall health and wellness practices, challenging unhelpful thoughts with logic and rationality, and openly discussing anxiety with friends and family for reassurance and support.
- Health anxiety stems from a desire for control and fear of uncertainty, which can be addressed through coping mechanisms that promote a sense of control and rational thinking.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health fears and worries, especially for anxious individuals in their 20s who are expected to feel invincible.
- Being open and discussing health anxiety with friends and family can provide a rational perspective and reassurance when an individual's own thoughts are consumed by fear and uncertainty.
- Investing in overall health and wellness practices, such as exercise, healthy eating, and regular check-ups, can promote a sense of confidence and peace of mind, rather than focusing on potential illnesses.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “If you think about it, a lot of the symptoms of anxiety also mimic a lot of the symptoms of more serious illnesses. So we can't tell the difference, and we don't feel safe in those feelings. A lot of these sensations we can actually bring back into our control using methods associated with this idea called biofeedback.“ by Jemma Beggs
- “Talk about it openly. Discuss it with your friends and your family, and they can kind of act as a voice of reason. In those situations, when your logic is failing you, they are kind of the rational voice that you need. Because once again, in those moments, your brain is just looking for a source of fear. It is fear mongering. It wants answers. It wants certainty. So it's going to find whatever explanation is going to bring it comfort and peace, even if it's not the right one, even if it's totally off the mark.“ by Jemma Beggs
Entities
Company
Product
Person
Location
Episode Information
The Psychology of your 20s
iHeartPodcasts
1/16/24
In today's episode we are going to discuss the psychology behind our health anxiety, something we don't speak about enough in our 20s. Health anxiety leaves us feeling incredibly hypervigilant to symptoms or feelings in our body that could indicate a life threatening illness or impending death, even if they are just a projection or derived from stress. This comes from our need to feel in control of our bodies and a lot of primal, evolutionary origins. It can also leave us struggling with feeling connected with ourselves, unable to live out our daily lives or constantly anxious. We discuss all of this and more, as well as my 5 top tips for managing our health anxiety. Listen now!
Follow us on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
For business enquiries: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.