What is Health OCD (Hypochondriasis OCD)?

Health OCD or Hypochondriasis OCD is a type of OCD where a person constantly worries about having or developing a serious illness. These thoughts are persistent, and intrusive, and affect daily life.

Symptoms of Health OCD

• A constant fear of having an undiagnosed illness.
• Misinterpreting normal body sensations as signs of a disease.
• Doubting medical tests or doctor reassurances.
• Fear of long-term suffering or death due to illness.

Common Obsessions

• “What if I have a serious disease like cancer?”
• “Is this headache a brain tumour?”
• “What if the doctors missed something in my tests?”
• “Does this pain mean something is wrong?”

Common Compulsions

• Checking the body repeatedly for signs of illness.
• Googling symptoms or researching diseases excessively.
• Seeking repeated medical tests or reassurance from doctors.
• Avoiding places or information related to illness.
• Asking others for constant reassurance about health.

Impact on Daily Life

• Time Wasted: Hours spent on checking, researching, or seeking reassurance.
• Physical Strain: Stress from repetitive checking or unnecessary medical visits.
• Social Effects: Avoiding public places or social activities due to fear of illness.

Behaviours

• Over-monitoring body sensations.
• Avoiding people, places, or activities seen as health risks.
• Focusing excessively on being "healthy" all the time.