Anxiety · Health
Health Anxiety Loop Checklist
Interrupt reassurance-seeking
Health anxiety runs on a loop: sensation, catastrophic interpretation, reassurance-seeking, brief relief, next sensation. This sheet interrupts each loop node.
Reassurance-seeking behaviors I'll cut
- Symptom googling
- Body checking (pulse, moles, throat, breast)
- Asking loved ones 'do you think this is...'
- Repeated doctor visits for the same reassured concern
- Comparing to symptoms in others
The loop, this week
Sensation
Catastrophic interpretation
Alternative
What I did
Agreement with my doctor
An agreed schedule of check-ins that replaces reactive visits
Reassurance is the fuel
Every reassurance calms today and worsens tomorrow. Reducing reassurance-seeking is the whole treatment.