Health Anxiety refers to a persistent worry about having a serious illness. This debilitating condition is the result of an inaccurate perception of the body’s condition despite the absence of an actual medical condition.

If you spend every waking hour prodding and poking your body, looking for lumps and bumps, and convince yourself on a daily basis you have cancer, or MS, or you are having a stroke, without a reasonable cause for doing so... if you go to bed at night hoping you don't stop breathing in your sleep, or think that the fact your eyebrow itches means you have a brain tumour... then its likely you suffer from Health Anxiety, or Hypochondriasis, as it used to be called in the medical proffession.

Hypochondriasis/Health Anxiety is not about 'faking' illness. That is a misconception.

Many Health Anxiety Sufferers find it hard to get the support they feel they need from friends, family or medical professionals, and as a result feel they suffer the condition entirely alone. Some are even mocked or cause anger in those close to them, because they do not understand the nature of Hypochondriasis.

This group is a place where you can stop being apologetic about your disorder. You can meet like-minded individuals and share your experiences, tips and advice without the scrutiny of those who presume Hypochondria is all about attention seeking.

For those of you who suffer severe Health Anxiety that has made day-to-day living almost unbearable, please consider becoming a member of 'High Anxiety - The Health Anxiety Reassurance Network'.

High Anxiety is run by myself and contains a wealth of information about the disorder. The site opened in February 2012.

Most sites that tackle Health Anxiety only concentrate on the symptoms of the disorder, such as physical ailments, or sleep problems, but High Anxiety caters for the need understand the psychological causes of the physical symptoms...  There are case studies so you can compare experiences and feel less alone, as well as areas to talk about the darker aspects of your beliefs about your health. It is a place where you can feel safe, amongst others who understand and do not judge.

Health Anxiety is an emotional disorder brought about generally by traumatic life events, such as medical emergencies and bereavement. High Anxiety provides you with an outlet to talk about these traumas and experiences.

Should you wish to join High Anxiety, please click here: health anxiety forum

For those of you who wish to see what full member access looks like, please use this read-only ID to log in and have a look around at the facilities:

username: test_member

password: highanxiety123

PLEASE DO NOT BECOME A HIGH ANXIETY MEMBER IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH HYPOCHONDRIASIS YOURSELF.

In the meantime, feel free to come to me if you need help with any aspect of dealing with Health Anxiety. I am full of resources, including good knowledge and implementation of CBT Therapy, distraction & relaxation techniques, symptom reassurance, a shoulder to lean on, a good friend and have plenty of experience in dealing with Health Anxiety. I am here and at your disposal.

If you see I'm online and you need some Health Anxiety related reassurance, come and talk to me and I'll help relieve your panic.

You no longer need to suffer alone.