People with health anxiety often engage in safety-seeking behaviors like excessive body checking, which creates a vicious cycle of increased long-term anxiety instead of resolution.
As someone who has experienced health anxiety, I found myself monitoring my body for symptoms, a habit that was exhausting and ultimately fruitless in providing real peace.
Checking behaviors can range from subtle actions, like paying attention to breathing patterns, to overt and disruptive activities that severely impact daily life and well-being.
These safety behaviors initially reduce anxiety but keep individuals trapped in a cycle of vigilance, increasing the likelihood of finding problems and perpetuating unnecessary concerns.
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