HEALTH ANXIETY
Individuals with health anxiety have an excessive fear of illness and/or death. Frequently, these individuals engage in excessive health safety behaviors such as scanning their body for symptoms or seeking excessive reassurance from loved ones and health professionals regarding their health status. Despite these efforts, they rarely find relief. While some individuals with health anxiety may constantly research their perceived symptoms and/or illnesses (online searches, frequent doctor’s visits), others may excessively avoid health information and health professionals to magically prevent illness. Individuals with health anxiety feel more vulnerable to disease, and, as a result, are intolerant of uncertainty regarding diseases and illness.
Before seeing Taylor, I was struggling with OCD behavior, compulsive exercise, and learning how to cope with my past in a healthy way. He was very patient, understanding, and non-judgmental, which allowed me to uncover problems that were essentially being pushed aside. I used to get uncomfortable and self-conscious about discussing certain things that happened when I was younger, but the environment that he creates is very welcoming and I felt at ease when memories came to mind. He also asked me…