What Is Illness Anxiety Disorder?

Lifestyle Treatment

Lifestyle adjustments to treat IAD often occur in conjunction with formal medical treatment. One popular recommendation is to engage in regular exercise, at this helps to not only boost physical fitness but also lower stress and feelings of anxiety. The standard recommendation is to get thirty minutes of moderate physical activity, five times a week. Developing and implementing stress management techniques is also essential. Some patients report engaging in mindful breathing each day, even when they are not bothered by their symptoms, can help manage their IAD.

Patients should also avoid consuming alcohol and recreational drugs, as these can make symptoms of IAD worse. Patients should also avoid going to multiple doctors unless specifically referred to a specialist, as this makes treatment harder to coordinate and may mean undergoing the same tests. Emergency room visits should be reserved for crises, and when they do occur, the intake nurses should be thoroughly informed of the situation and the patient's mental health care provider should be notified. Finally, all patients with IAD should avoid conducting research, online or otherwise, about potential symptoms and diseases. Instead, they should make a note of what is concerning them and discuss those at their next scheduled appointment.

Potential Complications

Swift, effective treatment is important for patients with IAD because, beyond the excessive distressing thoughts about contracting or having a serious illness, there are numerous complications associated with this condition. Some individuals with IAD, for instance, may experience suicidal thoughts, particularly if their IAD is connected to clinical depression. Other complications of IAD include expensive medical bills stemming from the overuse of medical services, an increased risk of complications from medical tests, problems in personal and professional relationships, as well as unemployment or disability. As such, it is important to seek professional assistance when excessive worry hits. This applies even if the formal diagnosis points to a condition other than IAD.