At the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley in Saratoga/San Jose, we offer cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for teenagers with hypochondriasis or health Anxiety. Our approach with teenagers is practical, goal-oriented, compassionate, and scientifically-based while focusing on your teen’s individual needs. With our central location in Saratoga just a 1/2 mile (2 minute drive) from Hwy 85, we serve the Silicon Valley communities of San Jose, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Campbell, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Los Altos. If you think your teenager may be experiencing health anxiety/hypochondriasis, you can learn more about health anxiety and our treatment approach below.
What is Health Anxiety in Teenagers?
Health Anxiety is the fear or belief that that one has a serious disease due to a misinterpretation of bodily sensations. Teens with health anxiety will believe they have a serious illness or worry about having an illness despite reassurance from doctors and others.
Symptoms of Health Anxiety in Teenagers
- Belief or fear that one has a serious illness, despite evidence to the contrary.
- Reassurance seeking behaviors, such as asking to visit the doctor, internet searches about symptoms, and repeatedly mentioning symptoms to others.
- Constantly monitoring bodily functions and sensations.
- Avoiding things that remind them of illness, including hospitals and people who are ill.
- Withdrawing from social or recreational activities due to health concerns.
- Conflict or estrangement from friends and family due to health concerns.
Cognitive Behavioral Model of Health Anxiety for Adolescents
Health anxiety arises out of misinterpretations of normal and harmless bodily functions. When a teenager with health anxiety experiences an uncomfortable or unexpected bodily sensation, she will believe that something is wrong with her and respond with anxiety, checking behaviors and the need for reassurance. Teens with health anxiety may believe that they are more likely to contract an illness than they actually are and may have difficulty accepting that it is impossible to be 100% certain that they are illness free. They will respond to anxiety related to their health with safety behaviors (e.g. going to the doctor, staying close to hospitals), reassurance-seeking (checking bodily functions, talking excessive about their symptoms), and avoidance, which in turn reinforces their anxiety and inaccurate beliefs about their health.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Teens with Health Anxiety
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for health anxiety focuses on helping your teen learn to tolerate uncomfortable bodily sensations without engaging in safety behaviors and to recognize and modify mistaken beliefs about their health. Your teen will receive information about the causes of health anxiety, and how it is maintained by faulty beliefs, checking behaviors and ineffective attempts to receive reassurance. Cognitive techniques will help your teen evaluate their mistaken beliefs about health and replace them with more accurate and effective ways of thinking. Your teen will gradually face their fears and learn that they are able to handle the anxiety without engaging in safety seeking behaviors.
Common Goals of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Teenagers with Health Anxiety
- Reduce anxiety related to health concerns
- Reduce safety and reassurance seeking behaviors related to health
- Resume normal activities that were avoided due to health anxiety
Getting Help for Your Teen’s Health Anxiety in Saratoga/San Jose
It is important to listen to your teen and be open-minded. Your teen’s anxiety about health may be hard to understand yet they are very real. Help your teen understand that anxiety and uncertainty are normal parts of adolescence and that there are ways to get help. Be supportive, encouraging, and remind your teen of what he or she does well. After talking with your teen, it may be time to get some professional help.
The Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley specializes in therapy and counseling for teenagers with hypochondriasis/health anxiety. With our central location in Saratoga just a 1/2 mile (2 minute drive) from Hwy 85, we serve the Silicon Valley communities of San Jose, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Campbell, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Los Altos. Contact us at (408) 384-8404 for more information on how we can help your teen manage their health anxiety.