## Anxiety disorder or common sense? Illness anxiety disorder, also referred to as hypochondria, is a debilitating illness that prevents you from enjoying the positive aspects of everyday life. If you have specific complaints about an issue you are having, it is perfectly normal to worry about your health. In a pandemic, anxiety and even panic can cause a common runny nose. However, if thoughts of physical well-being become all-consuming and you worry for no reason, it is a clear sign of hypochondria. Generally, anxiety disorder is not accompanied by real physical symptoms of illness. However, sometimes a person gets so wound up that the symptoms appear and are somatic — in other words, they have nothing to do with the real state of the body. ## The hypochondriac test So, should you go to a therapist or a psychiatrist if you think you suffer from an anxiety disorder? If you agree with most of the statements below, you likely suffer from an anxiety disorder. - My loved ones think ===I pay too much attention to my health. - I consider any change in my physical condition, even normal ones, a sign of serious illness. - I am constantly searching for information about illnesses on the internet and diagnosing myself. - If someone asks me about my health conditions, I go into great detail about strange symptoms and possible illnesses. - I regularly go to the doctor and get various tests. - I often experience physiological signs of anxiety such as rapid pulse, muscle twitching, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue. If you are experiencing anxiety about your health and unpleasant symptoms, the first thing to do is to visit your doctor and have a basic checkup to see if you have an actual illness. Even if you have hypochondria, you could have a real illness. However, if the examination shows nothing and you still have anxiety about it, it is worth seeking help from a psychiatrist.