The Link between health anxiety and perfectionism
Do you find yourself obsessing over minor symptoms, convinced they mean something serious? Do you constantly seek reassurance but never feel fully at ease? If so, you may be dealing with health anxiety—and perfectionism could be making it worse.
How Perfectionism Fuels Health Anxiety
Many people with health anxiety are high achievers who set impossibly high standards—not just for work and relationships but for their physical health as well. When the body doesn’t feel perfect, anxiety kicks in. Here’s how perfectionism intensifies health-related fears:
1. Hyper-Focus
Perfectionists tend to be detail-oriented, which means they notice every minor bodily sensation. This can cause a normal ache or twinge to become cause for alarm.
2. Fear of Uncertainty
Health is unpredictable, and perfectionists struggle with the unknown. Not having a definite answer about your health or symptoms creates overwhelming anxiety, leading to endless Googling and doctor visits.
3. All-or-Nothing Thinking
Perfectionists tend to think in extremes:
"If I don’t feel 100%, something must be wrong."
"If the doctor isn’t sure, I can’t trust them."
This black-and-white thinking fuels health-related anxiety and compulsive reassurance-seeking.
Breaking the Cycle
If perfectionism is feeding your health anxiety, it’s time to shift your mindset. Here’s how:
Challenge all-or-nothing thinking – Ask yourself, “Is it realistic to expect my body to always feel perfect?”
Tolerate uncertainty – Instead of seeking constant reassurance, practice sitting with discomfort.
Reduce reassurance seeking– Cut back on Googling and other forms of symptom checking or reassurance seeking unless truly necessary.
Practice self-compassion – Your anxiety is not a weakness. Be kind to yourself.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re stuck in the health anxiety cycle, my mini course, "3 Ways You Are Fueling Your Health Anxiety—And What to Do Instead", will help you break free. You’ll learn practical strategies to stop overthinking symptoms, reduce reassurance-seeking, and regain peace of mind.
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