It’s normal to worry about your health from time to time—maybe you notice a new freckle, a stubborn cough, or a strange ache and wonder if it’s something serious. For some people, those thoughts pass quickly. For others, they spiral into a cycle of constant checking, Googling symptoms, and feeling tense until they get reassurance. This is what’s known as health anxiety, and it’s something many Canadians live with.
Mild to Severe: When Worry Crosses the Line
Like most things, health anxiety exists on a spectrum. On the mild end, you might occasionally recheck a symptom or feel uneasy until a doctor says everything is fine.
On the more severe end, these disorders can take over your daily life. It can lead to constant self-checking, repeated doctor visits, or complete avoidance of medical care out of fear of bad news.
You may be familiar with the term hypochondria. It refers to a person who has intense anxiety around their health and the possibility of illness. But this diagnosis has now been split into two separate diagnoses: illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder.
When your anxiety about your health becomes severe, even when you don’t present any symptoms of illness, it can be diagnosed as illness anxiety disorder. This diagnosis is given when someone has been excessively worried about having or developing a serious illness for at least six months, even when tests and doctors say they’re healthy.
Alternatively, if you are experiencing mild symptoms like fatigue, but it causes you undue anxiety, you may be diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder. In these cases, the anxiety isn’t just a passing worry—it’s a persistent, distressing condition that can impact work, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Do You Get Anxious Going to The Doctor?
Some people experience health related anxiety simply when thinking of going to the doctor, even for a simple checkup. This is called white coat hypertension and results in your blood pressure reading high at the doctor’s office but normal everywhere else. It’s believed to be caused by the stress or anxiety of being in a medical setting—basically, your nerves give you a temporary blood pressure spike.
It’s more common than you might think, showing up in roughly 9 per cent to 30 per cent of people who have high readings in a clinic. Women, older adults, nonsmokers, pregnant people, and those with only mildly elevated readings (and no signs of organ damage) are more likely to have it.
The important thing is that people with white coat hypertension generally have the same cardiovascular risk as those with normal blood pressure. Treating it like regular hypertension may lead to the prescription of unnecessary medications.
What Health Anxiety Feels Like
I’ve often found myself spiraling about symptoms that are usually just in my head. For me, my concerns often show up in my skin. I’m covered in freckles and moles, and I find myself checking them constantly for any changes in shape or colour. Especially concerning is the large mole on my thigh. I find myself checking it multiple times a day, trying to decide if it looks different from before, wracking my brain to remember if I nicked myself shaving which might explain the new hole in the middle that has mysteriously appeared.
I know that most of the time, after checking my reference pictures (which I take to monitor changes), nothing has actually changed. But my brain fixates on the possibility that one day it might.
This “do I have cancer?” loop is exhausting. Most days I can shrug it off and move on. But on bad days, it feels like my thoughts are running in circles, always landing back on “What if?”
The Problem With Accessing Care
If you have health anxiety, getting quick, reliable answers from a doctor can make all the difference. But right now, that’s not the reality for many Canadians. More than six million Canadians, over one in five, don’t have a family doctor. Canada also has fewer doctors per person than the average across other wealthy countries. And many family physicians are nearing retirement without enough replacements in sight.
This shortage means wait times for appointments can be long, and walk-in clinics are often packed. If you’ve just noticed a new mole or a worrying symptom, being told you’ll have to wait weeks or months for an assessment from a specialist can make the anxiety feel unbearable.
When seeing a specialist isn’t an option right away, it’s tempting to search online for answers. But the internet tends to amplify fears rather than calm them.
I’ve been there, typing “mole changes” into a search bar late at night. Scrolling through worst-case scenario images, and convincing myself mine looks exactly like the bad examples. It never makes me feel better. If anything, it adds fuel to the worry.
How Can I Get Care Now?
If you’re worried about a symptom or you’re experiencing severe anxiety, don’t wait. If you don’t have a family doctor there are other options you can try. These are some tips pulled from our article: No Family Doctor? Read This.
Find a local walk-in clinic. The wait times can get long, but if you’re really worried about a symptom, it might be worth it.
You could also try a virtual clinic, such as Maple. Though keep in mind that many of these virtual options will charge either a usage fee or a subscription fee.
You can also call 811. It’s the number to call for no-cost health advice covered by provincial medicare. Most often you’ll be connected to a nurse who will attempt to triage the issue and then either dispense advice or suggest visiting the ER for further assessment and diagnosis.
Lastly, you can turn to private care. There will be fees that won’t be covered by public health insurance, but you’ll get faster care.
Breaking the Cycle
While we can’t fix Canada’s doctor shortage overnight, there are ways to manage health anxiety in the meantime:
- Track changes, don’t obsess. For skin concerns, take clear photos every few months so you can compare objectively.
- Set boundaries on checking. Decide how often you’ll examine something, maybe every couple of weeks, and stick to it.
- Talk to Others Experiencing Health Anxiety. Sometimes talking to someone who is going through the same challenges you are can be really helpful and can assuage some worries.
- Seek support. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can help break the cycle of worry, and some programs are available online.
- Talk to your doctor about antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. If you have severe anxiety and lifestyle changes aren’t helping, consider talking to your doctor about the pros and cons of medication.
Learn 10 Essential Tips to Navigating Healthcare Without a Family Doctor
Why This Matters
Health anxiety doesn’t just affect mental well-being. It can lead to unnecessary medical visits and medications or, on the flip side, avoiding care altogether. In a country where healthcare is already stretched thin, both extremes can be harmful.
Living with health anxiety in Canada means navigating two challenges at once: managing your own fears and working around a system that can’t always give you timely answers. Some days, you might be able to set the worry aside. Other days, you might find yourself checking the same freckle again and again, wishing you could just get it looked at.
But with the right strategies and support, it’s possible to keep health anxiety from taking over, whether it’s mild, moderate, or severe enough to have a name in the medical books.
~ Read more from The Health Insider ~
- When ‘What If?’ Won’t Quit: Coping With Health Anxiety
From freckles to faint aches, health anxiety can turn normal body changes into sleepless nights—especially in Canada’s strained system. - The Return of The Age of Anxiety: A Time to Thrive, Not Just SurviveWe’re living through the second Age of Anxiety and it can feel overwhelming—but it can also be a signal for change. Learn how it can guide growth, healing, and deeper self-awareness.
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation – a Rising Star in Mental Health Treatment
From depression to PTSD, vagus nerve stimulation offers hope where meds fall short.
The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. To read about our editorial process, click here.
