Illness Anxiety Disorder (Health Anxiety or formerly known as Hypochondriasis)
Although not actually considered an anxiety disorder, we have included illness anxiety disorder in this section because it shares the pervasive feelings of excessive, irrational fear and distress that characterizes the different anxiety disorders. Illness Anxiety Disorder is when one is preoccupied with fears of having, or the belief that one already has a serious disease. These concerns are based on a misunderstanding of normal bodily symptoms or of a minor physical problem, and the preoccupation persists even after comprehensive medical exams reveal that no medical condition exists.