Health OCD & Health Anxiety Therapy in Bergen County, NJ
Constant fear that every headache, stomach ache, or heartbeat means cancer, heart disease, or something fatal — even after doctors say you’re fine? That’s Health OCD.
At The Anxiety & OCD Therapy Practice we specialize in Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard treatment that ends the illness worry cycle — in-person in Upper Saddle River and via telehealth throughout New Jersey & New York.
What Is Health OCD (Hypochondria / Health Anxiety)?
Hypochondria, also known as Health Anxiety/OCD, involves an excessive preoccupation with the belief that one has, or will develop, a serious medical condition. This obsessive worry often leads to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
People with Health OCD may constantly feel anxious and fearful about their health. They might experience a sense of impending doom, believing that they have a serious illness despite medical reassurance to the contrary. This can lead to a cycle of checking symptoms, seeking medical advice, and researching illnesses, which only intensifies their anxiety.
Common Health OCD Obsessions
- Fear of having a serious illness like cancer or heart disease
- Obsessive worry about bodily sensations (headaches, stomach pains, etc.) being signs of something severe
- Concern that minor symptoms are life-threatening
- Obsessive thoughts about what will happen to people you love if you were sick
- Fixation on bodily functions (heartbeat, breathing) and interpreting them as dangerous
Common Health OCD Compulsions
- Frequently checking the body for signs of illness (lumps, changes in appearance)
- Repeatedly seeking reassurance from doctors, family, or online sources
- Avoiding places or situations that might trigger health anxiety (hospitals, conversations about illness)
How ERP Helps Health OCD
We use Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) — the most effective treatment — to help you stop feeding the illness worry and start living without constant fear.
In-Person & Telehealth Options
Upper Saddle River Office
The Anxiety & OCD Therapy Practice
345 NJ-17, Suite 33B
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Bergen County • Convenient to Mahwah, Ramsey, Ridgewood, Paramus
Telehealth
Licensed throughout New Jersey and New York