
“What if I’m sick?!” – Piret Annus-Reinberg
How to cope with health anxiety in these unusual times, and how to tolerate uncertainty in your bodily sensations, was discussed in the July issue of Eesti Naine by clinical psychologist Piret Annus-Reinberg of Studio Tasapisitasakaal and family doctor Dr. Tanel Laurberg.
“My head hurts all the time—what if it’s a tumor? Now there’s flickering in my vision! I need to call the doctor to check what’s going on.” Such thoughts often race through the mind of someone with health anxiety. While concern for one’s health is sometimes justified, in health anxiety, constant worry and monitoring of bodily sensations significantly reduce quality of life. “A person’s productivity, well-being, and relationships may all be negatively affected,” says clinical psychologist-psychotherapist Piret Annus-Reinberg. This kind of anxiety can affect people of all ages—“equally among men and women,” she adds from her experience.
Read more (in estonian): Tervisearevus (Eesti Naine 07.2020)