Do I Have Illness Anxiety, Panic Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety? Understanding the Root of Constant Worry about Your Health
- caitlyn50
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
When your days revolve around checking how your body feels or bracing for something to go wrong, it can be hard to tell whether it’s health-related, anxiety, or something in between.
Anxiety about your health can show up in different ways. You might worry about fainting in public, having a panic attack at work, or feeling lightheaded when you’re home alone. You may not be obsessed with a disease like cancer but you’re still on edge, constantly monitoring your body.
So what is it? Illness Anxiety Disorder? Panic Disorder? Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Or some combination of the three?
Let’s break down the differences to help you understand what might be going on.
1. Illness Anxiety Disorder: Fear of a Serious Disease
With illness anxiety disorder, or Health Anxiety, the focus is on what could be medically wrong with you, even if doctors say you’re fine.
Core fear: Having or developing a serious illness (like cancer, ALS, or a heart condition).
Common behaviors:
Googling symptoms to rule out worst-case scenarios
Repeatedly seeking medical reassurance or avoiding doctors altogether
Scanning your body for new or unusual sensations
What it might sound like:
“This tightness in my chest must be a heart issue.”
"What if this headache is an early sign of a brain tumor?"
“They must have missed something on the test.”
💡 Key difference: The anxiety is driven by fear of illness not just feeling unwell in the moment.
2. Panic Disorder: Fear of Sudden Physical Events
Panic disorder centers on the fear of sudden, intense symptoms, like a racing heart, dizziness, or feeling out of control.
Core fear: Having a panic attack, fainting, or losing control, especially in public or when alone.
Common behaviors:
Avoiding situations where help might not be available
Monitoring heart rate or other vitals for signs of an oncoming attack
Worrying about how you’ll feel physically in specific situations
Avoiding certain foods for fear of needing to use the restroom
What it might sound like:
“What if I get lightheaded and pass out while driving?”
“I need to know my heart rate is okay before I go.”
"What if I need to use the restroom urgently and can't get there in time?"
💡 Key difference: The fear isn’t about long-term illness, it’s about what your body might suddenly do.
❓Can You Have Panic Disorder Without Full-Blown Panic Attacks❓
Yes, you can.
Some people with panic disorder don’t experience traditional panic attacks. Instead, they may feel intense fear around specific symptoms like dizziness, a racing heart, or feeling faint, especially if those sensations come on suddenly and seem to appear “out of the blue.” They may also fear GI symptoms or sensations of needing to use the restroom.
If your fear centers around what your body might suddenly do (fainting, vomiting or needing to use the restroom), and it leads you to avoid certain situations or constantly monitor your body, you could still be dealing with panic disorder.
Key factors:
The symptoms feel overwhelming and unpredictable
You worry about them coming back
You change your behavior to avoid triggering them
3. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Worry About What-Ifs
GAD is marked by ongoing, excessive worry across many areas, health included. It’s less about a specific illness or attack and more about a general fear of things going wrong.
Core fear: Being unable to cope with uncertainty or distress across multiple areas (health, work, relationships, etc.)
Common behaviors:
Mental over-preparation or planning for “what ifs”
Constantly second-guessing how you feel or whether you can manage the day
Muscle tension, sleep issues, and general restlessness
What it might sound like:
“What if I start to feel off during my presentation?”
“What if I’m not okay, and I can’t concentrate?”
"What if there is nowhere to park when I get there?"
"What if I don't get enough sleep?"
💡 Key difference: The worry is more constant and broad — not just tied to health but woven into everyday life.
So... Which One Am I Dealing With?
Here’s a quick snapshot:
Diagnosis | Main Fear | What you check | Common Thought | What Anxiety Wants |
Illness Anxiety | Having a serious illness or disease | Google symptoms, seek out medical opinions, self-monitor for new symptoms | What if it's cancer? What if this symptom turns out to be something serious? | Get certainty that you're healthy |
Panic Disorder | Sudden loss of control or health crisis | Pay attention to heart rate, dizziness, always be on the look out for ways to escape | What if I pass out while driving? What if I am having a heart attack | Stay safe by avoiding triggering situations |
Generalized Anxiety | Being unprepared or unable to cope with daily life or responsibilities | "What if" plans, schedule, to-do lists | What if I feel awful at work today? What if I don't get enough sleep to function? | Prepare for every possible scenario |
🧠 You might see yourself in more than one column — and that’s okay. These conditions often overlap. What matters most is understanding your patterns so you can get the right support.
Why This Matters for Treatment
Understanding your experience helps guide treatment. Fortunately, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is highly effective across all three:
For Illness Anxiety: CBT helps you challenge catastrophic thoughts and reduce reassurance-seeking.
For Panic Disorder: Interoceptive exposure helps you become less afraid of physical sensations.
For GAD: CBT helps you shift from unproductive worry to confident action and uncertainty tolerance.
When to Seek Help
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to benefit from support. It may be time to reach out if:
You’re avoiding activities or responsibilities out of fear you won’t feel well
You spend a lot of time checking your vitals or scanning your body
You feel stuck in a cycle of worry, planning, and what-if thinking
You’re Not Failing — Your Anxiety Is Just Loud Right Now
Whether your anxiety shows up as fear of illness, panic, or constant worry, you’re not broken. These symptoms are treatable, and change is possible.
You can learn to trust your body again — and get back to living life, not just managing it.
I specialize in treating anxiety disorders, including Illness Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorders. My clients are college students, professionals and new parents. Whether you’re in Campbell, San Jose, or anywhere in California, we can work together online or in-person to break the cycle of anxiety.
Caitlyn Oscarson, LMFT
Licensed Therapist and Anxiety Expert
Comments