Is My Child a Hypochondriac?

If your child constantly worries about being ill, frequently complains of physical symptoms that have no clear medical cause, or seeks repeated reassurance that they are not seriously unwell, you may have found yourself wondering whether they are simply a hypochondriac. The term is often used dismissively, but what many parents are actually observing is health anxiety, a recognised and treatable condition that deserves to be taken seriously.

What is Health Anxiety?

Health anxiety is a persistent and excessive preoccupation with having or developing a serious illness, that continues despite medical reassurance and in the absence of significant physical symptoms. It is more common in children and young people than many parents realise, and it can be genuinely debilitating.



For a young person with health anxiety, minor physical sensations such as a headache, a racing heart or an unfamiliar ache are interpreted as evidence of something serious. The reassurance that follows, whether from a parent, a GP or an internet search, provides only temporary relief before the cycle begins again.

Is It Just Attention Seeking?

This is a question many parents ask, and it is worth being direct: health anxiety is not attention seeking. A young person with health anxiety genuinely believes their fears are well founded, and the distress they experience is very real. Dismissing their concerns or telling them they are fine is unlikely to help, and can leave them feeling unheard and more anxious.



At the same time, repeated reassurance, while a natural parental response, inadvertently maintains the anxiety by reinforcing the idea that the fears are legitimate and that reassurance is the way to manage them.

What Does Health Anxiety Look Like in Young People?

Health anxiety can present in a number of ways. Some young people seek constant reassurance from parents or medical professionals. Others spend significant time researching symptoms online, which typically makes the anxiety worse rather than better. Some repeatedly check their body for signs of illness, monitoring their heartbeat, feeling for lumps or taking their temperature multiple times a day. Others avoid medical information, programmes or conversations about illness entirely, for fear of what they might learn.



Frequent visits to the GP or school nurse with physical complaints that have no clear medical cause are also common, as are physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches that are driven by anxiety rather than genuine illness.

When Does Worry About Health Become a Problem?

Some degree of health awareness is normal and healthy. Health anxiety becomes a problem when the worry is persistent and excessive, when it causes significant distress, or when it begins to affect a young person's ability to attend school, socialise or take part in everyday activities. If your child's health worries are taking up significant amounts of their time and energy, and if reassurance is providing only temporary relief before the cycle begins again, it is worth seeking support.

At Sulis Therapies

At Sulis Therapies, we treat phobias in children and young people using CBT and EMDR, delivered online across the UK. Get in touch to arrange a free initial consultation and find out how we can help.