Client Case

Presenting Issues
Client reported persistent worry about having or developing serious illnesses, especially after seeing health-related stories online or in the news. This led to frequent symptom-checking, doctor visits, and difficulty concentrating on daily life.
Background Information
The client is a 32-year-old teacher with no significant medical history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they became increasingly consumed by health news and began interpreting minor bodily sensations as signs of severe illness. Though medical tests consistently showed no issues, the anxiety persisted and intensified with each new health scare in the media.
Assesment
Client showed patterns of compulsive health-checking (Googling symptoms, checking pulse, examining body), reassurance-seeking from doctors, and avoidance of certain environments (e.g., hospitals, crowded places). Anxiety would spike following news stories about illness or death. Cognitive distortions included catastrophising and selective attention to bodily sensations.

Treatment Plan

Goals
Intervention Strategies
Frequency and Duration
6 sessions over 8 weeks with media use journaling between sessions

Results

  1. Marked decrease in symptom-checking and health-related internet searches

  2. Client able to consume media more selectively without immediate anxiety

  3. Reduced frequency of GP visits for reassurance

  4. Improved focus, sleep, and emotional regulation

"I feel calmer, more rational, and I’ve stopped jumping to worst-case scenarios every time I get a headache."

Case Details

Symptoms Encountered
Excessive Googling of symptoms, frequent body-checking (e.g., pulse, temperature), fear of having a serious illness despite medical reassurance, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping due to worry, avoidance of news or health-related programs (or compulsively consuming them), panic after hearing about illnesses, physical sensations like tight chest or nausea triggered by anxiety, frequent GP visits or seeking second opinions, irritability when reassured, scanning the body for signs of disease, interpreting normal sensations as serious symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and low mood due to constant worry.