Some mornings seem determined to test your resilience.

Today began with an 8:00 a.m. appointment with a neurologist. Because there is a history of strokes on my father’s side of the family, I wanted to determine whether I might be at increased risk. From there, I rushed to a low vision specialist to evaluate whether there had been lasting damage to my eyes following a botched cataract surgery.

I finally made it home just in time to prepare for my afternoon clients when, without warning, the crown on one of my front lower teeth fell out.

Off I went again—this time for an emergency dental appointment.

By late afternoon, I found myself laughing at the absurdity of it all.

Like many people in their seventies, my calendar often contains more medical appointments than social ones. While I certainly don’t enjoy them, I also recognize that they are part of taking good care of myself.

The possibility of having a stroke is, of course, sobering. Anyone would feel concerned when faced with a legitimate medical question.

But concern is not the same as health anxiety.

As a psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders, I often meet people whose lives have become dominated by fears about their health.

Health anxiety goes far beyond appropriately caring for your well-being. It is the persistent fear that something is seriously wrong despite reassurance, normal test results, or little medical evidence.

You may be struggling with health anxiety if you:

  • Constantly worry that you have a serious illness.
  • Repeatedly check your body for signs of disease, such as lumps, tingling, or pain.
  • Frequently seek reassurance from family members or physicians.
  • Find yourself thinking, “What if the doctors missed something?”
  • Spend hours searching the internet for explanations of your symptoms.
  • Allow fears about your health to interfere with your work, relationships, or your ability to enjoy life.

Ironically, the more reassurance people seek, the less reassured they become.

The relief is temporary, and before long the worry returns—often stronger than before.

The good news is that health anxiety is highly treatable.

With the right tools, it is possible to calm the nervous system, interrupt catastrophic thinking, and regain confidence in your body’s ability to tolerate uncertainty.

Women’s Stress and Anxiety Coaching Group

If worries about your health have begun to take over your life, know that effective help is available—and you don’t have to face it alone.

Beginning September 17 through October 15, 2026, I’ll be offering a 5-week Women’s Stress and Anxiety Coaching Group conducted live on Zoom.

Together we’ll learn practical, evidence-based strategies to better understand anxiety, interrupt patterns of excessive worry, calm the body’s stress response, and develop healthier ways of coping with life’s challenges. Recordings of each session will also be available for participants who are unable to attend live.

Program Details

  • Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. ET, September 17 – October 15, 2026
  • Five weekly Zoom sessions
  • Recordings available
  • Cost: $495

If you’re interested in learning more or would like to reserve a space, please contact me at:

Carolyn@carolyndaitchphd.com
(248) 626-8151 or (248) 421-7899

I look forward to hearing from you.

Warmly,

Carolyn Daitch, Ph.D.