What to Know About Nosophobia or Fear of a Disease

What to Know About Nosophobia or Fear of a Disease Phobias Types Print Nosophobia or Fear of a Disease By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Updated on September 18, 2019 Thomas Barwick/Stone/Getty Images More in Phobias Types Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Nosophobia is the irrational fear of having a specific disease. The origins of the word Nosophobia come from ‘nosos’ and phobos which mean disease and fear in Greek. In recent years, nosophobia has also been referred to as cyberchondria. This stems from a lot of the information that is at the root of the fear is found in cyberspace. Risk Factors Exposure to high levels of media coverage about disease and the risks of contracting diseasesHaving suffered traumatic health problems in the pastRepeated exposure to people with serious illnesses Nosophobia appears to be more common among students and researchers who spend a great deal of time reading about specific diseases. These conditions are often called medical student’s disease. Relation to Hypochondriasis Nosophobia is related to hypochondriasis, but there are several important differences between the two conditions. The most important difference is specificity. A person with hypochondriasis has several physical symptoms that he or she fears may be caused by illness. Someone with nosophobia, however, is afraid of a specific disease and becomes convinced that he or she has the symptoms of that particular disease. However, not everyone who is afraid of getting sick or contracting a contagious illness suffers from nosophobia. Those who suffer from this phobia exhibit symptoms that can cause limitations in their lives. Illness Anxiety Disorder Many mental health specialists have termed both nosophobia and hypochondriasis as illness anxiety disorder. In fact, many people across the globe have been  diagnosed with this condition, which can become debilitating as the sufferer is convinced that he or she has contracted a certain illness. Causes Anxiety about ones health.Someone close to the nosophobic died from an incurable illness.Patients with other behavioral disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, clinical depression, or obsessive compulsive disorders may be more likely to fear serious illness.Nosophobia has also been connected to cardiovascular disorders, cancer, tuberculosis, and other series diseases.Somatic amplification disorder, which is related to perception and cognition, can be a cause of nosophobia. In this situation, the nosophobic is negative to the thought of being sick.Online reading or watching television shows about incurable diseases can trigger excessive fear of becoming ill.Major disease outbreaks in the U.S. and abroad, such as the recent Ebola crisis in Africa, could spark Nosophobia in individuals. Treatment Cognitive behavioral therapy to help the nosophobic manage anxiety related to the fear of illness is often recommended. In addition to therapy, alternative techniques are also recommended. They include: MeditationPositive affirmationVisualization