The Rise of Health Anxiety in the Age of Wearables

We’re living in an era where it’s never been easier to monitor every part of our health. 

Want to know how many steps you’ve done? Easy. Where your heart rate is at? Done. How long did you sleep? No problem. Was it even a good sleep? Here you go. 

Wearables(opens in a new tab)- ie, Apple watches, Fitbits, Garmin and various fitness and sleep apps - are giving us all kinds of health data at the touch of a screen. But are they actually helping?

While this technology can feel empowering, a 2024 study(opens in a new tab) found that constant monitoring of metrics like sleep, heart rate and exercise can increase anxiety, and can lead to health anxiety(opens in a new tab).

“Speaking from a psychological perspective, the main downside of these devices is the possibility of fixation,” says Phil Lane(opens in a new tab), a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist and author who specialises in illness anxiety. “These devices lend themselves to over-attention to our health.”

“In other words, constantly checking and monitoring [our health] can cause anxiety, worry, dread and hypervigilance. When we check too much, we become fixated or obsessed, and this can obviously worsen our anxiety and negate the positives the devices offer.”

Is using your wearable making you feel uneasy? Check what options may be open to you with your ahm cover.

1 in 20 Aussies have health anxiety

Research shows health anxiety affects around one in 20 Australians(opens in a new tab) and is recognised as an accepted mental health diagnosis, where sufferers form an irrational fear of becoming ill or developing a disease.

A large-scale 2023 global review(opens in a new tab) highlighted the significant costs encountered by people experiencing health anxiety, either through unnecessary medical tests or loss of wages. 

“When it’s as simple as glancing at your wrist, it can become an anxious, compulsive behaviour that actually worsens, rather than soothes, anxiety,” says Lane. “For instance, there is no rational or medical need to check your pulse every hour, but a wearable makes it possible to do so, for better or worse.”

What is orthosomnia?

Clinicians have also seen a rise in orthosomnia(opens in a new tab), a growing phenomenon where people become preoccupied with tracking sleep data and the quality of their sleep. Ironically, the condition may cause insomnia in some.

As a result, it’s important to consider the benefits and potential drawbacks of using health monitoring devices and apps.

“When we feel we are ‘on top’ of our health and keeping ourselves healthy, it can be very empowering,” says Lane. 

“[Wearables] can also help us to be cognisant of our level of activity, hydration and sleep hygiene, all of which can be good.

“I think that for those individuals who are monitoring serious medical issues such as diabetes, for instance, being able to monitor blood sugar levels is vital and can be facilitated by wearables.

“But for the general user, we need to be mindful of the potential for these wearables to contribute to anxiety.”

Losing sleep over your sleep score? Check what support may be available with your ahm cover.

Questions to ask yourself if you’re worried 

1. Is your use of health apps and devices interfering with your daily life and your ability to carry out normal tasks?

2. Do you frequently contact doctors based on the information from your wearables?

3. Do you wake up during the night to check sleep data?

4. Do you become anxious when you’re unable to access health data or the numbers don’t meet expectations?

What to do if you think you may have a problem

If you think you may have a problem with health anxiety, start by having a chat with your GP and explain how you feel. 

Common treatment for health anxiety(opens in a new tab) includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)(opens in a new tab), which helps people challenge unhelpful thoughts, as well as seeking treatment to help limit or stop the use of health trackers. 

If you’re concerned about this, check what support and services are included in your cover.

How to use wearables in a healthy way

Be realistic with your health goals and expectations. For example, while you may have heard that 10,000 steps per day is a goal to aspire to, recent research(opens in a new tab) by the University of Sydney shows that 7000 daily steps is ideal for improved health.

Try and trust how your body is feeling rather than rely on data from wearables. Research(opens in a new tab) suggests people who regularly take part in body awareness exercises - like meditation - have a healthier relationship with their devices. suggests people who regularly take part in body awareness exercises - like meditation- have a healthier relationship with their devices. 

Try to look at your health tracking device every few days, rather than religiously check every morning or night, so you can use the information as a guide. 

Tracking your health is just one part of the picture, see how ahm cover can support you beyond the data. There are also steps you can take to feel more in control. Visit our mental health support page to learn more ^