Episode 272: Illness Anxiety with Phil Lane
Show Notes
Phil Lane is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist in private practice. He is also a proud anxiety and panic attack survivor. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety, panic, impulsivity, depression, and mood disorders. He is the author of the forthcoming book, "Understanding and Coping with Illness Anxiety," due to be published this November. You can find Phil on Instagram at @therapist_phil and his upcoming book at https://www.routledge.com/Understanding-and-Coping-with-Illness-Anxiety/Lane/p/book/9781032637914
Kelli and Phil discuss:
What does health anxiety look like?
Was illness anxiety part of your (Phil’s) experience and do you mind sharing a little bit about your experience?
What makes us susceptible to illness anxiety, especially when we haven’t necessarily experienced a specific health scare? And why can it become so sticky?
I think many of us that struggle with illness anxiety hold this belief about ourselves that we are neurotic or a hypochondriac, an outdated diagnosis these days. Can you clear up this misconception by sharing a bit about your experience with clients? Are those of us that struggle with illness anxiety neurotic nervous nellies, or is there something else going on?
How can we cultivate a sense of camaraderie with our body? I think those of us struggling with illness anxiety start to fear and even feel betrayed or frustrated by our bodies. How can we start to feel safe in this sensation-filled body of ours?
