Cold Season and Health Anxiety: Why Every Symptom Feels Scary in 2025
- Jenny Beckman
- Oct 2, 2025
- 2 min read
As October arrives, so too does the familiar wave of sniffles, coughs, and sore throats. For many, these are just an annoying part of colder weather. But for those living with health anxiety, every tickle in the throat can trigger spiralling thoughts.
Since the pandemic, health anxiety has been on the rise. The constant vigilance around symptoms, news cycles about new Covid variants, and uncertainty about our health have left a lasting mark.
What is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety, sometimes called illness anxiety disorder, is characterised by persistent worry about having or developing a serious medical condition—even when reassurance or medical tests suggest otherwise.
Common signs include:
Constantly checking your body for new symptoms
Googling symptoms obsessively (often called “cyberchondria”)
Repeatedly seeking reassurance from doctors or loved ones
Difficulty focusing on daily life because of health fears
Why Autumn Makes Health Anxiety Worse
Cold and flu season. Sniffles, coughs, and fevers become common—triggering fears they’re something worse.
Covid’s lingering shadow. News about new variants keeps anxiety alive, even for those who are otherwise healthy.
Shorter days, lower mood. Reduced sunlight and energy can make intrusive health
Breaking the Cycle of Symptom Anxiety
Notice the pattern. Recognising when you’re caught in a spiral of Googling or reassurance-seeking is the first step.
Limit online searches. While tempting, excessive checking fuels anxiety. Try setting boundaries (e.g., no Googling symptoms after 8pm).
Ground yourself. Simple techniques—deep breathing, naming 5 things you see in the room—can stop spirals from escalating.
Seek professional support. Therapy can help identify the underlying fears driving health anxiety and provide strategies to manage it.
How Therapy Helps with Health Anxiety
Psychotherapy can help you:
Understand where health fears began (sometimes in childhood experiences or past illness).
Build coping strategies to reduce the urge to check symptoms.
Develop more balanced thinking patterns around uncertainty.
Learn to live with greater ease, even when discomfort or uncertainty arises.
Moving Forward into Winter
If you find yourself obsessively checking symptoms, or avoiding social events for fear of catching something, it may be time to reach out. Health anxiety is treatable, and you don’t have to face it alone.
As we head into the colder months, compassion and support—not fear—can guide us through.
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