The brain that amplifies every signal

Specialist CBT therapy for anxiety, OCD, depression and more in West London

A body sensation can take up a lot of space: a heartbeat, ache, flutter, change in breathing, dizziness, fatigue, tingling, nausea or a feeling that something is different. When a sensation feels threatening, attention can become very focused on it. That does not make the sensation imagined. It also does not establish that the cause is health anxiety or that a person’s brain is “amplifying” a signal in one fixed way. Physical symptoms can have many causes. New, severe, changing or concerning symptoms should be discussed with an appropriate medical professional or urgent service. A blog cannot assess a symptom, rule out a health condition or advise someone to stop seeking medical care. Some people describe a cycle in which uncertainty about a sensation leads to more checking, searching, reassurance seeking, avoidance or scanning, followed by a brief sense of relief and then further worry. Others find that a difficult situation, illness, medication, sleep, stress, grief or past experience changes how much a sensation stands out. An assessment can consider those details rather than assuming a single explanation. CBT based therapy may be considered after assessment where clinically appropriate. It can explore the links between attention, interpretation, emotion, behaviour and context. It cannot guarantee that symptoms will disappear, decide whether a medical concern is benign or replace a medical review. Where behavioural work is appropriate, it is planned collaboratively with a qualified clinician. A blog is not a self directed instruction to stop checking, delay care, test a feared symptom or face a distressing situation alone. The pace and focus need to fit medical advice, safety, capacity, consent and the person’s priorities. It may help to bring one episode to a conversation: what was noticed, what happened beforehand, what thoughts followed, what action came next, what medical information is already available and what support was present. This does not prove a diagnosis. It can help identify the next useful question. The useful next step is not always the same. It may be medical review, practical support, a discussion with someone trusted, a planned assessment or time to notice what has changed. Keeping that uncertainty open can be safer than forcing a conclusion from one moment of fear. For related information, see <a href="/therapy/health anxiety/">health anxiety support</a>, <a href="/guides/health anxiety symptoms treatment/">the health anxiety guide</a> and <a href="/guides/health anxiety vs medical concern/">the guide to health anxiety and medical concerns</a>. If distress includes crisis, thoughts of self harm or an inability to keep safe, urgent appropriate help is needed.