How Caregiving Can Spark Health Anxiety
Being a caregiver for a loved one can put a person at risk for higher anxiety.
Posted November 17, 2025 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk
It goes without saying that caregiving is not easy: The physical, mental, emotional, and financial toll can be significant, particularly for those in long-term caregiving situations. The psychological impact can be wide-ranging and severe, but one of these impacts is somewhat underreported: caregiving’s tendency to bring about anxiety about one’s own health. In my book, Understanding and Coping With Illness Anxiety, I explain it this way: “Those who care for sick family members may be more prone to illness-related anxiety based upon the sheer proximity to illness and the personalized nature of caring for a closely related individual.” I go on to compare it to being a first responder, and it stands to reason that those who are, on a daily basis, around triggering, upsetting, and difficult stimuli are more susceptible to experiencing trauma , anxiety, and other psychological challenges based upon their frequent exposure to catastrophic situations.
I am a living example of this concept: I was caregiver for my mother as she went through terminal cancer, but the evidence of this phenomenon goes well beyond my personal experience. Numerous studies suggest a direct correlation between caregiving and incidences of caregiver stress and anxiety. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) 2016 report, Families Caring for an Aging America, concludes:
“a diagnosis of cancer can profoundly impact the overall quality of life of the care recipient as well as the family caregiver; this includes physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Family caregivers of persons with cancer experience high levels of anxiety…Caregivers are a vulnerable population at risk for psychological distress, including anxiety that can exceed even that of their loved one.”
This is not to say that illness anxiety only affects caregivers dealing with cancer; in fact, caregiving for a loved one with something like an autoimmune disorder or a chronic condition can elicit the same anxiety response in the caregiver. A 2009 study in the American Journal of Nursing describes any type of caregiving provided by a family member or friend rather than by a paid medical professional to fit “the formula for chronic stress” along with feelings of “emotional and existential distress.”
It is not selfishness or egotism that causes humans to turn outside stimulus inward; rather, it is normal psychology that we cannot help but internalize many things that occur outside of ourselves—look no further than driving down the highway and seeing a car accident then immediately thinking “Thank goodness that isn’t me” or “Wow, what if that happened to me?” It is normal and expected response to tragic or chaotic situations. But, unchecked, it can become pathological and diagnostic.
Illness Anxiety Disorder
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) ’s criteria for illness anxiety disorder includes markers such as being preoccupied with getting sick, having a high level of anxiety about personal health status, and being anxious even though no physical symptoms are actually present—and all of these clinical manifestations can be directly tied to being a caregiver for an individual with a severe illness. Being around anything long and frequently enough can accelerate the power of suggestion, and, certainly, as I cared for my mother, I began to worry that I, too, might have cancer. Or, if not cancer, something that would indicate a serious, perhaps irreversible illness or disease. And that is not to say that I actually felt or experienced any physical symptoms to indicate such but, rather, that my proximity and constant exposure to her illness made me begin to fear for my own health.
From there, illness anxiety can take on a maladaptive presentation: We might begin to seek unnecessary medical visits or tests, to unhealthily fixate on our health, or to completely avoid medical care in fear of discovery of a negative medical outcome. All in all, it can further disrupt our lives, which have already been significantly disrupted by our caregiving responsibilities. In my case, I fit the bill for what the DSM-V terms the “care-seeking type” of illness anxiety: I fretted and fixated about my health; visited way too many doctors, urgent care clinics, and emergency rooms; and constantly ruminated on whether or not I was horribly ill. And all of this was a direct result of my caregiving role. Before taking on that role, I had no idea that people went through such psychological upheaval as a result of caregiving, but it certainly informed me both in my personal journey and in my clinical understanding of anxiety. It is a commonly experienced yet underrepresented area of mental health.
Closing Thoughts for the Clinician and the Caregiver
I close with two thoughts: one for the clinician working with a client who is experiencing caregiving-related anxiety and one for the caregiver. To the clinician, remember that not all anxiety is alike; understanding the unique causes and gaining a comprehensive understanding of your client’s current and past lived experience is fundamental to providing the most effective treatment. When my own therapists sought to really, deeply understand what I was going through as a caregiver, I felt supported, and I was better able to cope with my complicated health-related anxiety.
To the anxious caregiver: You are not neurotic , crazy, or irrational. You are undertaking a hero’s work, and it is important to remember that this type of profound, complex role can bring with it psychological challenges. Don’t keep it inside: Reach out for support, know that you are not alone, and remember that your own health and well-being are equally as important as the irreplaceable and immeasurable support you have given your loved one.
Moss KO, Kurzawa C, Daly B, Prince-Paul M. Identifying and Addressing Family Caregiver Anxiety. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2019 Feb;21(1):14–20. doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000489. PMID: 30608354; PMCID: PMC6322422.
Schulz R, Sherwood PR. Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving. Am J Nurs. 2008 Sep;108(9 Suppl):23–27; quiz 27. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000336406.45248.4c. PMID: 18797217; PMCID: PMC2791523.
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Phil Lane, MSW, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice and the author of the book Understanding and Coping with Illness Anxiety.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.