Hypochondrias (also known as Health Anxiety) is characterized by excessive fear or preoccupation with perceived illness despite medical reassurance to the contrary. Hypochondrias is a disorder that can have very severe impact on a person’s life. Many times, symptoms will reflect an intensified awareness of normal body functions that are being perceived as seriously dysfunctional or even fatal.  Symptoms can range from general descriptions of specific illnesses to unusual complaints of physical or mental concern.