How do you live with Hypochondria?

Question

I think I might be Hypochondriac. I have studied the matter closely, and I think it affects me (but then again, I am convinced a lot of diseases, be they mental or physical, affect me).

Apart from psychotherapy, is there a way to live a perfectly balanced and sane life if you are Hypocondriac?

Answer 1

Well, you do need therapy of course. Also you need to learn the root of your feelings or ideas about your problem Face one fear at a time. Be realistic about your health and talk to your doctor. You can always go on line and do a search on health and read about symptoms of certain illnesses but do not take those to heart. Only you and your doctor know if you have something wrong. Be logical and do not think constantly about this b/c you will just live negatively and not enjoy the life you could be living --you will die soon enough and worrying will only hurt your mentality, mood, increase anxiety and weaken your immune system. Plus it can ruin other personal aspects of your lifestyle.

Answer 2

Can you identify a reason for the hypochondria? I had a friend who was always getting "headaches" around 7 at night. Found out when she got home from work her grandpa would try to molest her, but if she was sick, she could go right to bed and he would leave her alone. So of course that happened. A simple example, but you get the point...how does it help? Does it get you attention, let you get out of an unpleasant responsibility, etc.? I think that's what psychotherapy would do anyway...if you can figure that out, then you can find another way around it, and your need for the hypochondria may lessen.

Answer 3

Damn it! I'm a hypochondriac, myself. (Though not the hugest one out there...)

:-(

I think you're on par with the psychotherapy as one solution. I can't think of any other solution as to how you can life a balanced and sane life without seeing some sort of mental health doctor or therapist.

I've personally quashed my own fears... though not in healthy ways. I've been so morbidly depressed for YEARS now that I just figured, "What the f*ck... Let me get all those diseases and just die. Screw it all."

This was my way of treating it... but you be the judge. :-/

Answer 4

I am not a hypochondriac (as in, I don't believe I have diseases all the times) but I have PTSD and worry about the future, including getting sick.

Hypochondria is the symptom of an anxiety disorder. It is not "attention seeking" but a severe and pervasive phobia of illness that presents as the patient's consistent worry that they are ill and urge to be reassured by doctors that they are all right. Because the anxiety is generalized to all illness and injury, however, the hypochondriac can never be fully reasssured because once one fear is allayed a new one pops up to take it's place.

Medication can help with initial anxiety. Reading up about anxiety disorders can help you learn about anxiety disorders in general and learn tips. Also learn about the "syndrome" many first year medical students develop- in which they feel as if they are suffering from the various ailments they are studying. Get a full checkup at least once to reassure yourself you are fine, physically.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you to learn how to relax and look at your thoughts and behavior so that you manage them and not the other way around. A proper psych evaluation can help you discover if you are suffering from an anxiety disorder which is presenting itself as hypochondriasis (which isn't a diagnosis in itself). Perhaps you have generalized anxiety disorder? Many anxiety disorders have a lot in common because they affect similar parts of the brain- in other words, panic attacks, generalized anxiety, hypervigilance (including being hypervigilant of physical "symptoms"), etc can be seen across a range of disorders, from PTSD to GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) to panic disorder.

You can slowly learn ways to reassess yourself and "reteach" yourself what signs from your body feel like. I constantly fear that I have a heart ailment and am going to die from that (it is a phobia much like hypochondria but doesn't generally affect my entire body, only fear of my heart).

That's my best advice. Remember, when it comes to psych conditions especially, progress can be slow. Don't get discouraged and remember to take life one day at a time and seek out a compassionate damily doctor who is educated about hypochondria and is willing to gently but firmly help redirect you when you are anxious about a percieved illness. If the doctor is abrupt or believes you want attention or generally uneducated about anxiety disorders, get another one. You deserve compassion and respect as much as anyone with any disease you fear. Anxiety is hell to live with, can drain you physically to the point of exhaustion (especially chronic anxiety) and can make you feel depressed and alone.

There are also online help groups that can help support you.

You can try out tapir.... the online address is:
http://www.algy.com/anxiety/

The anxiety/panic internet resource.

Answer 5

I have had very close daily contact with several with this syndrome. The thing I noticed they all have in common,is they are all very self centered people with too much time on their hands. I would suggest you volunteer your time at a food bank or a veterans hospital...might change the way you look at your life.

Answer 6

I dont know sorrry I want a good awnser too because a good freind is one

Answer 7

I real Hypochondriac would what to see the Psychotherapist on their way home from the doctor.

Answer 8

If you have "panic attacks", you need to go to a psychologist or a doctor.

Answer 9

be happy with oneself first step
then find something is that is just for you
perhaps to much time on your hands