Hypochondriac America?

Question

Does it seem to you as if everyone in America wants to be diagnosed with some kind of 'condition'?

I work in a bookstore and in recent years have seen a huge influx of books on medical.psychological conditions, often with the most vaguely defined of symptoms. Fibromyalgia, for one. This idisease's' only defined symptom is that it makes you tired a lot. That seems like it might be a symptom of NOT TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF, not some ill-defined 'disease'. And there has been an explosion of 'disorders' that will make your child disobey, defy authority, have a short attention span etc...you know, NORMAL KID STUFF (and don't even get me started on this 'indigo child' crap). I suppose maybe it is just easier to say you have an illness than it is to take responsibility for you own behavior. This is not intended to offend anyone. If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, or if your child has sensory integration disorder mor something, please tell me and explain the situation.

This is your chance to educate me!

Honestly though, making up a disease to make yourself feel special...it seems utterly insulting to the people that really DO have problems.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Answer 1

Some disorders that are new are nonetheless very real. I have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) which is a relatively new diagnosis. In the past I would simply have been diagnosed with unexplained anemia (probably blamed on poor diet) and a psychosomatic cough because I rarely get the heartburn that is most commonly associated with GERD. With proper treatment, I cough less and never cough blood, sleep better and I am able to keep food down. With these changes, I am no longeras fatigued and irritable. I would hate to have these life improvements taken away simply because my grandmother would have said I was just weak willed and sickly.

Answer 2

I totally agree with you, the drug companies who are mostly situated in Europe must love the USA and Canada.
People are actually upset if the doctor doesn't prescribe a pill.
I work in a Pharmacy, its a crime when you see some of the scripts. A pill to poo, a pill to stop the poo, a pill to sleep a pill to wake up etc etc. People want an easy fix and the ones that say they have a certain disease and don't have it must have very low self esteem. This way people will pay attention and have sympathy.
They would profit more from seeing a Therapist.

Answer 3

my sister is one and i freakin hate it. it's so annoying, to the point where it's like an OCD hyphochondriac.

you cant classify a whole contry as any kind of one condition. everyone in the whole entire world (if suffer from something) have their own condition.

example: I lived with 4 bi polars. I ended up not having bi polar but ended up having sometthing else....

Answer 4

You probably just started noticing this when you started working at the book store.
It is an age old question, look in the history book aisle

Answer 5

DOCTOR! DOCTOR! I need a double heart by-pass immediately.

Answer 6

You're right.

Answer 7

I think so..