2006-10-22 21:53:01 · 5 answers · asked by Frank 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I think it comes under the category of "anxiety disorders" when it comes to mental health.
I did a quick search for "cause of hypochondria" and saw three legitimate sites that say there is no specific cause of it.
Not that I am qualified to guess about a cause, but I wonder if a person who may have a personality that is more prone to worrying about himself had some shift in his "brain chemicals" whether his anxiety would manifest itself in hypochondria while someone with a different personality but the same mix of brain chemicals and anxiety or stress may either not develop a mental condition at all or develop a different type of one. Again - I SHOULD NOT BE MAKING GUESSES, but since the legitimate sources say there is no specific cause I couldn't help offering some food for thought (just between you and me).
2006-10-22 22:02:50 · answer #1 · answered by WhiteLilac1 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Like all fears and phobias, hypercondria is created by the unconscious mind as a protective mechanism. At some point in your past, there was likely an event linking becoming ill and emotional trauma. Whilst the original catalyst may have been a real-life scare of some kind, the condition can also be triggered by myriad, benign events like movies, TV, or perhaps seeing someone else experience trauma.
But so long as the negative association is powerful enough, the unconscious mind thinks: "Ahh, this whole thing is very dangerous. How do I keep myself from getting in this kind of situation again? I know, I'll attach terrible feelings to becoming ill, that way I'll steer clear in future and so be safe." Just like that hypercondria is born. Attaching emotions to situations is one of the primary ways that humans learn. Sometimes we just get the wiring wrong.
The actual phobia manifests itself in different ways. Some sufferers experience it almost all the time, others just in response to direct stimuli. Everyone has their own unique formula for when and how to feel bad.
2006-10-23 04:55:23 · answer #2 · answered by ☺♥? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the mother
2006-10-23 04:57:49 · answer #3 · answered by asiwant 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A sexual pervert of a boss!?LOL
2006-10-23 14:05:24 · answer #4 · answered by lanisoderberg69 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
distrust in oneself.
2006-10-23 09:50:51 · answer #5 · answered by seshu 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋