Am I A hypochondriac??

Question

My mom says I am a hypochondriac, I had a panic attack once and then went on to the net to research what it was. I've thought I've had depression,Sczophrenia,anxiety and even that seasonal disorder. The panic attack was that scarey I keep on searching the net for answers, the doctor says there is nothing wrong with me but I don't believe her

My mom says I should forget all about the panic attack and stop googling as I could make myself i'll,

Any advice?

Answer 1

Panic attacks are really,really horrible. There is nothing wrong with researching to see what the problem is, I have done it many times, I don't think I am a hypocondriac at all, I just want to be informed of everything. Don't look into it too much though because that can be a little scary too, and this will make some suffer more panic attacks. Try to relax a little.

Answer 2

The Internet can make ANY disease or ailment look 100% worse then it make actually be. So if you had a panic attack that is a recipe for disaster to look on-line for its source. You are going to get another panic attack after googling it!

Panic attacks are very real, and can be very scary. They can also be treated. If they weren't real there wouldn't be an entire medical profession of psychiatry devoted to such problems. I would leave it to a professional to diagnose you however. You may just have panic disorder (which is enough in itself!)...so let the big guys with the degrees deal with the hard stuff like schizophrenia.

Answer 3

I have felt that way before myself. It's actually a vicious cycle because you think it's all in your head, and it is! But, just because it's in your head doesn't mean you can force it out any more that a diabetic can force their illness out of their body. Did you go to a general practitioner or a psychiatrist? There is a big difference even though they are both M.D.'s. I have had various diagnosis' over the years and have come to believe you have to communicate every symptom to your Dr. Since mental issues will not show up on a CAT scan or other test like most illnesses do. It's somewhat a hit and miss procedure. maybe your Dr. missed something. Try a second opinion.

Answer 4

Your mind has so much power you wouldn't believe it. It can make you physically sick. It can heal you. If you really believe you are sick, you will even get physical symptoms. Have you ever heard of flase pregnancy? Yes! Women who really believe or who really really want to be pregnant get symptoms of pregnancy! Of course they never have a baby because of that but that's how powerful the mind is and can be. Go to aidsmeds.com, and AIDS related website and their online forums are full of people who are so afraid that they have HIV they start getting symptoms.. of course 99.99% are actually anxiety related symptoms. So .. stop googling. That only fuels your fears. Stop worrying about panic attacks. Worrying about them is certainly not going to prevent you from having a new one. And why do you think you will have another one anyway ? Fear is a terrible thing. If you are obsessed with fear of mental illness you will make yourself mentally confused. There is nothing wrong with you. And even if there is, worry about it when it surfaces. Worry about real things. Not things you imagine. Life is too short to waste like that. Enjoy every minute of your life instead of worrying about illnesses you DO NOT have.

Best...

PS. And stop symptom searching! Serious!

Answer 5

Have a psychologist administer the MMPI and other personality tests to narrow down whatever mental abnormalities you might have; then seek consultation if it is warranted after that. However, if your condition or conditions are determined to be mild, you might be able to overcome your problems by simply engaging yourself in a social activity with others (i.e. sports, physical activity, reading groups, theater groups, etc.). From my own personal experience, I have found that mild depression and anxiety can be offset by regular exercise. But you should consult a psychologist to determine just what your problem might be before you make a self-diagnosis. Your mother is right in one respect; the more you obsess on mental disorders, the more fear you stir up in yourself about them. Focus on positive activity instead of falling into the trap of identifying yourself with a syndrome. Good luck!

Answer 6

Yes. Be careful reading too much about diagnosis. Many "symptoms" you find under mental illness criteria are normal as long as they are not seriously disruptive to ones life. It is when people have multiple symptoms in a catagory (and they are severe and disruptive) that they may be mental illness. Even then, it takes a qualified professional to diagnose.

Answer 7

I myself have panic attacks and panic disorder. Don't listen to the person who said if you freak out too much you will get schizophrenia. I am a nurse and I have NEVER heard of the happening. Please talk to a doctor and never be ashamed. If you don't take care of yourself then who will?

Answer 8

you might be but i doubt it, you are just looking for an answer to your scary experience. i would say if your doctor said that your fine, then you are. i would say the most you may have is anxiety... believe it or not but it can be treated very easily. you can either take medication or find a natural route excape from everyday worries... i like to meditate... you could also try yoga or deep breathing... best of luck hun!

Answer 9

I am afraid that your mom is right! Please begin to believe that there is nothing wrong with you, for if you persist thinking that you are schizophrenic, you'll eventually become one. Stop it now that it is still early. Find yourself a girlfriend and I guarantee that you will snap out of your panic (girls are good medicine for such things).

Answer 10

Advice? You are a head case - stop googling....