Hypochondriac??

Question

My fiancee drags me to the e.r. with him at least once a month because he thinks something serious is going on. The first literally 20 times, I believed him, but every single time we were turned away because there was nothing wrong with him. How can I cope with this when I'm just getting frustrated?

Answer 1

While I was not as extreme as going to the ER 20 times, I do have an anxiety disorder known as obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd) and it manifest(ed) itself by having a fear of having a horrible disease or illness. I, of course, can't diagnose your fiancee, but hypochondriasis and ocd are very similar except that those with ocd can get 'reassurance' from either medical professionals or family and friends that they are not dying or seriously ill and still feel less anxiety. Those with hypochondriasis do Not get reassurance from anyone and despite medical documentation, still believe that they have that particular illness.

I take one of the ssri (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants, Prozac, and it has helped me a great deal. What also helped me was cognitive-behavioral therapy (cbt) also known as 'exposure therapy' which I went to a clinical psychologist for many years ago. It helped my ocd symptoms tremendously. Either way, please do go with him to a licensed therapist to get the right diagnosis. Ocd and other mental illnesses can really affect the whole family and not just the immediate sufferer.

Answer 2

Instead of going to the ER and getting turned away, why don 't you talk him into going to a doctor and getting a complete work-up. If he is truly a hypochondriac, this may not help, but if he has a real concern, he deserves to have this addressed. If he gets cleared by a doctor, you can perhaps reason with him better when he wants to go to the ER.

The other side of it is there could be something wrong with him.

I am sure you are frustrated, but if you love him, be patient and try to reassure him.

I am wondering if he has some type of anxiety problem that is causing him to be so concerned about his health. If he gets a check up, that may be resolved.

Good luck to you, hang in there.

Answer 3

Take him to see a therapist. If there really isn't anything physically wrong with him, it seems like he's just doing this for attention. If you take him to a therapist, he'll still be getting attention, only this type of attention will help him figure out why he keeps dragging you to the ER. You can go too (couples counseling) so that you can explain to your fiance how this makes you feel (in a setting where you guys won't get into an unhealthy argument or anything).

Answer 4

Your fiance probably has deep seated anxieties which show themselves (in his mind) as illness. He needs help to change. Don't let him loose on the web as someone else suggested, it wont help...it could actually make him much worse. He needs to see his doctor and discuss this and ask for referral to a good therapist.

Answer 5

Make your fiance' do his own medical research on the web. There are several medical, WebMD type sites where he can list his symptoms and either get medical advice or diagnose his own illness. OR, more likely, he'll realize for himself that there really is nothing wrong.

Answer 6

You should encourage him to seek help from a professional counselor. I have known people like this and you cannot convince them that they aren't sick.

Answer 7

DO NOT go to online diagnosis sites. They are too..broad. apparently, I'm a paranoid schitzophrenic (?) suffering from depression/ Bipolar, Asthma, Scoliosis (?) and Anemia.


Do i SOUND crazy to you? they don't work.

Answer 8

Do you live in Conneticut? Bring him to the floor I work on at Yale and we'll show him together what sick people really are.. aha.

Answer 9

what did it say on the hypochondriac's tombstone?





















I TOLD YOU I WAS SICK!

Answer 10

he wont change move on