coping with hypochondria?

Question

I have mild hypochondria, and I'm curious how other people deal with it. If you have it, how do you cope?

Most of the time, I panic thinking that I have every disease under the sun, but then try to fill up my time doing other things. I'll call my boyfriend and have him talk some sense into me. He's a pre-med student, so he definitely provides comfort. I'm sure I drive him crazy, but it does help to just hear someone say it's okay.

It's such a weird thing to have to deal with. People think it's funny and lame, but this is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. It's very scary when you can't control the panic inside of your mind. You feel like a paranoid lunatic, but it all seems so rational.

While I appreciate that you can say what you like, I do not feign illness to get attention. Wanted to make that clear.

This isn't Münchhausen's.

Answer 1

I used to suffer from that when i was younger, i would hear about a disease and immediately have it. You name it, i've had it. Ebola, cancer, everything. As soon as i heard about it, i would start feeling the symptoms coming on, but then i realized what an incredibley RARE coincedence that it would be for me to hear about a disease and immediately come down with it. I also learned that educating myself about these supposed illness i had helped me a lot, knowing the warning signs and such and ruling out the disease by using the symptoms i could not create with my mind. Sure if some disease has a symptom that says numbness in legs, your brains powerful enough for you to experience numbness in your legs, and then you start to freak out, but then look down the list to something thats harder for your brain to recreate, example: a rash, hair falling out, or paleness. I would find some comfort in knowing i didn't have these symptoms i probably didn't have this disease. Becareful in educating yourself, knowing too much can also cause more anxiety dont go online looking for the warning signs for every disease just in case you come down with it.. Just after the thought has entered your mind research it a little and see what you can find about it that will put your mind at ease, if the information you encounter makes you even more nervous always have a back up plan and your boyfriend sounds like a good one, you know you're being irrational but you're always confronted with the "what ifs".. what if i have this and i'm just going to sluff it off and convince myself i'm fine. Call your boyfriend and have him talk some sense into you, thats a fine remedy, hes thinking with a clear mind, unclouded by fear. -hope i helped! Good luck!

Answer 2

i may be wrong but it may not be hypochondria, but a form of anxiety. most of the people that i have met with hypochondria, do not question their illness, they believe they have a illness, and the psychical pain that accompanies that illnesss. i know it is a terrible way to live with the anxiety of thinking that you have every disease under the sun. the word you used was you "panic" thinking about a illness, that is why i question if you are a hypochondriac, and may be another illnes. seeing a good psychiatrist may be a better solution, and may make you feel better. hope this helps you

Answer 3

Have you ever been to a counselor/therapist for this. I really do think it would help you to figure out why you are plagued with this, and your right, any time you have to deal with a recurrent nonsensical issue it wears you out. The fact that you openly admit to being a "mild hypochondriac" is a great start because you recognize this as a problem and are open to dealing with it. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

I don't have it, but consider reading fewer articles about diseases. If you don't put the problems into your head, you won't start feeling them. Another thing is that you should only think about symptoms, and not try to figure out what is causing them--let your boyfriend or a doctor do that.

Answer 5

I am too, and this may sound really weird but the one thing that kind of helped me was when a friend of mine said "well...we are all dying of something" Just by living we are closer to death everyday. It makes you appreciate the health that you do have and the life which you are living right now...at least for me anyway.

Answer 6

There are anxiety medications that might help. You need to practice combatting your thoughts with more rational on es. I know it is hard but it can be done. Work on ways to get your boyfriend's attention that does not involve medical issues. You both will feel better and you might check into counseling to deal with the anxiety and fear.