Hypochondria is a very real condition for many people. It is a mental disorder experienced by both men and women. Hypochondriacs think that they are constantly experiencing medical illness, whether real or imagined. They also believe that any symptoms of illness that they have are attributable to serious medical ailments. Hypochondria can lead to severe anxiety in the sufferer and can also result in depression.
The symptoms of hypochondria usually follow a familiar pattern. The sufferer will develop an overpowering fear of illness. They have no control over this fear, and medical experts will not be able to reason with them.
The fear that hypochondria exerts is so great that any small ache or pain is treated as a major illness. The hypochondriac will think that the smallest pain can be attributed to an illness such as cancer or AIDS. The worry experienced by the sufferer is greatly out of proportion to the pain. A major symptom of hypochondria is the misdiagnosis of any slight ailment.
Recurrent visits to the doctor are often a sign of hypochondria. The sufferer may also change doctors if the doctor suspects hypochondria. The hypochondriac may begin to fear the doctor due to this diagnosis.
The worries of the hypochondriac can have severe ramifications in daily life. The hypochondriac may spend a lot of time away from work worrying about his or her imagined ill health. Anxiety levels increase due to this incessant worry, and real illnesses such as panic attacks and depression can be the result of hypochondria.
Many physical symptoms of illness can be triggered by hypochondria. Psycho-somatic symptoms may also be found in the condition. Many hypochondriacs are seriously concerned with their own death due to the condition, and many begin to make preparations for their death.
Another symptom of hypochondria is an obsessive need for information on diseases and illnesses. The hypochondriac will not believe the diagnoses of doctors and will try to find his or her own diagnosis of the perceived illness. Hypochondriacs spend a great a deal of the day worrying about their symptoms and talking to anyone who will listen to them about it.
Hypochondria affects at least 6% of people. Many people believe that bad posture is an explanation for hypochondria. The word hypochondria comes from Greek words meaning "below" and "the ribs". Hypochondria is a psychological problem that only professional treatment can cure.
2007-09-26 08:11:42
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answer #1
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answered by Dr.Qutub 7
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Hypochondriac: A person who has hypochondriasis, a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with body functions and the interpretation of normal body sensations (such as sweating) or minor abnormalities (such as minor aches and pains) as portending problems of major medical moment. Reassurance by physicians and others only serves to increase the hypochondriac's persistent anxiety about their health.
There aren't any "signs" just when a person percieves every minor ache and pain into something much worse than what it really is.
2007-09-26 14:57:55
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answer #2
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answered by maybe 4
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Someone who thinks they have every illness, who constantly wants to be medicated for things, and gets angry if you tell them that nothing is wrong and they're actually healthy.
2007-09-26 14:57:42
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answer #3
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answered by ck 7
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It is someone who is obsessed with their body and health and constantly worried that there is something traumatic wrong with them. Ususally, they are perfectly healthy and they don't believe it:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001236.htm
2007-09-26 14:57:42
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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who thinks everything about them is related to a disease, and that theyre dieing
2007-09-29 11:10:33
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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