What is hypochondria? It is when someone “runs” to a doctor almost every week, takes medication “just in case”, tries to covince everyone around them that they are severely ill, feels pain, asphyxiation and other serious symptoms, and the doctor is looking at the test results that indicate that the person in front of him is completely healthy… The patient leaves with a conviction that nobody understands him, and yet he will come back in just a few days with new, serious symptoms demanding additional analysis.
Emotional disorder and fear are basis of every hypochondria, which cause the patient to exaggerate every change in body’s function or appearance, and he links the symptoms to severe illnesses.
What can precede hypochondria is a traumatic event in the family, such as death or sickness, looking after patients with serious illnesses, divorce or career failures. It is actually a syndrome which contains multiple symptoms of various diseases. Hypochondriacs tend to interpret normal and ordinary sensations as something wrong and it burdens them psychically. Their attention is usually directed towards the heart and pressure, as it is towards the digestive organs. They believe that the disease or the disorder are actually present, and for that they subject themselves to series of unnecessary tests and examinations. Negtive results after examinations and lab testings can give them relief for just a while, and soon after the symptoms are back again. That which connects all hypochondriacs is seeking for explanation, not treatment.
* What is also typical for cenceited patients?
- They constantly observe their body. Every day they check if their moles change colours, if their glands are swollen, they listen for unusual sounds while breathing… If they determine that everything is all right, they do not conquer their fear, but they find new symptoms with self-examination and that goes on indefinitely. In fact, they think about death for a better part of the day. In that condition, depression and anxiety come to the fore. They get too frightened and always worried, they feel restless and tense, they lose concentration and memory. Besides, they become irritable and sensitive to noise, they cannot sleep, and when they manage to fall asleep, they wake up very often because of bad dreams. That they have been caught in an anxiety net is very well seen in heart throbbing and irregular heartbeat, the feeling of lack of air or shortness of breath, tightness in the chest area, dry mouth, having troubles swallowing and flatulance or discomfort in the abdomen.
* Which “diseases” that they complain about are the most common?
- They are convinced that they suffer from incurable diseases like carcinoma, AIDS, MS, diabetes… They constantly make diagnosis, feel dizzy, carefully examine their stool, measure their blood pressure and body temperature all the time. Hypochondriacs always read medical literature, ask people around them if they have the same symptoms, and while looking at the mirror they heavily exhale.
* How widespread is hypochondria?
- Of incidence of hypochondria around the world there are no precise dana, but it is assumed that it encompasses around 4,5 percent of world population. However, it is known that it is present in both sexes equally. The only difference is that with male patients it usually occurs around their 40s and with females it is usually around their 50s. It is interesting how hypochondriacs need around a whole decade to realize what their problem is and go to a therapist. That whole time they have been filled with constant fear, embarassment and anger because no one takes them seriously.
Presence of a hypochondriac in the family can be extremely hard?
- Of course, in the beginning everyone believes that they are really sick. But, when the test results start to show that the person is completely healthy, the family starts to see that it is actually a conceited patient. However, it is very hard to take a stance on that person and cure it from hypochondria, which is also a disease, no matter what the doctor’s official opinion is. Because, if they are not approached right, the disease can get even worse.
* Who is prone to disease delusions?
- Persons that escape from responsibilities with the help of hypochondria, who try to get some attention and get someone to care about them. Anyway, to treat them a psychiatrist is needed. The treatment is long and it is reduced to combining of antidepressants and anxyolytics, and also psychotherapy. Considering that a hypochondriac usually involuntarily goes to examination by a psychologist, escort is necessary. It is preffered that someone who is close is included in psychotherapy. A hypochondriac shouldn’t be indulged in his constant requests for additional medical examinations. Also, no one should take over their obligations because that is how their passivity is encouraged, so it looks like they are rewarded for their sickness. Things usually just get complicated that way, because the problem is not solved, but the disorder is satisfied, while hypochondria increases.
* Hypochondriacs are often a target of ridicule by their environment, even their family?
- No one should try to convince a hypochondriac that he is healthy, reffering to the logic. He shouldn’t be blamed or ridiculed, because hypochondria is a result of their unconscious psyche. He is actually not lying and is not responsible for his probems. Do not try to change him, but don’t allow him to speak only of his illness as well. From time to time listen to him and help him precisely verbalize his fears. That will give him a feeling of acceptance.
* What consequences does chronic hypochondria have?
- Certain people can be driven into true disease. Constant worrying for personal health and life can have an effect on increased activity of autosuggestion, which can cause physical symptoms, true imitators of true disease symptoms.
For the last few years a large number of people nourishes hypochondria by searching diseases and symptoms via computers. Experts say that writing a journal helps fighting this bad habit, where they will describe in detail all body sensations that have awakened fear, and a description of external events in the moment when fear occured.
Healthy diet and physical activity can restore faith in their own body strength. Also, they should stop looking for alternative explanations for body sensations that are explained as symptoms of a severe illness. We all experience normal changes in our body, that occur with weather changes, fatigue, stress…