I think I am a hypochondriac cause I constantly think something is wrong with my!
Question: What are things I can do to help myself not worry so much and always think I'm dying??
Answers:
Have someone slap you. Get a grip.
Other Answers:
See a Dr. Have a physical
Try Yoga it relaxes you. Or have someone give you a good back rub.
Get some mental help. Seriously.
Although, I would like to point out - we all are dying. Weve been dying since the minute we were born. Fact of life. Get over it. From ashes to ashes.
You need to see a mental health professional and get to the root cause of why this is taking place. At least you realize there is a problem and willing to get help most people don't even realize or believe that there is one. I wish you best of luck and speedy recovery through this issue. Pray for strength from God to overcome this. God Bless!Hypochondriasis is a type of somatoform disorder, a mental illness in which a person has symptoms of a medical illness, but the symptoms cannot be fully explained by an actual physical disorder.
People with hypochondriasis are very worried about getting a disease or are certain they have a disease, even after medical tests show they do not. Further, these people often misinterpret minor health problems or normal body functions as symptoms of a serious disease. An example is a person who is sure that her headaches are caused by a brain tumor. The symptoms associated with hypochondriasis are not under the person's voluntary control, and can cause great distress and/or can interfere with a person's normal functioning.
Hypochondriasis can occur at any time of life, but most often begins in early adulthood. It appears to affect men and women equally.
What Are the Symptoms of Hypochondriasis?
Most people with hypochondriasis - often called hypochondriacs -- are worried about having a physical illness. The symptoms they describe can range from general complaints, such as pain or tiredness, to concerns about normal body functions, such as breathing or stomach noises. People with hypochondriasis are not faking or lying about their symptoms; they truly believe they are sick.
Warning signs that a person might have hypochondriasis include:
The person has a history of going to many doctors. He or she may even "shop around" for a doctor who will agree that he or she has a serious illness.
The person recently experienced a loss or stressful event.
The person is overly concerned about a specific organ or body system, such as the heart or the digestive system.
The person's symptoms or area of concern might shift or change.
A doctor's reassurance does not calm the person's fears; they believe the doctor is wrong or made a mistake.
The person's concern about illness interferes with his or her work, family, and social life.
The person may suffer from anxiety, nervousness and/or depression.
What Causes Hypochondriasis?
The exact cause of hypochondriasis is not known. Factors that might be involved in the development of the disorder include:
A history of physical or sexual abuse
A history of having a serious illness as a child
A poor ability to express emotions
A parent or close relative with the disorder. Children might learn this behavior if a parent is overly concerned about disease and/or overreacts to even minor illnesses.
An inherited susceptibility for the disorder
How Is Hypochondriasis Diagnosed?
Diagnosing hypochondriasis can be very difficult because people with the disorder are convinced their symptoms are caused by a medical illness.
When symptoms appear, the doctor will begin his or her evaluation with a complete history and physical examination. If the doctor finds no physical reason for the symptoms, he or she might refer the person to a psychiatrist or psychologist, health care professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. The psychiatrist or psychologist makes a diagnosis based on his or her assessment of the person's attitude and behavior, and the fact that physical illness has been ruled out as the cause of the symptoms. The psychiatrist or psychologist may administer a personality assessment to confirm the diagnosis of hypochondriasis or somatoform disorder.
How Is Hypochondriasis Treated?
A main goal of treatment is to help patients live and function as normally as possible, even if they continue to have symptoms. Treatment also aims to alter the thinking and behavior that leads to the symptoms.
As with other somatoform disorders, hypochondriasis can be very difficult to treat. This is due, in part, to the fact that people with this disorder refuse to believe their symptoms are the result of mental or emotional rather than physical causes.
Treatment for hypochondriasis most often includes a combination of the following options:
Supportive care: In most cases, the best course of action is for the person to stay in regular contact with a trusted health care provider. Within this doctor-patient relationship, the doctor can monitor the symptoms and stay alert to any changes that might signal a real medical illness. The doctor's main approach is likely to focus on reassuring and supporting the person, and preventing unnecessary tests and treatments. It might be necessary, however, to treat some of the symptoms, such as severe pain.
Medications: Antidepressant or anti-anxiety drugs are sometimes used if a person with hypochondriasis also has a mood disorder or anxiety disorder.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) can be helpful in changing the thinking and behavior that contribute to the symptoms. Therapy also can help the person learn better ways to deal with stress, and improve his or her social and work functioning. Unfortunately, most people with hypochondriasis deny there are any mental or emotional problems, making them fairly resistant to psychotherapy.
What Complications Are Associated With Hypochondriasis?
A person with hypochondriasis is at risk for repeated episodes of symptoms. He or she also might suffer from reactions or health problems related to multiple tests, procedures, and treatments. In addition to the pain and frustration this disorder often causes to the person and his or her family, repeated episodes also can lead to unnecessary and risky procedures, as well as high medical bills. Further, genuine medical problems can be missed in a person with a long history of having tests with negative results since doctors may assume their complaint is caused by their disorder not a real illness.
What Is the Outlook for People With Hypochondriasis?
Hypochondriasis tends to be a chronic (long-term) condition that can last for years. In many cases, symptoms can recur. Only a small percentage of patients recover completely. For that reason, the focus of treatment is on learning to manage and control symptoms, and on minimizing functional problems associated with the disorder.
Can Hypochondriasis Be Prevented?
There is no known way to prevent hypochondriasis. However, providing the person with an understanding and supportive environment might help decrease the severity of the symptoms and help him or her better cope with the disorder.
Learn about other somatoform disorders.
View the full table of contents for the Mental Health Guide
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology.
Edited by Cynthia Haines, MD, WebMD, March 2005
Source(s):
www.webmd.com
you could pray iwill
I had the same problem. I founf help through books. There is a book titled "Mind Power" It shows you how you can control your own mind into thinking what ever you want. This will be a good help b/c you can get over this.
Do things that make you feel healthy - eat right, work out, take a daily vitamin. Do things that help you avoid illness - wash your hands, wear sunscreen, wear a helmet when biking, keep yourself clean, etc.
What makes you think you are dying? I mean, what happens? I used to have a problem where I felt like I couldn't breath or that my heart was beating funny. I saw a therapist and started treatment for Panic Disorder. Check it out.
I am majoring in Psychology and know about hypochondriasis very well. If you have very severe symptoms, set up an appointment with a therapist. Most people think something is wrong with them at some point, it's just that if you think that to a severe extent, you may have a problem. It's a chemical imbalance. Look up the disorder in a book of disorders, preferably the DSM IV TR to see if there is something truely wrong with you.
try being positive, optimistic try praying about it.
God Bless
My sis is one of those.
Just live as healthfully as possible, go get a physical done to reassure yourself that you have a clean bill of health, and then STOP reading health articles in magazines or online. Those articles give you a list of symptoms usually, and then you start to think about them. The thing about most signs and symptoms is that they are usually pretty general, and could just be an indicator of stress or fatigue.
Also. if you have a community college nearby where they have a medical assisting program - those programs LOVE volunteers to practice skills on - you could get an EKG run, have a urine test, blood culture, or cholesterol test done for free. (I went to school for medical assisting, and we used volunteers for tests). That way you can get little reassurances that things are ok.
I feel like that sometimes too! I just pray and think about something else. You could aslo go see a doctor for a check-up every month or so if you have the extra cash. That way you would always catch something early if you did have something wrong with you.
Best wishes!
This is anxiety disorder. Don't worry. I have it too. You can see a doctor and have them prescibe some anti-anxiety medication for you. Get some jogging in to. This releases endorphins in the body, the natural high drug! Eat healthy and stay active. While this may not totally rid the anxiety that you're experiencing, it will surely minimize it!
Hypochondriac is someone whom creates illnesses and believes they are ill, they usually frequent the doctors office trying to explain pains and ailments with out proof. It sounds as if you may have self esteem issues. I would see a therapist rather then an MD. Maybe your just stressed out or having panic attacks. Good Luck dear, I feel for you.
Source(s):
I was a Hypochondriac 5 years ago.
thats a psychological issue. get a check up and if everything is fine, you should be ok.
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