Hypochondria

The primary characteristics of hypochondria are excessive fear of having a serious disease and this fear is not relieved when an examination finds no evidence of disease.  With a true hypochondriac, the fear and preoccupation with the body and disease causes a great deal of distress and interferes with activities, such as work, school, family and social responsibilities.

If you suffer from hypochondria you may know that your fears are unrealistic, but this realization is not enough to reduce your concern and anxiety. You may see normal sensations such as heart burn, sweating, and bowel movements or minor problems such as a cough, abdominal pain or a common rash as symptoms of serious medical conditions.

While your fears may center on a single illness, it is more common that your fears include a number of possible conditions and that the focus of the fears may shift as you notice a new symptom or focus on a new possible disease. Negative results form physicians and other professionals do not decrease your concerns and anxiety about your health. 

Hypochondria is often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder and can be brought on by stress.  A person with hypochondrias is not faking or purposely exaggerating their symptoms, but are truly convinced that something is wrong.  In addition to anxiety and panic attacks, hypochondriasis can lead to problems including depression, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, decreased sexual energy and interest, and chronic fatigue.

No one knows exactly what causes hypochondria, but we do know that while hypochondria can appear at any age, typically it begins in early adulthood and that men and women appear to suffer equally from hypochondriasis.  We also know that several types of treatment can help you if you are suffering from hypochondria.

Given the emphasis that we put on what society calls health, youth, body and the taking of a pill to solve any problem, hypochondriasis is difficult to prevent. However, several treatment approaches have been effective in reducing the symptoms of hypochondriasis including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), reality therapy and behavioral therapy. 

A treatment approach called exposure and response prevention has also proved to be effective.  In this approach, you, the client, make a list of your behaviors related to hypochondriasis and then, with the help of your therapist, you practices exposing yourself to anxiety until it becomes manageable, thus resulting in a gradual reduction of these behaviors.  While hypnotherapy and drugs (antidepressants) have also proved to be effective in alleviating severe symptoms of hypochondria, I do not use these in my practice since I believe the possible side effects are not worth the risk.

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