Hypochondria

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Are there any other hypochondriacs in here? I have been afraid I have had cancer and heart diseases since I was 12-13 and from time to time I come across other illnesses that I get afraid of. Like yesterday, I searched Wikipedia in preparation for a school project about the Nazi eugenics, and they wanted to sterilise people with certain genetic diseases, I clicked one of them called Huntingtons' illness and when I read about it I freaked out completely, I had to call my mom and my dad who assured me that nobody in my family had that disease..

(Thread moved from Autism discussion to other Psychological Conditions)

I think you are not alone here I remember seeing another recent thread about hypochondria: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt187896.html

I've heard this called "medical student's diseases." Meaning, yes, this happens to medical students, too, and is relatively common. Meaning, also there might be some tricks in handling it, or some easy and matter-of-fact ways of negotiating with yourself.

From time to time, I also struggle with worrying too much about my health. One thing I find helpful is being open to useful health advice, especially information I feel comfortable sharing with other people. For example,

"Report Finds Swine Flu Has Killed 36 Children,” New York Times, Denise Grady, Sept. 3, 2009.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/healt ... .html?_r=1
“ . . . In children without chronic health problems, it is a warning sign if they seem to recover from the flu but then relapse with a high fever, Dr. Frieden said. The relapse may be bacterial pneumonia . . . ”

Now, that is specific enough to be useful. In poker terms, that's a playable hand.

And the second part, the person may be open to hearing this and they may not. And generally, graciously accept either way. Occasionally, maybe if they're a family member, try and tell them an hour later (often does more harm than good. And yes, the social part is often the trickiest part).

I kind of think I have it too.

For me what happens is I get a symptom and worry that it is caused by something serious, something potentially fatal. I usually don't go to the doctor when this happens because I have no insurance or money so the only way I get to see a doctor is by going to the emergency room. Then they usually tell me nothing is wrong and then I end up with a bill I can't pay and bill collectors calling me for a while.

I don't think I'm a hypochondriac.

Even when something is wrong (like if I have the flu) I usually try to ignore it and wait for it to go away.
I avoid doctors like the plague.

I wonder if you can be a hypochondriac about having hypochondria?

I know I'm one. I used to be worse. I obsess over every little thing and blow it completely out of proportion, and I always think whatever symptom I have is caused by something horrible. Sometimes I can research it and find out that I don't have the rest of the symptoms that the disease in question has, but other times I might think I have them, especially if they are something very subjective.

I used to have so many medical books that it's not funny. This was before the internet. I'd spend hours looking something up and look at all the things that could cause a particular symptom. It did not help. Add panic disorder to that and you have a recipe for an emergency room visit. I'd go to the ER because I was having a panic attack because I thought I had <insert illness>. I bet I was a fun patient to treat, not.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Hypochondriasis is funny thing, in a way.

If you're looking up a lot of stuff about illnesses, because you're feeling sick and don't know why, you're either a hypochondriac, or you're really sick.

I swear, that's what my psychologist put on my report, because I read stuff about disorders and illnesses.

True hypochondriasis is regularly being afraid of being sick with one illness, disorder or another, but having no good reason for that fear. The problem with true hypochondriasis though, is that one can develop actual physical symptoms just because of that irrational fear, and reading what the symptoms are.