I am a really bad hypochondriac and I am not quite sure what to do about it. Help, please?

Question

I'm better than I have been before but now that I'm in an anatomy class, and learning about the body and the bad things that can happen, I'm freaking out even more. Like, OMG, my headache is a tumor. Oh no, my stomache is an ulsur, things of that nature. I'm 17 years old, I've been this way for a quite a while. I know nothing is wrong with me, and that I'm healthy and young and fine but, I HATE this feel of always thinking something wrong. I've lived with it so

I've adjusted, and I was okay for a while then it came back, but now I have to get rid of it for sure. I'm going to be on my own soon, I can't be freaking out about everything. I know this probably sounds really weird but it's a serious thing for me and I just need help. I don't know how to get rid of it. Anyone know, or been through this? Thanks ahead of time.

Answer 1

MY DAUGHTER(16) HAS BEEN THE SAME WAY SINCE SHE WAS 12....ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER.SHE HAS HAD EVERY TEST AND SCAN AVAILABLE AND NOTHING IS PHYSICLY WRONG WITH HER. WE TRIED LEXAPRO, HELPED SOME,THEN WE TRIED GEODON,AND THAT SEEMED TO "FIX" ALL OF HER "PROBLEMS". SHE DIDNT LIKE THE WAY IT MADE HER FEEL AND SHE REFUSED TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. SHE STILL SUFFERS WITH FEELINGS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HER... BUT I'VE NOTICED THAT IT ISNT AS BAD WHEN SHE KEEPS HERSELF BUSY. WHEN SHE HAS IDOL TIME IS WHEN SHE COMPLAINS THE MOST. KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE AND YOU WONT HAVE SO MUCH TIME TO WORRY ABOUT THINGS.  IF THAT DOESNT HELP, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. MUCH LUCK TO YOU.

Answer 2

i understand u completely i usd to be this way back when i was 9-14 and it got so bad my heart pressure would rise when ever i had it cecked at the doctors office and it wld feel horrible knowing i was fine.

but many people go through this and u will grow out of it like i did and i am now 16 and perfectly fine. i dont know how but i just stopped caring........ in a good way

Answer 3

Well anatomy class would definitely be a trigger if you're a hypochondriac. I don't watch medical shows anymore for the same reason. Personally, I'd avoid a medical-related profession (although hypochondriacs often have an interest in the body, and perversely often go into the field).

OK, just some tips from my experience.

1. Think about your symptom for a limited amount of time (5 min or so) and then make a reasonable algorithm, a decision tree.

For instance:

      If this headache is not gone in two days, I will call my doctor and make an appointment.

     If I still feel this way in the morning, I'll go to the ER .

     If this symptom gets noticably worse, etc.  

Then, once you've made your decision, tell yourself to stop thinking about it. You don't have to anymore. You've made your decision.

2. I found a humor book about hypochondria (written by a hypochondriac) that helped me a lot. Unfortunately it's out of print. But being able to have a sense of humor about your worries really helps. Hypochondria is horrible, but it can be kind of funny too. Tell your friends, they might be able to gently point out to you when you're thinking catastrophic thoughts. Actually, it helps me when my friends outright mock me. It gets me out of myself.

3. Beware the internet. Remember when you type a symptom into the internet the disease that pops most frequently is invariably a fatal cancer. Doesn't matter if you're talking about itchiness, depression or weariness. There is NOTHING that cannot be caused by a horrible cancer. And the internet will always remind you of that.

4. If you think you're having a heart attack jog in place or run up the stairs. If it doesn't get worse, it's not a heart attack.

5. Hypochondria can be related to other, underlying fears or worries. If you're terrified of death, does that mean that you feel like you're wasting your life? If you're afraid of getting sick, does that mean you feel isolated and are afraid there's no one to take care of you? Sometimes it's worth tackling these underlying fears more directly.

6. Hypochondria is a common symptom of depression. Just saying.

7. And of course, see a therapist or psychiatrist. They're really useful for sorting these things out.