subject: What is Hypochondria? [print this page] Hypochondria or health anxiety isn't a new mental ailment. For centuries people have been complaining about health symptoms that aren't really there but are just a figment of their imaginations. In fact, the word hypochondria came from the Greeks, it literally meant "under the ribs;" this is because the ancient Greeks believed that this is where most phantom ailments originated from.
Hypochondria is a form of phobia where people are afraid that there is something wrong with their bodies. They fear that they always have a serious illness when in fact, there is none.
Hypochondria is a mental illness most doctors dread to confront, because they have a hard time telling if the patient really does have the sickness they claim they do, or if is it all just in their heads. Hypochondriacs have a habit of making very frequent visits, even if they are completely healthy, they worry about every little thing that goes on with their bodies. The problem here is that hypochondriacs, like all other people out there, really do get sick sometimes so doctors have to really take every visit seriously. This can be very taxing for the doctors and the whole health care system in general because they have to perform unnecessary tests just to invalidate the hypochondriac's claims.
But putting the blame on the hypochondriacs is not the correct answer here. They are suffering from a mental condition that they unfortunately can't control. Doctors who ignore their pleas usually make matters worse for them. For hypochondriacs, even having someone who will listen to their concerns can greatly alleviate the anxiety that they have.
Hypochondria is no laughing matter, it is a very serious mental ailment that a good number of people are facing. The sufferers usually put a huge amount of unnecessary stress on their minds because of their incessant worrying about nothing. It is a big burden on the mind and body if one thinks that they have a serious, deadly disease.
Hypochondriacs take monitoring the changes in their bodies to a whole new level. They usually do self-examinations to find even the smallest of symptoms. And then they do self-diagnosis by searching for illnesses which remotely fits the symptoms they do find, and the diseases that they usually claim to have are very life-threatening. They never appreciate their health because they never believe that they are really healthy, which puts a huge tax on their lives. Constantly living in fear is not a good thing.
But there is help for sufferers of this illness. With proper medication and cognitive therapy, hypochondriacs will learn to live their lives without fearing for their health. Family and friends can also help by not belittling their complaints, even though to them the complaints can be so over-the-top sometimes they should be a little more understanding of their feelings.
Telling them that they are overly melodramatic will make their real sickness, which is hypochondria, even worse. All the sufferer wants is just a bit of sympathy and concern from the people around them.
