I have to admit, one of the reasons that I hesitate to go to the doctor, is for fear that they won't find anything wrong with me, and think that I'm a hypochondriac, or at least that I have some of those tendencies. Do you ever feel this way, too?
I found a great article on NPR from the author of Well Enough Alone, Jennifer Traig, who talks about her hypochondria in a slightly humorous and intriguing way. She is very aware of her real (and imagined) health woes, and says that the doctors are as well; the doctors have a phrase they refer to as "the organ recital": referring to the litany of abstract complaints from their patients.
In my quest to learn more about Hypochondriasis as more than a punchline to a joke, as a real disorder, I found that there is not much information! It is classified as a psychological or personality disorder, with treatment ranging from insuring there are no real physical ailments, followed by psychological assessment and treatment.
* Preoccupation with fear of illness
* Persistent fear of having a serious illness despite medical reassurance
* Misinterpretation of symptoms
* Symptoms that may shift and change
* Symptoms that may be vague or specific (see somatoform pain disorder)
* No apparent physical disorder that can account for symptoms
* Disturbance lasting for at least 6 months (24 weeks)
Do you know anyone with hypochondria? I would love to hear about this disorder through someone's experience. The author I mentioned above writes beautifully about her disorder, and as a "teaser" starts out with her excerpt saying, "I had my first heart attack when I was eighteen..."
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Hypochondria and Leaving Well Enough Alone
I have to admit, one of the reasons that I hesitate to go to the doctor, is for fear that they won't find anything wrong with me, and think that I'm a hypochondriac, or at least that I have some of those tendencies. Do you ever feel this way, too?
I found a great article on NPR from the author of Well Enough Alone, Jennifer Traig, who talks about her hypochondria in a slightly humorous and intriguing way. She is very aware of her real (and imagined) health woes, and says that the doctors are as well; the doctors have a phrase they refer to as "the organ recital": referring to the litany of abstract complaints from their patients.
This Article
In my quest to learn more about Hypochondriasis as more than a punchline to a joke, as a real disorder, I found that there is not much information! It is classified as a psychological or personality disorder, with treatment ranging from insuring there are no real physical ailments, followed by psychological assessment and treatment.
Symptoms from MedlinePlus include:
* Preoccupation with fear of illness
* Persistent fear of having a serious illness despite medical reassurance
* Misinterpretation of symptoms
* Symptoms that may shift and change
* Symptoms that may be vague or specific (see somatoform pain disorder)
* No apparent physical disorder that can account for symptoms
* Disturbance lasting for at least 6 months (24 weeks)
Do you know anyone with hypochondria? I would love to hear about this disorder through someone's experience. The author I mentioned above writes beautifully about her disorder, and as a "teaser" starts out with her excerpt saying, "I had my first heart attack when I was eighteen..."
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
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