Hypochondriasis: Living in Fear of One's Body
Hypochondriasis, also called hypochondria or health anxiety,
isn't a new ailment. People have been worrying over fleeting
aches and pains for centuries. The word hypochondria was coined
by the ancient Greeks and literally means, "under the ribs." The
Greeks believed most of the phantom symptoms originated from
that area of the body.
When confronted with a patient suffering from hypochondria,
doctors are placed in a difficult position. They have to decide
whether the person is imagining his ailments or whether he is
really ill. Hypochondriacs visit the doctor frequently, becoming
in the doctor's eyes something akin to the boy who cried wolf.
The problem is that people with hypochondria really do get sick
now and then, just like everyone else, so doctors must take
every complaint seriously. This puts a tax on the health care
system as unnecessary tests and exams are performed on a regular
basis.
However, placing blame on the shoulder of hypochondriacs is not
the answer. They suffer from a very real condition that they
can't control. Doctors who brush them off often make matters
worse, as the patient feels that he is not being heard. It is
important for primary care physicians to have patience and
understand that often just listening to a patient's concerns can
alleviate a good deal of the anxiety he or she feels.
While some people may joke about hypochondria, it is a serious
disorder. For those with health anxiety, every headache is a
brain tumor, every cough is lung cancer, every sore throat is
throat cancer, every skin mark is skin cancer, every twitch is
multiple sclerosis. A lot of hypochondriacs worry about having
the most severe diseases such as AIDS, even when they don't have
any of the risk factors.
While it is a good thing to be aware of any changes to one's
body, being too aware can detract from one's quality of life.
The stress of always worrying about sickness and death can make
life miserable. People with this disorder never get to
appreciate their good health because they never believe they are
healthy.
For those with family members who suffer from this condition, it
is important not to downplay or belittle their complaints. Often
people will tell a hypochondriac that he or she is
"exaggerating" or "being melodramatic." What family and friends
don't realize is that the person really does indeed have an
illness: hypochondria.
There is help out there for sufferers and their loved ones. With
proper treatment, such as cognitive therapy or anti-anxiety
medication, people with hypochondria don't have to live the rest
of their lives in fear of illness. With help, they will once
again be able to enjoy the good health they've been so afraid of
losing.