A phobia is the term used by medical professionals to describe an irrational and persistent fear of something. That “something” could be an object, a situation, an activity, or a person or animal. In the case of hypochondria fears about health are the issue. Hypochondriacs have a fear of an illness or disease that does not actually exist.
There are many forms of phobias, and they can be a fear of things that the majority of the population accept as a normal situation. These fears may feel like they are beyond your control and may interfere with your daily life.
You may have a fear of doing something like flying or even going out socializing. Other common examples involve fear of certain animals like spiders or snakes. These phobias may develop in childhood and last a lifetime without treatment. You may also find a phobia triggered in adulthood by a specific experience.
In hypochondria fears about health can develop in to a phobia. You may have irrational fears that you are suffering with a health problem when there is no physical problem with your health.
Signs of hypochondria
If you suffer from hypochondria you have a phobia related to your health. You may have been to a doctor and been given a clean bill of health but you still believe that you are suffering from a disease or illness.
Obviously you do want to monitor your health, but in hypochondria even minor symptoms can be blown out of proportion. You start to imagine that you have serious health conditions and may become totally obsessed with your body and health.
Do you find yourself doing an internet search for every little niggle that you have? You may find a list of symptoms and then begin trying to fit your symptoms to match.
Many hypochondriacs worry about having the most severe ailments without having any risk factors. This can affect both sexes and can occur at any age from teenage years onward. It is uncommon to find hypochondria in young children.
When you rely on information you find online there are several problems. There is a reason why doctors spend years in medical school. You can’t expect to suddenly become an expert. It is easy to misinterpret your symptoms or to worry about temporary problems. All health symptoms need to be viewed in relation to your overall health and any other conditions you have.
When you imagine serious health issues it can cause mental health issues that can cause unnecessary stress for months or even years.
Causes of hypochondria and fears about health
Sometimes hypochondria can be a reflection of other problems. If you are depressed then you may be producing lower levels of serotonin. There is some research that the lack of serotonin and resulting neurochemical changes can trigger hypochondriacs to imagine physical symptoms.
If your serotonin levels are low then you will become tired and depressed. It is important to keep your serotonin levels high by getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet. Other important factors that contribute are sunlight and exercise.
How to cure hypochondria
If you have hypochondria it will be difficult to cure yourself. You need support from health professionals, family and friends.
It is important to find a health professional that knows you well. Trust needs to be built up between you and them. Hypochondriacs can be really distressed and merely denying and doubting their symptoms will not help.
Once it has been established that you have no physical illness or disease then a psychologist or therapist may be the health professional you need. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is often successful in treating hypochondria.
In some circumstances you may be offered anti-depression medications. This is something you may consider as a short term option. Long term you need to address the issues which are causing your fears.
Keep your hypochondria fears about health in proportion
It is wise to pay attention to your health and be aware of any changes. There are some cancers that have a much better prognosis if caught early. So we are not suggesting that you pay no attention to your body. But you have to do this in moderation and not over diagnose yourself.
The current pandemic can cause you to worry more about health issues. It is important to remember to take sensible precautions around washing your hands and keeping distance from others.
If you are worried about a problem then by all means see a doctor, that is sensible. But you need to trust the results. If you are constantly worrying and stressing about things that don’t exist you will affect your life. You can make yourself miserable.
If you spend your life believing that you are sick then you will remove your chance of living a happy life. You may be worrying that you are not going to live a long and healthy life. If you allow your hypochondria fears about health to rule your life you will actually be making your life worse.
