If you feel a flu coming on, you become more alert. You pay more attention to your body and try to keep an eye on changes. But what if you are constantly afraid of a serious illness? What if you keep thinking that you are seriously ill, suspect every little bump to be a tumor and can never sit quietly without being afraid of heart failure? Perhaps the answer to your questions is hypochondria, also known as fear of illness.
What is Hypochondria?
Hypochondria is a mental illness. Colloquially it is called fear of illness. When someone is diagnosed with this condition, they are constantly afraid of serious illness and death. Hypochondria patients often visit the GP with serious suspicions, while often no abnormality is found. When the hypochondriac is ill, he often makes it much more serious than it is. If the GP has found otherwise, the patient often does not believe this.Hypochondriacs often make emotional complaints physical.What are the symptoms? Hypochondriacs often compulsively check their heart rate and continuously ask those around them whether there are any obvious changes in their face or behavior. Small physical complaints (a twinge, a cramp) can trigger an enormous feeling of anxiety.When fear dominates the hypochondriac, the following symptoms occur:
- Excessive sweating
- Cold shivers
- Palpitations
- Tingling or numbness in hands and/or feet
- Dry mouth, nausea
- Stomach complaints
- Headache
- Pass out
- Losing the feeling of control
- The feeling of dying
How does hypochondria arise? It is not clear how hypochondria arises. It is known that people with an anxiety disorder are more susceptible to hypochondria. The way of upbringing can also influence the formation of hypochondriasis.People who live alone, have a lower education, have less income, are (or have been ) depressed, have had addiction problems or have been traumatized, have an increased risk of an anxiety disorder.
Therapy and healing
There is currently no effective therapy for hypochondria. Talk therapy does appear to help. In general, an anxiety disorder can best be resolved through your own efforts. Try to control your fear.Advice There are various recommendations about keeping hypochondria under control.
- Keep a diary; write down how you feel and why
- Relativize; is your fear justified? Isn’t that pain just a pain?
- Stay positive; Don’t immediately think of a serious illness, maybe you just didn’t sleep well
- Write down; How do I calm down when I’m anxious?
Medication There is no medication to suppress or remedy hypochondria. Sedative medications are often used, or in low doses.