Hypochondria

   By Cowboy up and Maz

Cowboy and Maz :)

This thread is great for all of us to understand a bit more about this condition. I've been guilty of Hypochondria before many times and let my Health Anxiety get the best of me which just deteriorated my life. After doing CBT through many sources including our free link here on the forum to MoodGYM, I have really turned my life around and am doing so much better. The therapy and our peer support group here has been a blessing in my life and has tought me skills and information that I carry with me daily. Sometimes I have to work on certain areas a bit more, but that is all part of the learning process.

Thank you both for sharing. I hope this info helps other members out as well and encourages them to do more with their lives than constant, unhealthy worry.

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Thanks AK and Maz.

Sam you are a good example of how to get past the health anxiety and the constant worrying about your health.

You chose a therapy and have worked you way through.  You have reduced the drama in your life by learning to deal with the thoughts and get on with the living.

Here are a few tips for dealing with friends/family with Health Anxiety:

Steer the conversation. Hypochondriacs often monopolize conversations with discussion of their illness. Change the topic by bringing up something unrelated to physical conditions.

Preoccupy the person  with fun activities. When they start complaining about their aching bones, suggest a walk around the block. Tackling the perceived pain through physical activity is a good way to make them forget about it.

Remember that it's hard to distinguish between legitimate health problems and imaginary ailments. Don't automatically assume the person  is making their symptoms up. Assess each episode with a critical eye.

Some hypochondriacs are in need of therapy. Their constant complaining is actually an attention seeking device.

Good Luck

This is what I have, or also known as health anxiety really. It can be hard when you do have real things wrong too, and telling the difference between your hypochondria and health problems that are real! My doctor says it's a form of OCD, and I believe that to be correct.

Oh Nikki, i am SO sorry you feel this way! it was never our intention to hurt anyone, rather to educate people about stuff they may be battling. please dont take it personally, it was truly intended to be educational, nothing more. no pointing fingers at people or trying to bring you down.

I really am sorry you feel hurt. You know cowboy and me would never post something that was mean or nasty- its just that people have been asking about the difference between health anxiety and hypochondria, so we thought we would help them out. i am truly sorry you have been upset by this. now im sad!

really- im sorry this has hurt you. you know i love you.

Maz XX

 

AND my dear sweet friend, you are NOT a drain on anyone. dont you ever think that. you are amazing and helpful and supportive. you are NOT a drain, you are a blessing.

Cowboy and Maz,

That is so accurate for me. The hard thing is being caught in the middle between a genuine ailment and simply fearing that your doctors have missed one. It did happen that for almost three years, I had shortness of breath due to reflux that my doctors were chalking up entirely to anxiety. But I try not to let that be an open door for me to think that every time I feel "off," someting must be seriously wrong. It's very hard, though, to fight off that "I told you so!" sense.

Symptom browsing was one of my biggest triggers too, and I'm glad to have cut that down to almost nil most of the time.

Thanks so much for putting this together.

percycat


Ps to Nikki - Sweetie, don't blame yourself for having anxiety and all that comes with it. I understand the guilt, fearing that you're a drag on other folks, or keeping them from other things. But the people in our lives who love us are able to be patient with us, and the people we turn to for help in emergencies understand that sometimes, we're just at the end of our ropes.

I feel kind of bad when I think of all the trips I made to the ER for something that wasn't hurting me, even if it was genuinely physical. But while I was there, the staff knew how to prioritize, so that my needs weren't preventing them from helping others. I am a little sad that they had to deal with me, when it must have seemed to them that I was impossible to "fix." That's really frustrating. But I wasn't trying to make their lives hard, and neither are you.

You're fighting a condition that doesn't like to give in easily, and you'll get better and better every day. Try to accept the credit that comes from the success you have had (yes, you have - I'll bet you can recognize your triggers or spot anxiety attacks coming on much better now than this time last year, for instance), and be gentle with yourself for still needing help, even if you wish someone else could take advantage of that help.

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Percy/Percycat

Co-Moderator, Anxiety and Panic Forum

Nikki its ok! please dont feel you have to apologise, its ok, i understand i promise. dont feel bad or silly. you have every right to have a vent! its hard sometimes to keep emotions in check, i completely understand, i was scared that you were angry with me, and i didnt want that cos you know i love you!! heaps!!!

please dont stress, its all ok, you are awesome! and you are doing a great job of kicking your health anxiety, like with your earache, going to your doc, not the er, and taking your meds and doing lucinda bassett- you are kicking butt!

Maz XX

Hey Lil Nikki :)

You are such a valuable part of this forum and you got to know that we all love you dear friend :) Don't beat yourself up over any of it. Maz and Cowboy would never do anything to hurt you are anyone else on here. I also am a super sensitive person and I think that most of us are with A/P issues :) It does not make you a bad person IMO, just a better one for being so caring and good :) You are not a drain for me or anyone here because you are working hard at your recovery and spend a lot of time helping others with theirs as well. You are a very unselfish and kind soul. Don't beat yourself up for not being "perfect" with your therapy, because there is not a person on here that could claim that. If we each had a nickle for all the backsteps we would be so rich we could afford to pay someone to stress for us, lol :) I know I would be a multi-millionaire :)

Gentle hugs and peace for you!

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Hey All,

Just a gentle reminder, we are here to heal from our own personal demons and we have tried to incorporate as many of the different anxieties as we can into one small forum..........

We have the phobias, the anticipatory anxiety, the anger management, the health anxiety, the addictions and the low self esteems, and my favorite, the over sensitive which is major with me.  But I know I own the problem and I have to read  the advice from the loving and caring members who are just providing and sharing info.

No one is pointing fingers but there is a time to talk about what the disorder is about and how we can help members deal with the problems. 

My dear Nikki, I over reacted the other day when I got only a few responses to my anticipatory anxiety thread re my new job, my sister, and how sad I was feeling.  But it was not that people did not care it was the thread was just one among many that day and did not get much attention.

I was ready to turn tail and run as I felt I was invisible to the members but that was my stinkin thinkin kicking in. I was feeling very alone and just wanted someone to care.  But hey I made it and later I received wonderful comments.

None of us would be here if we did not have an anxiety problem.  You are doing a great job and AK and Maz were providing education to help members understand the  Health Anxiety better.

So everything is fine and no needs for anymore apologies from anyone.  No one did anything wrong.

I get to say that as I am the elder of our family.........

I will try to be on in morning but long day tommorow.

Hugs to all of you and lets keep working with the positive and eliminate the negative.

Kitt

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Kitt, Co-Moderator: Anxiety/Panic & Depression
&  Moderator GERD  Forums
^{*~* http://www.healingwell.com/donate *~*}
Not a mental health professional of any kind
Peace does not dwell in outward things, but within the soul
Clickable Link: Anxiety-Panic Resources

My family and friends have called me a Hypochondriact all my life...is that how u spell it? But I feel the pain and I have the symptoms...In my head and body is is real and relavent...Do hypochondriacts make it up for attention or genuinly feel it?? gillxx

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       My Struggles!

I was just reading an article yesterday I think on MSNBC that talked about when and when not to go to the ER. It talked alot about if you were having heart palpitations, difficulty breathing etc that you should go to the ER. They even mentioned that sometimes it is anxiety, but sometimes you still have to go to make sure it isn't anything more serious.

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Gail*Nanners* Co-Moderator for Anxiety/Panic Forum
Been living with Crohn's Disease for 33 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain, Zofran, Phenergan, Probiotics, and Calcium and Xanax as needed. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis and Anxiety. Currently my Crohns is in remission.

Oh I know how that hurt feeling is. Anyone watch Grey's Anatomy here? They had a girl on the show that was a hypochondriac, and I bawled like a baby after seeing that show. I didn't want to be her anymore, and it hit me hard to show me exactly how I am. How I probably am to my family (especially my Mom, who I used as my "Am I okay?" crutch). It sucked, but I think I used that feeling to reach out for help, and I use that feeling now when I start going backwards and having my days where I start letting my being a hypochondriac get to me.

But yeah I can totally relate to that hurt feeling, the truth does hurt!

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~Jennifer

Thanks Just Breath....From now on When I am feeling loopy or out of control I am going to try and see myself as a Peanut a peanut with legs and eyes...Pretty Funny! I like it! I'm sure it will snap me out of my mood quick smart, even if it dosnt I can have a chuckle to myelf like a weirdo....Thanks! gillxx

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       My Struggles!

Yes Lil Nikki :)

I did have it bad and still do have to work with this problem everyday sometimes my friend. I'm just glad I'm in good company with you and other great people on here. I'm not alone :)

Just take it one day at a time :) Remember "What about Bob" and the Baby Steps? This goes through my mind so much, lol. My family hates Bob, but I still watch it everytime it comes on T.V. anyway!

Another great piece of advice that I was just reminded of from a dear friend is "This too shall pass!" :)

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Ok, i'm sitting here reading this thread and see how much i relate because i ALWAYS research symptoms and i've began telling myself to stop doing that because its not healthy, and then i decided to check my work for my online classes and I see this assignment where we must pick a disease, research the symptoms and everything else about it!! WOW lol thats a real slap in the face since i'm trying to avoid researching anything that will make my mind wonder again.

oh man is this thread for me! im on the edge of falling apart sometimes thinking iam dying. for over a month now i have had numbness on my face/ear. i went to the docs and he said it was anxiety but i just cant get it out of my head that it is something worst .i just made another appointment with him...for the same reason.

its just not now either, i can think back when its been other "problems" that plague me. its tuff guys.

Hey Nikki...........just what kind of nut are you so I will recognize you when I see a nut walking toward me on the street.  Try to avoid the members with allergies to peanuts and tree nuts............

Speaking of ER if you are  feeling you have a true emergency then go into the ER, if you think it may just be anxiety, try your tools you have learned first to get it under control.  Never feel ashamed for going to the ER even if your dx is not life threatening.  Be safe.

“Love yourself—accept yourself—forgive yourself—and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.” ~Leo F. Buscaglia

You are all unique and wonderful.

Hugs
Kitt

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Kitt, Co-Moderator: Anxiety/Panic & Depression
&  Moderator GERD  Forums
^{*~* http://www.healingwell.com/donate *~*}
Not a mental health professional of any kind
Peace does not dwell in outward things, but within the soul
Clickable Link: Anxiety-Panic Resources

rofl i was in pieces reading parts of this. Hey nikki we all have our bad moments, our ups n downs you jus gotta ride them like a nut rides its fall from a tree :P

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reading this thread has been a big help to me. my first reaction was feeling terribly sad and shocked by the realization that omg i am a hypochondriac nut case who is a burden on everyone i know!!!

i couldn't even bring myself to post on here, i was so embarrassed and depressed by the realization.

but now, after thinking about it some more and reading the peanut bit lol, i am starting to see the humor and riduclousness of the situation. now i am having the realization that-omg i am a hypocondriac nut case! a full out nutter! oh well..when life hands you nuts, make nut butter, right???

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love and hugs
~danielle

this being human is a guest house.
every morning a new arrival-a joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awarenewss comes as an unexpected visitor.
welcome and entertain them all!
even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture,still, treat each guest honorably
he may be clearing you out for some new delight. ~rumi

lol too true sleepybug, hmm i always did love peanut butter

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