Posted 2/16/2014 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hypochondriasis or hypochondria
(sometimes referred to as health phobia or
health anxiety) refers to excessive
preoccupancy or worry about having a
serious illness. This debilitating condition is
the result of an inaccurate perception of the
condition of body or mind despite the
absence of an actual medical condition.
An
individual suffering from hypochondriasis is
known as a hypochondriac. Hypochondriacs
become unduly alarmed about any physical
or psychological symptoms they detect, no
matter how minor the symptom may be, and
are convinced that they have or are about to
be diagnosed with a serious illness.
Often, hypochondria persists even after a
physician has evaluated a person and
reassured them that their concerns about
symptoms do not have an underlying medical
basis or, if there is a medical illness, their
concerns are far in excess of what is
appropriate for the level of disease. Many
hypochondriacs focus on a particular
symptom as the catalyst of their worrying,
such as gastro-intestinal problems,
palpitations, muscle fatigue or signs of
schizophrenia. To qualify for the diagnosis of
hypochondria the symptoms must have been
experienced for at least 6 months.
The DSM-IV-TR defines this disorder,
"Hypochondriasis", as a somatoform
disorder
and one study has shown it to
affect about 3% of the visitors to primary care
settings.
The newly published DSM-5
replaces the diagnosis of hypochondriasis
with illness anxiety disorder.
Hypochondria is often characterized by fears
that minor bodily or mental symptoms may
indicate a serious illness, constant self-examination and self-diagnosis, and a
preoccupation with one's body. Many
individuals with hypochondriasis express
doubt and disbelief in the doctors' diagnosis,
and report that doctors’ reassurance about an
absence of a serious medical condition is
unconvincing, or short-lasting. Additionally,
many hypochondriacs experience elevated
blood pressure, stress, and anxiety in the
presence of doctors or while occupying a
medical facility, a condition known as "white
coat syndrome". Many hypochondriacs
require constant reassurance, either from
doctors, family, or friends, and the disorder
can become a disabling torment for the
individual with hypochondriasis, as well as
his or her family and friends.
[6]
Some
hypochondriacal individuals completely avoid
any reminder of illness, whereas others
frequently visit medical facilities, sometimes
obsessively. Other hypochondriacs will never
speak about their terror, convinced that their
fear of having a serious illness will not be
taken seriously by those in whom they
confide.
*This is so me and Iam telling myself this here has just got to stop,every little ache&pain that feel extra bad I go running to check my BP I bas do everything they would do in ER other then big test like xray etc.Iam sick of this it's just something I end up doing and I know this need to stop just driving myself extra crazy&that aint even cool at all. How do I stop this got insurance now&since I have to pay out of pocket I will be using it&making appointment with doctor to get a referal to a cardiovascular doctor&head doctor(lol) sounds funny but no joke Iam,to make sure nothing else going on. Only two things I haven't had check need to know why I stay breathing funny&weird &why I stay off balance all the time&dizzy about to fall over,and oh my when come back and I pray everything ok,watch out world it is on and I mean that.