What do you struggle with if you are a hypochondriac?

A hypochondriac is someone who lives with the fear that they have a serious, but undiagnosed medical condition, even though diagnostic tests show there is nothing wrong with them. Hypochondriacs experience extreme anxiety from the bodily responses most people take for granted.

How do you live with a hypochondriac?

Don’t dwell on illness. Encourage them to verbalize fears about their health, but don’t join in. Be supportive, but don’t show too much concern and try to stay neutral in your answers. Express that you understand their struggle, without encouraging their obsessive thoughts.

How does hypochondria affect daily life?

Constant fear and worry can cause stress that impacts your physical and mental well-being. Illness anxiety disorder can harm your relationships and life. You may miss out on time with loved ones because you’re concerned about your health. Some people become severely depressed and even suicidal.

How does hypochondria make you feel?

COMMON SIGNS Typical symptoms of hypochondria include: Extreme anxiety or fear about having a particular disease. Worries that minor symptoms may mean you have a serious disease. Repeated doctor’s visits and exams.

How do you live with a hypochondriac wife?

“Encourage [the suffering person] to verbalize fears about their health, but don’t join in. Be supportive, but don’t show too much concern and try to stay neutral in your answers. Express that you understand their struggle, without encouraging their obsessive thoughts,” say experts.

Why do people become hypochondriacs?

Hypochondria causes people to become preoccupied with the belief that they are suffering from one or more physical diseases. This belief causes great psychological suffering on the part of the hypochondriac. Anxiety and depression often result. However, most cases of this disorder respond to treatment.

What makes someone a hypochondriac?

Though the exact causes of hypochondria are not known but in a generalized form the main cause of the disorder is supposed to be a panic disorder. But, technically a person would be diagnosed with panic disorder may not be a hypochondriac.

How to help a hypochondriac?

Several studies show that using antidepressants, such as Prozac and Luvox, can help. Antianxiety medications are also used to treat the disorder. Barsky and other researchers say that cognitive-behavioral therapy also works. With a therapist, hypochondriacs can learn to challenge their assumptions and change their behavior.

How to cope with hypochondria?

Hypochondria seems to be a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it might be caused by an imbalance of serotonin, a mood stabilizer, or other chemicals in the brain. There’s no cure, but cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressant medications, or a combination of the two help some people. Hypochondria can be just as hard on a partner.