Hypochondriac
Hypochondriac is a term that refers to an individual who is excessively worried about having a serious illness, despite having no, or only mild, symptoms. This condition is also known as Illness anxiety disorder or Health anxiety.
Definition[edit | edit source]
A Hypochondriac is a person who is excessively and unduly worried about having a serious illness. This condition is considered a psychosomatic disorder as it involves both the mind (psychology) and body (somatic). 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.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
The main symptom of hypochondria is excessive worry about health. This worry often persists despite medical reassurance, and can be debilitating to the point of affecting daily life. Other symptoms may include:
- Anxiety about health
- Depression
- Obsessive health research
- Frequent medical appointments
- Avoidance of certain activities due to fear of health risks
Causes[edit | edit source]
The exact cause of hypochondria is unknown, but several factors may contribute to its development. These include:
- A history of physical or sexual abuse
- A history of serious illness during childhood
- A poor understanding of disease and body function
- The belief that good health means that you have no physical symptoms or discomfort
- Having a parent or close relative with the disorder
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for hypochondria most often includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy helps you understand and decrease fear of disease. You may learn how to stop paying so much attention to your body sensations and to stop seeking disease information. You may also learn how to reduce visits to medical specialists, and how to resist the urge to do health-related internet searches.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Hypochondriac Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
