Hypochondriasis [ Illness anxiety disorder ] Health anxiety disorder [Fear of having illness]

Hypochondriasis [ Illness anxiety disorder ] Health anxiety disorder [Fear of having illness]
Hypochondriasis is a fear of having serious dreadful illness. In simple words it is characterized by excessive fear of or preoccupation with a serious illness, despite medical testing and reassurance to the contrary.
Hypochondriasis is a disabling and exhausting psychiatric disorder, which can be characterized by unexplainable beliefs and a fear of having a lethal disease. Individuals with hypochondriasis typically would check for health-related information online frequently, which is regarded as the major cause leading to the occurrence and development of hypochondriasis
Recent surveys revealed a growing proportion of individuals affected by hypochondriasis ranging from 3.4% in the Australian population
It usually starts in early adulthood and may show up after the person or someone they know has gone through an illness or after they’ve lost someone to a serious medical condition. About two-thirds of hypochondriacs have a co-existing psychiatric disorder, such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or major depression. Hypochondria symptoms can vary, depending on factors such as stress, age, and whether the person is already an extreme worrier.
Hypochondriac symptoms may include:
Regularly checking themselves for any sign of illness
Fearing that anything from a runny nose to a gurgle in their gut is the sign of a serious illness
Making frequent visits to their doctor
Conversely, avoiding the doctor due to fear that the doctor will find they have a dreaded disease or serious illness
Talking excessively about their health
Spending a lot of time online, researching their symptoms
May focus on just one thing: a certain disease (example: cancer) or a certain body part (example: the lungs if they cough). Or, they may fear any disease or might become focused on a trending disease (example: during flu season, they may be convinced that a sniffle means they’re coming down with the flu)
Are unconvinced that their negative medical tests are correct, then worry that they have something undiagnosed and that no one will be able to find it and cure them
Avoiding people or places they fear may cause them to get sick
Health anxiety can actually have its own symptoms because it’s possible for the person to have stomachaches, dizziness, or pain as a result of their overwhelming anxiety. In fact, illness anxiety can take over a hypochondriac’s life to the point that worrying and living in fear are so stressful, the person can become debilitated.
You may be wondering what triggers hypochondria. Although there really isn’t an exact cause, we do know that people with illness anxiety are more likely to have a family member who is also a hypochondriac. The person with health anxiety may have gone through a serious illness and fear that their bad experience may be repeated. They may be going through major life stress or have had a serious illness during childhood. Or, they may already be suffering from a mental health condition and their hypochondria may be part of it.
Given the nature of somatic symptoms and obsessive fears of medical diseases, patients with hypochondriasis will repeatedly present to primary care and specialty physicians.
The exact causes of hypchondriasis remain unclear but most likely involve multifactorial etiologies including psychological, social and neurobiological origins. Successful management of hypochondriasis begins with the establishment of a solid therapeutic alliance. Throughout the treatment process, use of reassurances, further investigations and specific treatments must be carefully selected. An appreciation for the continuum of hypochondriasis from excessive health concern to psychosis can also help guide treatment. Judicious use of reassurance could be helpful in the elderly and those who have suffered life-threatening diseases such as malignancies. However, antipsychotics might be considered in those with hypochondriacal psychosis. For most
patients, antidepressants, CBT and other psychotherapies have been shown to be effective. Collaboration with and referral to mental health
professionals are additional options. Again, the patient-physician alliance should be utilized to guide therapy

[@AK-gb9rp]

You're incredible. Thanks for sharing this content for free with us here on RUclips.
I never realized I had anxiety or was a hypochondriac until I moved out on my own last year. most of my anxiety is at night when im stressed out and not sleeping enough because I think that I will die or something, and no one will be there to call an ambulance or find my body. I never have gone to the doctor over this because I always tell myself it's in my head, and eventually, it goes away and I feel fine.
My older brother was a hypochondriac when I was younger, and I remember going to different doctors to check his heart over and over, but there was never anything wrong with it 😂.
Now I know what he went through, so I try my best not to let it control my life.
I know I'm healthy , and I always train hard 1-2x a week because I know that I wouldn't be able to train hard and make progress each week if I really had a serious illness 😂. I know I'm healthy, but there's always a part of me that wants to freak out, but I do my best to keep it under control.
Thanks again for all the information. I really enjoyed the breakdown of the severities and levels of hypochondriasis.

[@SureshBadaMath]

You are really brave and i admire that you are doing everything to fight these health related anxiety. All the best.
Please do mindfulness to control these anxiety attacks
To know about mindfulness
ruclips.net/video/SKLr2eBZfGY/видео.htmlfeature=shared
God bless you

[@MonkiesFunneh]

I have hypochondriasis It takes over my life and makes sleeping unenjoyable and making every second of my life uncomfortable.

[@ankurbhardwaj4442]

Great and really informative video.. It will really helps the people like me who going thru this

[@SureshBadaMath]

Sorry to hear your journey. You are brave.
I am glad that video was useful.
All the best and god bless you with good health and happiness

[@lv605]

Excellent lecture sir.

[@SureshBadaMath]

Thanks

[@ahmednaif3251]

amazing lecture, thank you doctor

[@mohsinqamar8147]

sir brilliant content I really appreciate your efforts for preparing this content,kindly if you add references of articles and books it would be helpful for us to further learn or investigate as learners. I hope you consider this request.thanks again

[@SureshBadaMath]

Thank you very much for your suggestion
I will add references

[@saahilrashid7827]

Thank you so much sir

[@mohsinqamar8147]

sir particularly could you suggest to me articles or books for your life skills videos like critical thinking, empathy, creative thinking, problem solving and decision making. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon

[@dipalisahoo3002]

Very helpful.

[@SureshBadaMath]

Glad it was
All the best

[@MobinulIslam-pv4bl]

I hay this problem what i do

[@ClaytonMic]

thanks for this

[@SureshBadaMath]

Welcome and all the best

[@SharathS-zi1hd]

Sir i want to consult you pls 😢

[@swatisrivastava6724]

I have problem illness anxiety disorder what is solution

[@swatisrivastava6724]

My doctor suggested two medicines zolpidem and etizolam

[@SureshBadaMath]

Please consult a psychiatrist

[@SharathS-zi1hd]

​@@swatisrivastava6724how r u madam