Hypochondria: causes, symptoms, treatment

Have you ever thought that you have serious health problems or, even worse, that you are terminally ill? But what if such thoughts constantly overwhelm you? Caution! Perhaps you are faced with a disease such as hypochondria.

Who is a hypochondriac

According to experts, a person who is constantly concerned about the state of his health, convinced that he has fatal diseases, suffers from hypochondria. Moreover, in fact, no deviations in the field of health, except for this obsession, in reality, are often not observed. Such thoughts continue to dominate a person even after a complete and comprehensive examination of the body, the results of which deny the presence of serious ailments.

For the first time, such a pathological condition was described by Hippocrates. He gave it the name "hypochondria". This word meant diseases of the internal organs, which are located in a person below the ribs. Now the word "hypochondria" is understood as a feigned state and a tendency to despondency.

The condition of hypochondria can occur in people on their own or against the background of another mental illness. In the latter case, hypochondria becomes a companion depression or anxiety panic disorder. Hypochondria goes away on its own if the underlying disease is treated.

According to scientists who have studied this phenomenon, hypochondria is observed in 10% of the total population. American experts say that the number of hypochondriacs is twice as large.

Hypochondria: causes

Now there are many theories explaining the occurrence of hypochondria. Most scientists are inclined that hypochondria occurs under the influence of several reasons.

Here are the most common ones:

• The personality type is of paramount importance for the occurrence of hypochondria. Another I.P. Pavlov pointed out that people with an anxious and suspicious type of psyche are more exposed to hypochondria. These people are distinguished by indecision, they love to reason, they quickly form obsessive thoughts and they are too suspicious. Usually, such individuals come up with all sorts of rituals for themselves, for example, in order not to get sick, they wash their hands all the time. Such habits are formed in childhood and adolescence, and by the age of 40 they reach their full pathological heyday.
• Psycho-traumatic situations of varying degrees of intensity can provoke hypochondria. It could be some kind of transmission about a new type of flu or a recent mild illness. Any such insignificant circumstance is perceived by suspicious people as a threat to life.
• Environmental factors are especially acutely perceived by suspicious people. We can say that it is the environment that produces hypochondria in a suspicious person.
• Other diseases can trigger the development of hypochondria. Often, against the background of a nervous disorder, a person has thoughts that acquire a delusional character. In order to recover, people begin to come up with new methods of treatment for themselves, take kilograms medications, bringing himself to poisoning with this. And they perceive signs of intoxication or exhaustion as manifestations of a fatal illness.

Hypochondria symptoms

A person with signs of hypochondria is absolutely sure that he is sick with an incurable disease or will soon get sick with something like that. He is better than doctors can tell about his diagnosis. But the problem is that he constantly changes this opinion.

The most characteristic sign of hypochondria is the constant "pain" that the hypochondriac feels, as well as other manifestations of the disease. Medical research, as a rule, does not confirm anything of this kind. This fact makes a person even more concerned about his health and strengthens the confidence that doctors do not understand anything.

Most often, hypochondriacs "suffer" from diseases of the heart, stomach, brain or genitals. Over time, obsessive thoughts can lead to the fact that these organs actually develop disorders. This effect is explained by the influence of the psyche on the state of internal organs.

Obsessive states lead to the fact that hypochondriacs create all sorts of protective rituals for themselves. Patients often require family members to follow the same rituals. Hypochondriacs really like their condition, so they feel attention from others.

Hypochondria: Treatment

Getting rid of hypochondria is a very difficult process. This is due, first of all, to the fact that the patient is completely confident in his incurable disease and does not want to be treated for a mental disorder. It is necessary to direct efforts to ensure that a person leads a normal life and changes his behavioral habits, which are the root cause of mental disorders.

The beginning of treatment is the most difficult period. At this moment, the hypochondriac seeks to get rid of the doctor and find another doctor who will confirm his independent diagnosis. In this case, the doctor needs to deceive the patient and pretend that he is watching the development of the imaginary symptoms of the disease. Observation must be carried out over the state of the patient's psyche.

Then you need to develop positive thinking in the patient. Psychotherapy needs to be cured stress from the patient and teach him to interact with the world. In rare cases, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are recommended.

Even in the case of successful getting rid of hypochondria, it is necessary to constantly monitor the person's condition. It must be remembered that the hypochondriac will not get rid of his illness only on his own, he needs the support and help of others.