In an increasingly health-conscious society, it is common to be concerned about our physical well-being. After all, our health is the most important thing we have, and it is normal to worry when something feels wrong. People with hypochondria, however, are trapped in a constant, overwhelming state of anxiety about their health. For some, this manifests in ongoing worry about becoming ill, while others are convinced they are already suffering from significant health problems even if they have no symptoms of illness. If you suffer from hypochondria, you may identify normal bodily sensations or minor symptoms as signs of severe illness despite being perfectly healthy. If you have legitimate health concerns, you may be consumed with anxiety about the progression of your illness or become convinced that your condition is far worse than it truly is. This extreme preoccupation can damage your interpersonal relationships and affect your ability to work.
It is important to note that people with hypochondria are not faking symptoms or acting out for attention. Your fear, anxiety, and worry are very real and propel you to believe that you will experience or are experiencing legitimate health problems. As a result, you may be compelled to seek out diagnoses, undergo extensive medical testing, and even submit to invasive medical procedures in your attempt to identify and alleviate the illnesses from which you believe you are suffering. For some, this results not only in unnecessary physical trauma but in significant medical expenses.
The exact origins of hypochondria are not known, but experts believe that both genetics and environment can play an important role in its development. People who experienced childhood illness, grew up with a parent suffering from serious illness or hypochondria, or who generally tend toward anxious, catastrophic thinking are all more likely to develop the condition. Surviving childhood trauma or abuse may also be a risk factor. For some, however, hypochondria has no easily identifiable root.
