14 subtle signs you’re a hypochondriac

Have your health concerns crossed over into hypochondria? These are the warning signs.

Obviously a lot of us are preoccupied with Covid-19 still, and rightly so, but there’s having an interest in medical subjects and then there’s straight-up obsession. “When someone is so preoccupied about a health problem that they cannot focus on anything else, that’s a classic sign of hypochondria,” says Lauren Muhlheim, PhD, a psychologist. It can be hard to stop talking about an obsession once you start so instead of monopolising every conversation with your health woes, set aside 20 minutes each day to write or talk out your worries and then no more until the next day, she advises.

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And a fourth and a fifth… If you’re still convinced you have cancer even though multiple doctors have examined you and given you a clean bill of health, it may be a sign the problem is more mental than physical, Dr Muhlheim says. To calm your fears, practise challenging fearful or catastrophic thoughts, she says. For instance, ask yourself, “What is the evidence that I have X? What did the doctor say? What is the most likely explanation?”

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Who hasn’t found themselves falling down an Internet rabbit hole after googling “What is this rash?” But if you find yourself continuing to research a particular health problem online, night after night, you may be a hypochondriac, Dr Muhlheim says. The cure? “Avoid googling medical symptoms online – it tends to only increase anxiety because you can find evidence for anything online,” she explains.

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Constantly scanning your body for signs of illness – ”Do I feel hot?” “Does my poop look too brown?” “My foot is itchy and I just ate clams!” – is a sign of hypochondria, Dr Muhlheim says. Resist these urges to check your body, she says, as they can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy, creating symptoms that aren’t really there.

Do you consider all small children germ factories? Do you ditch your friend the second she sneezes? Avoiding any situation that could potentially make you sick is a red flag for hypochondria, Dr Muhlheim says. Instead of being limited by your fears, learn calming and meditation techniques to help you manage your anxieties while you keep living your life, she says.

“Do I look feverish?” “Does this toe look crooked to you?” It’s natural to ask those around you for help but if you’re constantly peppering your loved ones with questions, asking them to verify the health issues you think you have, you may be a hypochondriac, says psychologist Anna Prudovski, a psychologist.

Calling your doctor is a quick way to get reassurance for your health worries but for hypochondriacs, this can turn into a vicious cycle of worry and endless phone calls, Prudovski says. “Remind yourself that nothing in life is certain and that you don’t need to check every single ‘symptom’ even if you have a strong urge to do so,” she advises.

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Constantly drilling others on how they are feeling and comparing your symptoms to others is a fast-track to hypochondria-town, population: you, Prudovski says. But you can find other ways to manage your worry about your health, like taking a walk or hitting the gym.

Doctors are used to getting lots of medical questions during their off time and will often tolerate a few but if you can’t resist finding any medical professional in the vicinity and talking their ear off about your symptoms, you may have crossed over into hypochondria, Prudovski. “The most effective treatment for hypochondria is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT),” she says. “It helps people address their unhelpful beliefs, correct their irrational thoughts, and to change their problematic behaviours.”