14 subtle signs you’re a hypochondriac

Hypochondriacs are notorious for catastrophising—taking a small symptom to its worst possible outcome, says Forrest Talley, PhD, a psychologist. These fears quickly become impervious to reason and logic so to help keep yourself in check, have a friend or family member that you can call to keep you accountable. This doesn’t mean they try to talk you out of your symptoms but rather simply remind you that you have a tendency towards hypochondria and are likely just fine.

Learn more about catastrophising – and how to stop it. 

Do you constantly move from one health worry to the next, never feeling well? Having a rotating cast of vague symptoms that never seem to have any medical cause when you see a doctor may be an indication of hypochondria, says Heidi McBain, a licensed professional counsellor. The next time you catch yourself cataloguing every twinge and pain, try to divert your mind by focusing on your senses and staying present in the moment, she says.

Friends tell you that you’re fine. Your spouse says you seem great. Your doctor has given you a clean bill of health. Yet if after all this you still feel sick, there’s a solid chance you’re suffering not from obscure illness but from hypochondria, McBain says. Don’t get caught in this negative loop. “Keep a gratitude journal to help you see and focus on all the positive aspects of your life,” she advises.

People with illness anxiety disorder (IAD), a more accurate term for hypochondria, may have difficulty trusting their clinicians and test results, and may keep asking for additional exams or testing or even to repeat prior tests, says Azra Alic, LCSW, an anxiety disorder specialist. “The thing is, there will always be one more test that could be run or one more doctor to visit, but at some point, you have to make a choice between living your life fully in spite of uncertainty versus missing out on other parts of your life because you are so busy pursuing certainty,” she says.

This may seem counter-intuitive but some hypochondriacs avoid seeing medical professionals or making appointments for routine check-ups as they are so anxious about the possibility of getting bad news, Alic says. Peace will come in accepting that there are no black or white answers about your health and avoiding the doctor can make a potential issue worse, she adds.

Next, find out the things to never say to someone suffering from any form of anxiety.

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Source: RD.com