+971 4561 6876Hypochondriasis Treatment
Hypochondriasis or health anxiety is a mental health condition in which the indi...read more
Hypochondriasis or health anxiety is a mental health condition in which the indi...read more
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Hypochondriasis or anxiety disorder is when a person repeatedly checks the body's signs or symptoms of illness or any severe diseases. Unusually get doctor appointments and create illness scenarios in their mind. At some point, a person avoids medical care because of the fear of being diagnosed with a serious illness and consistently talking about feeling unhealthy.
Illness anxiety disorder is a specific type of anxiety about having a disease. The core symptom is illness fear and checking medical health and blood pressure or taking appointments and consultations with doctors. Anxiety disorder is very usual and must be treated by a certified Hypochondriasis therapist.
Anxiety can be treated without medicine, but a patient needs to get consistent therapy sessions. Medication may have side effects, but anxiety therapies will make your symptoms less triggered and help you to get back to your daily life routine.
Hypochondriasis or health anxiety is a mental health condition in which the individual excessively worries and fears suffering from a physical health condition. It leads to anxiety and affects the ability to function adequately in daily life. However, psychological assessment enables the specialist to diagnose the illness and utilize therapies and medications to manage the symptoms.
The known hypochondriasis symptoms, according to DSM-5, are:
The individual remains mentally occupied with the thoughts of becoming chronically ill. It induces anxiousness and affects the ability to complete everyday tasks.
The individual excessively worries and fears they will suffer from a deadly disease that will affect their life. It affects their relationships and performance.
The person gets easily alarmed by physical health changes. Individuals with hypochondriasis constantly monitor their bodily changes and think that body sensation is symptoms of a disease.
Individual struggles to cope with negative test results. The individual feels that the tests recommended by the doctor are not showing the results that prove they are sick.
Hypochondriasis causes the person to feel unsafe around people and strange places. The person constantly fears that they will come in contact with bacteria, which will cause infections. The irrational fear of getting infected that can be life-threatening affects productivity and relationships.
The individual wants to take second opinions even after the tests come negative. They feel they should set appointments with various specialists without any physical symptoms.
The complications associated with hypochondriasis are:
The individual diagnosed with hypochondriasis remains anxious and worried about their physical health. It affects their relationships as they constantly talk about their health. The avoidance of strange places affects intimate relationships. Also, parents and siblings may become agitated by repetitive irrational behavior. Hypochondriasis affects personal and professional relationships.
The individual who remains mentally preoccupied with their health without exhibiting signs can lose interest in professional work. The person diagnosed with hypochondriasis struggles to focus and prioritize their work and career. Thus, they have low productivity and fewer chances of thriving in their careers and grasping better opportunities.
The person with hypochondriasis constantly spends the savings on doctors’ appointments and medical tests, which causes financial instability. People who spend on medical bills without insurance are at a higher risk of living with social and financial instability. It can lead to anxiety and other mental health problems that negatively influence the quality of life.
According to the statistical analysis of a study published on ResearchGate 9.3% of students studying at a medical school in UAE exhibited signs id health anxiety. The exact reason for suffering from hypochondriasis and related complications is not known. However, the factors that can lead to the illness are:
Individuals with a traumatic childhood with mental torture are at a higher risk of exhibiting signs of hypochondriasis in later life.
The person who feels they cannot bear pain is more likely to overthink their bodily sensations. The constant worry and fear can cause the individual to exhibit signs of hypochondriasis and suffer from the correlating complications.
The individual with parents or close family members who excessively worry about their health can affect the thought process. Parents may become role models, which causes the child to have an excessive fear of suffering from chronic diseases.
People who search for their physical symptoms on the internet are prone to show signs of hypochondriasis.
People who have seen a close member of the family suffer from a deadly disease, such as cancer, which can lead to hypochondriasis. Losing a loved one can trigger hypochondriasis and affect the individual to cope with the bodily changes without fear of suffering from a life-threatening disease.
The preventive measures that can help in minimizing the chances of hypochondriasis and related complications are:
Individuals with a higher risk of suffering hypochondriasis must avoid using the internet to self-diagnosis the illness. It can induce anxiety and affect the ability to function adequately. It is necessary to put trust in the specialist and avoid taking second opinions.
People who become physically active and engage in recreational activities divert their attention from physical health. It enables them to manage the symptoms of hypochondriasis.
Relaxation techniques help the person remain calm and content. It allows them to understand the situation and make rational decisions about health and finances. Therefore, people must learn stress-reducing techniques to enhance their overall health.
The therapist will use hypochondriasis DSM 5 criteria to diagnose the illness and its severity. The hypochondriasis symptoms and psychological assessment will allow the therapist to understand the cause of the mental health illness.
The therapy aims to interact with the client to understand their thought process. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals with hypochondriasis to change their negative thinking and make rational decisions based on reality.
The individuals may suffer from extreme anxiety that affects their functioning. In such cases, the psychiatrist prescribes antidepressants to reduce mood swings and help them function adequately.
The individual with hypochondriasis should learn and practice relaxation techniques and avoid using illicit drugs. People may use alcohol and recreational drugs for temporary relief. It can worsen the symptoms and lead to multiple complications.
Individuals exhibiting signs of hypochondriasis must seek professional help from a competent and reliable specialist through Fitcy Health. The person may struggle to visit the therapist due to their symptoms. Hence, they can connect through Fitcy Health and have an online session for diagnosis and guidance regarding the effective treatment plan to enhance their quality of life.
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