Help, I Think I’m a Hypochondriac! Who Can Help Me?

Are you always worried that you or your child are on the verge of getting sick? 

Every little ache, pain, and weird-looking spot sends you running to your laptop, where you sit and search for what your symptoms might mean. Before you know it, hours have passed, and you’ve got yourself convinced that you’re developing a chronic illness and need to head to the hospital, stat.

Perhaps your family and friends try to reassure you that everything is fine, but you can’t help but stay awake at night and worry that you’re genuinely ill or that your child has something serious.

If this sounds familiar to you, you might already be wondering if you have Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondria). You want to stop feeling so anxious, but you can’t do it on your own, and you don’t know where to turn. Here are a few tips for seeking hypochondriac help.

Tip #1 – Log Off and Redirect

Maybe you woke up with a cold, you feel a bit nauseous, or you’ve had a bad headache all day. If you’re a hypochondriac, your first move might be consulting Google to see what these minor symptoms could add up to. But spending too much time online, especially on medical forums, can leave you worrying about all kinds of illnesses. 

When you feel that impulse to research symptoms, try redirecting yourself by changing you physical space by taking a walk, or shifting thoughts to something task oriented, like planning a meal. If you find it impossible to redirect it might be time to talk to a professional.

No matter who else you turn to for hypochondriac help, limiting your screen time is a good idea. Remember, a diagnosis from an anonymous person on the Internet is not a substitute for real medical advice. 

Tip #2 – Talk to Your Doctor

Perhaps you still need to know that these symptoms are “all in your head,” and that you do have a clean bill of health, after all. To get some straight answers, make an appointment with your primary care doctor for a routine check-up and bloodwork. 

This approach is helpful for two reasons. First, if anything is wrong, you’ll be able to start treatment. But more likely, everything will be fine, and you’ll know for sure that you are dealing with Illness Anxiety Disorder, hypochondria, not a life-threatening physical illness. 

If you find yourself having multiple visits to the doctor to sooth your anxiety, but the worry and fear keeps coming back even if the doctor affirms that you are well, then it may be time to see a therapist.

Tip #3 – See a Therapist

Therapists aren’t just for people suffering from generalized anxiety or clinical depression. People dealing with all kinds of difficulties go to therapy, including hypochondriacs. 

It’s okay to feel nervous or skeptical about seeing a therapist and their ability to help you! Many people do before start. But for a hypochondriac, therapy can make a world of difference. The right therapist will be patient, understanding, and nonjudgmental.  They can help you with tools for health anxiety and offer treatments that can reduce your overall anxiety and bring back some peace into you daily life.

Tip #4 – Consider a Specialist

If you suspect that you might be a hypochondriac with Illness Anxiety Disorder, you might want to consider seeking out a therapist who specializes in hypochondriac help.

Some researchers suspect that hypochondria is closely related to both OCD and anxiety. Therefore, working with a specialist who has experience in both of these areas can be beneficial. A specialist, like those here at the Center for Mental Wellness in California, can help you with variations of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, which has been proven to be effective, and medication if you so choose.

Tip #5 – Lean on Your Loved Ones

You might worry that your loved ones are exasperated by your anxiety around your health. Perhaps you feel ashamed because you’ve complained to them about the ailments you suspected you had in the past, and you’re not sure if they want to hear about your path to treatment. 

But your real friends and a loving partner will feel sympathy for you. When you do decide to seek help, you may feel better if you open up to them about what you’re going through. If you need a shoulder to lean on at this time, don’t be ashamed to tell your loved ones. 

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Looking for San Diego therapists who can help you along your journey to treating anxiety and hypochondria? Contact us today to discuss your options or visit our specialties page today.

Free consultations available, email info@socalmentalwellness.com or call (858) 461-9409.