At one time or another, we have all worried about our health. We've felt strange, and we've used these ailments to search the Internet for what could possibly be wrong with us.
While we may tend to self-diagnosis for those illnesses that seem somewhat minor, we may also visit the doctor for those that won't go away or seem more severe.
Having an inkling that you're sick does not mean that you're suffering from hypochondria. There is a line between the two.
Hypochondria vs. Really Sick
A person who suffers from hypochondria has a strange obsession with illness. If a new disease appears, they force themselves to start feeling the symptoms and then convince themselves that they have it. They tend to experience symptoms of an illness shortly after being around someone who has a cold. They spend hours searching the Internet or reading books on any and all illnesses, trying to determine how many of them they have, and their ailments never seem to remain consistent. Hypochondriacs often check their vital signs multiple times a day and worry whenever there is a slight change in body temperature, pulse or blood pressure.
Those who suffer from hypochondria also tend to have strained relationships with their family and friends. Since they believe they’re always sick, they spend a great amount of time at home missing out on other activities for fear of getting someone else sick or catching a new illness. Hypochondriacs tend to visit their doctor repeatedly for new tests and complaining about new symptoms. They also bounce from one doctor to the next when they’re not receiving the answers they’re looking for.
A person who is actually sick will tend to have more consistent symptoms, and while the symptoms may be less severe, they don't seem to bounce from one part of the body to the next. Those who are really sick may also use the Internet or books to research their symptoms, but they tend to stick to researching only the symptoms they're experiencing and not every possible disease. Plus, if someone is really sick, their lab tests will probably come back abnormal.
Hypochondria and the Internet
Thanks to sites like WebMD, people are using the Internet to self-diagnose themselves based on symptoms they're experiencing. Rather than visit the doctor and have tests run, they are typing their symptoms into a search field and assuming they have whatever disease appears. The problem is that many different diseases can have the same symptoms as other diseases, which is why it's important to visit a doctor for tests.
The Internet is a powerful tool for hypochondriacs, as it allows them to thoroughly research a disease (or diseases) and get to know every symptom possible. They strongly believe that they have this disease and they force themselves to start feeling the symptoms.
Hypochondria and the doctor
If you are suffering from hypochondria, it is often a good idea to talk with a mental health provider. These individuals can listen to your ailments and your thoughts and beliefs and possibly determine where your hypochondria is stemming from. If you're a hypochondriac and you don't seek the right care—or if you keep treating yourself for diseases you don't really have—you could actually be doing severe damage to your body and truly making yourself sick. Anxiety plays a huge role on our overall health, and it's important to receive the right treatment for the right disease to ensure that you remain healthy.
Chelsea Smith is a medical student at the University of Texas with a passion for writing. She loves to write about her interests and often discusses ways to stay healthy in both body and mind.
Photo Credit: Simply Stardust
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