Hypochondriacs: alleged sick

2000/10/01 Agirre, Jabier - Medikua eta OEEko kidea Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

Suffering from a disease is never pleasant, but believing that it is sick, without really being, can cause a state of anxiety or anxiety. Hypochondriacs (they are called this way because formerly they were thought to have a liver disease: "hypochondria: under the ribs") so convinced that their illness is true that they get to feel their physical symptoms. Psychological support, as well as family support, are necessary to overcome this situation.

At some point we have all felt concerned about our health, but only a medical explanation or the mere fact of spending time has cast us to the ground. In some people, on the contrary, the disappearance of this nervousness or restlessness is much more difficult: it is the case of hypochondriacs, who only have to hear about a disease to believe that it is they who suffer it.

Normally the concerns and suspicions of hypochondriac people do not usually have any foundation, they are usually totally invented and unfounded, but this does not prevent them, in any way, from feeling “sick”. Hypochondriac lives in a situation of permanent anxiety, which not only prevents him from living a normal life, but prevents him from focusing on other things.

Fear of going to the doctor

Hypochondria is characterized by concern and fear of suffering a serious illness (often not only fear, but the feeling and conviction that they are sick), since this is demonstrated by some symptom or sign of their body, or even something they feel. For them, a urine, a small wound, just a cough, the heart beat itself or any other symptoms, even the most banal, are enough to say that their disease is incurable.

And diagnosis is not usually easy. In most cases, these people turn to the general practitioner (or even specialists) who, of course, find no reason for their illness. When the person addresses a psychologist or psychiatrist if he or she observes that he or she is still shy, he or she will probably not go to your consultation and try to find another doctor who answers your concerns. But on other occasions the fear of being sick is so great that they do not even go to the doctor, thinking that the list of diseases that will diagnose them will be endless. The fall at this end is also not adequate, since any disease that occurs could not be diagnosed.

However, after many laps and many times against his will, if the hypochondriac reaches the psychologist's office, first we must confirm that he does not have any physical illness. However, if the patient continues with his concerns, doubts and anxieties about his health, we begin to think that he may have some psychological problem.

Why does it happen?

The origin of hypoconia remains a great mystery. Hypoconia is based on the catastrophic interpretation of body signs, but it is not clear why this mechanism begins. It is known that this problem is more frequent in certain family environments, which can make us think that there are especially sensitive families at this point, concerned about signs of disease in all their areas and areas: whenever they come together there are no more prayers, their health status is the subject of the day to day, any sign of illness of their children live it with a special gravity, etc.

Losing the fear

Although we do not know why, people who suffer from this problem are really different. They are more sensitive than the rest of the people because the death, pain, suffering, weakness and dependence of others generate a terrible fear. And that only increases and worsens your physical and mental restlessness.

And instead of ending there, the problems of hypoconia begin. To that anguish and discomfort that they live, we must add that others do not understand it. Neither doctors nor family members lend them the help they need. The most heard phrase is "Lasai, you have nothing (serious) and". And this is not at all true, since the psychological processes, the anguish and the psychosomatic diseases are absolutely real, even though the psychological processes that provoke and implement them are psychological processes.

Once the treatment has begun, the main objective is that the patient loses the fear, the anguish that leads to feeling sick and disappears that concern. To do this, they are imposed a series of prohibitions and tasks: that do not go to doctors or to a hospital emergency if they are not really justified, and that do not speak more about health or illness. For most of us these "tasks" would seem quite easy, but for a hypochondrial person who has all his life organized around health/illness it is really difficult. And here the family has a lot to do.

Family members should understand that what that person has is not an excuse or a question, but a real problem, a real psychological problem. And the next step is to start with psychological treatment: losing the fear of symptoms that the patient previously considered as a disease. You have to learn that acceptance of these "symptoms" will make your day to day and your activities simply turn into sensations that allow you to carry on without suffering.

In some cases psychiatric assistance may be necessary; psycho-drugs will be used to help overcome anxiety (always under medical control). In short, it is a question of the person being able to face concrete situations without fear or anxiety, and that the body is not a source of pain or fear, but of pleasure and trust.

If you are really sick:

Having passed a disease or being passing now can give a "push" to be hypochondriac, even more if the disease has been a bit serious. Therefore:

* Try to entertain and do the things you like. Thus, at least in part you will forget the disease.

* Censorship and not talk about these issues. If someone starts with those accounts, take the conversation to another way. In the end, you will feel better.

* Do not isolate. There are no evils, even if it is the most serious, that will improve in solitude. Seek help from family and friends, activities, etc. Share.

* Nor think of excess. Excessively serious information can lead to “feeling” more symptoms than you actually have.

* Do not think so negatively, because that will prevent you from enjoying good moments.

* Do not automate the medicines and always follow the indications of the doctor (both of header and of specialist).