hy·po·chon·dri·ac
noun /ˌhīpəˈkändrēˌak/
Web definition: A patient with imaginary symptoms and ailments.
Hypochondria is a complex name for a complex condition. Have you ever had a headache that you swore occurred because you were getting sick? Did you read about something and think suddenly that those same symptoms were like those of yours?....but really they weren't at all? If you think you are going to get sick, you won't..it can't happen, but you certainly can "will" yourself into believing it. How about flu-like symptoms, you think you've got them...until one office call later your doctor tells you that you have no bugs? What about cramps in your stomach, back pain, and nausea, for no apparent reason, but you're sure that you've fallen ill? It must be that new disease that I have....NO NO NO! In most cases generally you are fine! In most cases you can't catch what someone else has, and just because you don't feel well doesn't necessarily mean the worst. Life is far too short to worry all the time. With worry comes the "excuse making" era....I can't do it because I am sick. I can't do it because my doctor said so, I can't do it because it will increase my chances of....? If you continue to think and live like this you will become a prisoner of your own body. Think about it!
Well, psychiatrists are looking very closely at many case studies and have concluded that, most of the time, it's all in your head. The facts are that only 16% of patients that see their General Practitioners for common ailments actually have physiological causes for their sicknesses. So what does this mean in reality terms? It means that most of us are seriously full of shit. We're not sick, but it sounds like we sure are. The other 84% have no identifiable source for the ailment, and are usually told to take Tylenol or Aspirin. Doctors are also getting annoyed. Imagine when 84% of your daily patients turn out to be nothing more than stress-related illnesses, when you wish you had more time to treat and diagnose the other 16% who really have serious physical health problems.
The person starts to believe he is infected with some kind of bug, or even worse, has developed cancer or another life-threatening disease. This causes even more stress. The patient finally goes to see a doctor and is disappointed to hear that nothing is wrong with him (wouldn't you be happy?). He concludes that all doctors are wrong and that he's 100% certain that he is dying. So not true, but he doesn't think so....that adds even more stress...more illness. So how can a person start to break free from this downward spiral into a living hell? Get Over It!
Step 1: Accept the unacceptable
You must accept the fact that there is nothing wrong with you physically. Of course, a physician or therapist would be the best person to tell you this. So listen to them carefully when they say this to you. Take their advice and follow their actions and suggestions. Difficult as this will be, it is a necessity for your mental health and your life style.
Step 2: Change your attitude! Now that you have accepted the possibility that it might all be in your head, start changing your outlook on key issues and problems in your life. If you lost someone dear to you recently, take the time to mourn properly and don't hold emotions in (i.e. cry if you need to). Laugh out loud at yourself and try to be positive! Confidence and being optimistic go hand in hand!
Step 3: Alter that wardrobe....That's right, you heard me, go shopping! Change that dreary wardrobe. Put the dark colors away and look alive again!! Last time your friends and family checked you were alive and on earth not 6 feet under...so damn it, start acting like it! Go shopping. Change your sense of style. By doing so, you'll be changing your sense of self-worth. Become a new person, literally. Buy new cologne, new ties and a new pair of shoes. How about a nice chic suit?
Step 4: Upgrade your activity levels....do it! By exercising more, you will naturally decrease the levels of stress hormones in your body. This will begin to relax you in ways you never thought possible. And by reducing stress, you will reduce the initial cause and root of your problems. Hey, guess what? It's healthy too! I walk for 10 minutes in the morning and ten minutes at night on the treadmill and it makes me feel better. Take it slow, but trust me, with increasing your blood circulation your metabolism rate changes and you're on your way to being more active and happy!
Step 5: Change your normal everyday surroundings.... Go out more. See a movie with friends and family. Go for weekend hike and camping in the park. Take your significant other out for a nice dinner. By changing your social setting, you will develop more social skills and people will begin to like you for the fun-loving person that you are. This change in social anxiety and your mental health will decrease those nasty thoughts of pain and your phantom symptoms will vanish. Now, it might take a while as all of this surely did not develop over night, BUT it's a start and you will be so happy once you begin to change the cycle and you will certainly notice a change. This is also something that just doesn't happen to adults, in fact, stactistics are strongly increasing and numbers and tests are showing that some hypochondriacs are quite young. Why you ask? Because children practice what you preach. If you are a parent, think twice before you open your yap and complain because chances are, you mental genetics will rub off on your children...and then there were 2. Stop the cycle.
Stop making up excuses and deal with it! No more if the "My Doctor Said" stuff.....remember this scene from 'Clueless?" Such a classic..... "My plastic surgeon doesn't want me doing anything where balls fly at my nose"
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