Verified By Apollo Hospitals October 3, 2024
Hypochondria is a health anxiety disorder, where the patient excessively worries about the possibility of falling acutely ill. A hypochondriac may not have physical symptoms, but considers minor symptoms- or regular sensations in the body as a sign of acute illness- even if a medical examination denies that existence of an underlying medical condition. Hence, it is the extreme anxiety in the person, rather than the symptoms, that result in immense distress that can disturb normal life.
Hypochondria is a disorder caused by anxiety that can fluctuate in terms of severity, and it is a long-term condition. The condition can become serious due to stress or age. Psychotherapy is a way of alleviating anxiety, and, at times, it can be cured through medication.
The American Psychiatric Association, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not include ‘hypochondriasis or hypochondria’ as a diagnosis any longer. Now, people who were earlier diagnosed with Hypochondria can be diagnosed as having an illness pertaining to anxiety disorder- where the focus is on the fear or excessive worry caused about one’s health.
Here are the common symptoms of Hypochondria:
Hypochondria is a disorder that can begin as an early adult or during mid-adulthood. It usually gets aggravated with age, and older adults can even suffer from memory loss due to excessive health-related anxiety.
The following are the risk factors that can be associated with Hypochondria:
The objective of treatment is to assist in anxiety management when it comes to your health and to enhance your capability to function normally in daily life. Talk therapy or psychotherapy is quite beneficial in relieving anxiety disorder or Hypochondria. At times, even medication is recommended to alleviate acute anxiety.
Psychotherapy, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), has proven to be an effective treatment for providing relief from physical sensations that are caused due to health-related anxiety and emotional suffering. Besides CBT, there are other therapies such as Exposure Therapy and Behavioural Stress Management that can also help your anxiety.
At times, you might be given anti-depressants that can help cure, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). You can also be given medications to help enhance mood and reduce anxiety. For this, it is important to consult a doctor to weigh the available options and their associated risks and side-effects.
Not much is medically known about how to prevent Hypochondria; however, the following preventive measures can be used as precautions:
The exact cause of Hypochondria is unknown, but certain circumstances can increase the risk of developing this disorder such as life stress, a major symptom that appears life-threatening, child abuse history, illness during childhood or a mental disorder history.
You can initiate professional treatments for Hypochondria which include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, exposure therapy, behavioural stress management, or medications such as antidepressants.
Yes, the mind of people suffering from Hypochondria makes them believe that even simple physical sensations or minor issues are critical and pose a serious health threat.