4 Management Options for Hypochondria
Hypochondria is a type of anxiety disorder that makes one worry that they are too ill or about to develop a serious medical condition. As a result, it is also referred to as health anxiety, illness anxiety disorder, or hypochondriasis. This anxiety can have an impact on professional, academic, and social life, as well as their ability to function on a daily basis. Nevertheless, the condition can be managed with appropriate treatment.
Understanding hypochondria and its symptoms
Hypochondria is more common among those who have experienced major stress, illness, or death in the family, who have a serious physical condition, or who have existing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. The disorder may be characterized by the following symptoms:
- Thinking a lot about having or coming down with a serious illness while n ot experiencing any associated symptoms or exhibiting mild symptoms
- Consulting a doctor several times (but not accepting their reassurance)
- Performing unreasonable health-related behaviors, such as opting for loads of medical tests and screenings and skipping doctor’s appointments to avoid diagnoses
- Constantly talking about health with friends and family
- Experiencing trouble sleeping and staying up late to browse the internet for symptoms
- Experiencing problems with family, work, and social life due to the obsession with health
Management options
To help one manage the anxiety over their health, the following options could be considered:
1. Working with a doctor
Working with the primary care provider or mental health practitioner and scheduling regular visits with them can help one trust them. During this time, one must work to set reasonable limits on tests and evaluations. However, one should avoid working with multiple doctors for the same issues, as it may increase the risk of duplicate testing. To prepare for the initial appointment, one should make a note of the following details:
– Symptoms, including when they first occurred and how they impact daily life
– Key personal events, such as any major traumatic or stressful events in the past
– A history of one’s medical information
– A list of questions to ask the doctor
Those who believe they are dealing with hypochondria and are worried about the first visit to the doctor may also bring along a trusted family member or friend.
2. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), behavioral stress management, and exposure therapy, can help manage the emotional distress of hypochondria. CBT may work in the following ways:
– Identifying fears and beliefs regarding serious medical conditions
– Learning alternate ways to understand or experience bodily sensations
– Gaining awareness of how worries take control over one’s thoughts and emotions
– Changing the way one responds to bodily sensations
– Employing coping strategies for stress, depression, and anxiety
– Reducing social avoidance
– Improving engagement in daily tasks, work, and academics.
To start with therapy for hypochondria, one can first consult their primary care doctor and ask them for a list of therapists in the area. Alternatively, one can also speak to their friends and family for recommendations or conduct a simple online search by looking up “therapist for hypochondria near me.”
3. Prescription treatment
In more severe cases, doctors may recommend prescription treatments to manage health anxiety. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that carries signals between brain cells. The prescription treatment for hypochondria works by preventing or blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, thereby increasing its activity. However, side effects are common with these options, so one should work closely with the healthcare provider to find the best course of action.
4. Lifestyle changes
To aid these clinical treatments, one may also make certain lifestyle changes and adopt home remedies, such as:
Manage stress: Symptoms of health anxiety may worsen with stress. So, one must engage in stress management and relaxation techniques. One can turn to practices such as yoga or meditation or opt for progressive relaxation methods to deal with stress and anxiety.
Exercise: Exercising helps release endorphins, which can have a calming effect on the mind. One can work on a progressive or graduated exercise program to improve daily functioning and manage anxiety levels effectively.
Participate in social activities: Continuing to engage in social activities, such as involving oneself in work events, school programs, or family outings, can also help manage stress and anxiety associated with hypochondria.
Avoid looking up symptoms online : The internet has a rather large collection of articles on diseases and infections. Often, the diseases that pop up may not be the reasons for the symptoms one is experiencing. To minimize anxiety and avoid confusion, it is advisable to avoid looking up symptoms online. Instead, one can note the signs down and discuss them with the primary care provider at the next appointment.
Join a support group: Joining a health anxiety support group can also help hypochondriacs. These groups are safe spaces for those with the condition to discuss their concerns. With time, support group meetings can help reduce the feeling of isolation and foster trust and comfort among members. They may also help one adopt different coping mechanisms, lifestyle adjustments, and relaxation techniques that have worked for others with similar symptoms.
