Hypochondria - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Hypochondria means a person's condition, which is manifested due to constant anxiety due to illness or disease. Such anxiety is manifested in the concern of perceptions of ordinary sensations, their own physical health. In hypochondria, a person is absolutely sure that he has a disease, but his degree of conviction is constantly changing, because of this he attributes himself some kind of disease. Causes of
Symptoms of hypochondria
The first symptoms in this disease is considered to be that the person is too sensitive to his body. As a result, such attention escalates into anxiety. Any change, pain sensation is considered by such a person as an incurable disease.
The person during hypochondria undertakes any attempts to protect his health, he becomes nervous. As a result, this person starts taking unproven medications. In the end, the hypochondria grows into a complete apathy or a panic state. This disease progresses if attention to one's health increases, and anxiety progresses.
Diagnosis of hypochondria
Diagnosis of this disease is laborious enough, most of the patients are convinced that their symptoms are caused by different physical diseases. The attending physician will compare the symptoms described by the patient with the survey data and other studies.
If the doctor does not find a reason for the observed symptoms, he will send the patient to an appointment with a psychiatrist who will diagnose mental illness. The psychologist, on the behavior of the patient will diagnose and any illness from the symptoms of hypochondria. To confirm the diagnosis of hypochondria, the doctor uses data from a survey of people surrounding the patient in daily life or special tests.
Treatment of hypochondria
Treatment of hypochondria is to help the patient live and work in the usual rhythm of life, even if he continues to have symptoms. One of the main goals is to change the stereotypes of thinking that underlie the disease.
The hypochondria is difficult to treat. This fact is due to the fact that patients do not believe that their symptoms are a result of a mental disorder and are not caused by any other physical causes.
In hypochondria, the critical period is the initial stage, very often the patient refuses treatment during this period, he is looking for another specialist who is able to provide conclusions that fit his own conclusions.
Most often the disease is susceptible to patients:
- people with problems in sexual life and communication, often they are looking for problems in their health;
- with psychoses of various forms.
- older people who do not take their age;
- in the presence of various neuroses;
- with delusions.
The onset of hypochondria is due to an ambiguous doctor's phrase, from viewing medical advertisements. Patients react emotionally and acutely to manifestations of physical defect or discomfort. Even such health problems as a runny nose can be regarded as severe.
To achieve the ideal health, a person makes great efforts, applies various diets, takes a lot of supplements, vitamins, medicines. Such people do not want to be treated for the "existing disease", they think that they are treated wrongly, often they start litigation with doctors and clinics. This kind of hypochondria can be a signal that schizophrenia or psychopathy is coming.
To date, there is no prophylaxis of hypochondria. But having created a favorable environment in the family, this will help to reduce the manifestations of symptoms, and then the treatment will be much faster.
