Hypochondriacs Common?
By crazyredhead
@crazyredhead (954)
United States
March 30, 2009 11:11pm CST
SO many of my friends freak out when they hear something runs in the family or they research something just to find out that "OH NO! I have some of these symptoms!"
A friend recently found out that his dad had schizophrenia before he died and decided to research the topic. He read the 'early signs' and began to think he had schizophrenia. One of them being that he was worried about his appearance. Is this not something human? Another was that he picks his scabs. Again, human?
It's not specific to one person, it just happens to almost everyone! Do you get this ever or have you seen it happen to others?
2 people like this
2 responses
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
31 Mar 09
I read in the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill. In it he says something like a reputable doctors says that about 75% of all causes he treats are from people with Hypochondria. It comes more from worrying about an illness, then actually being ill. He also states that fear of loss of health is one of the greatest fears we live with. It is apparently very common.
@crazyredhead (954)
• United States
9 Apr 09
Thanks for the source. It seems that a lot of people tend to exaggerate their symptoms to say they have something.
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
9 Apr 09
I know where you are coming from. I have seen some people that seem to have hypochondriac tendencies. As far as I know they might have some of the ailments they are complaining about.
I can also see where if someone reads something in a medical text or other type of research it can lead them to exaggerate whatever their symptoms might be.
I guess that I have been somewhat guilty of this myself. But I try not to take it too far.
1 person likes this
@crazyredhead (954)
• United States
9 Apr 09
Yeah, I try not to worry so much about having the illnesses they start to talk about on tv and stuff.
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
21 Apr 09
I would like to thank you for the award of best response. I know that there are some hypochondriacs that exist and feel that they have all of these ailments or maladies. However sometimes people need to know where to draw the line.
What happens if one day a hypochondriac is really sick and then their relative or friend doesn't believe them? Then they could have some trouble because of complaining too much every other time.
Once again I might sometimes see some symptoms mentioned on the television or computer in some kind of medical text but I try just to use my judgment and not take it too far.
