Sharanya was working in an IT company, and considered as the Ms perfect in her work, got appreciation as well as increment. While she was in the peak of her career success, she happened to get married and soon after a year she had a baby too. With no other option she had to resign from her job.
Five years later she was a mother of two kids and looking after her family as usual with Ms. Perfect title. However after few years she used to get panicky if she had a headache or back pain. She would think “Do my symptoms match with cancer? Am I suffering from chronic illness? In order to avoid confusions she would search on internet about those issues/diseases and sometime she would consume medication without doctor’s prescription.
After looking into the above case study now you might have understood that there is something wrong with Sharanya’s behaviour.
Yes, she is suffering from anxiety disorder known as hypochondriasis.
It is an overwhelming fear that people think have a serious disease or life-threatening illness even though healthcare providers confirm that they have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. It can also make people misinterpret normal body sensations as signs of a serious illness or generate worries in people who do have a physical illness that they are sicker than they truly are.
The symptoms include
• Excessive worry or fear over having or getting a serious illness.
• Misinterpreting normal body symptoms
• Persistent fear of illness despite reassurance of health status by health care providers.
• Frequently scheduling doctor appointments for reassurance or avoiding medical care due to fear of being diagnosed.
• High Level of anxiety over personal health status.
• Repeatedly checking body for signs of illness.
• Avoiding people, places or activities for fear of health risks.
• Overly excessive worry about a specific disease/illness because it runs in the family.
• Frequently searching the Internet for causes/symptoms of possible severe illness.
• Difficulty maintaining a job, keeping relationships, and performing daily activities due to anxiety and distress.
What are causes for this disorder
Hereditary Influences
Hypochondriasis: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Hypochondriasis or hypochondria, otherwise known as an illness anxiety disorder, is a mental health condition, characterised by excessive worrying about one’s own health, despite there being no apparent signs of disease. Hypochondriasis is also called somatic symptom disorder.
A hypochondriac is the term used to denote a person suffering from hypochondriasis. A healthy individual tends to be concerned about their well-being only when necessary, whereas a hypochondriac obsesses over their health constantly, leading to high levels of anxiety. Regardless of how minor a health-related complaint might be, like a seasonal cold or a slight headache, a hypochondriac is convinced that he or she is undergoing a major critical ailment.
The extent of hypochondriasis depends upon the amount of worry and distress it triggers in the affected individual, as well as the degree to which it hampers his or her day-to-day productivity and normal life.
Hypochondriasis
Hypochondriasis is a chronic condition, which, if left untreated, can impair an individual’s physical fitness and mental faculties for life. It is hence strongly advised to consult with a doctor, as soon as any typical indications of hypochondriasis are detected in a person, to obtain pertinent treatment and ensure their complete recovery.
Causes
The exact cause of hypochondriasis has not yet been determined. However, certain fundamental factors contribute towards the emergence of this health anomaly in people, which include:
Beliefs And Misconceptions
Feeling restless and dissatisfied with simple explanations for usual symptoms.
Hereditary Influences
Individuals who have parents or close family members with hypochondriasis have a greater likelihood of contracting the illness themselves.
Upsetting Past Incidents
Sometimes, a grave disorder in the past, that resulted in much pain and agony, might give rise to irrational thoughts of developing a perilous health condition once again.
Underlying Medical Condition
The chances of obtaining hypochondriasis is much higher in people who already have other psychiatric illnesses, like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder.
This disorder can be treated when the person undergoes psychological treatment like cognitive behaviour therpay where the irrational thoughts, behaviours are replaced with rational one. This is considered as the best treatment method.