Hypochondria

[*Army_Wife*]

Has anyone else struggled with hypochondria? Sometimes I feel like no one quite understands the severity of my fears? I'm always terrified of dying, becoming stricken with cancer, aneurisms or some violent crime. I witnessed a pretty horrific death of someone close to me, which was the begininng of this horrible phobia. I wish there was someway to overcoming it. I went an entire year where things felt like they improved, maybe even okay. Yet, now that my husband is away on military duty once again, I feel alone and the phobia is back. I guess I just needed to vent. Thanks to anyone who might be listening.

 

[dfly]

Hello *Army_Wife*,

I read your post, I don't struggle with hypochondria but I can relate to your fear that a violoent crime will happen to you. I have that fear too and it's really really bad. I'm trying to deal with it every day but I just don`t know what to do. Are you in therapy?
I really hope that you will get better soon...I hope I can overcome my fears too

Wish you all the best

dfly

 

[Albertascott]

Yes I can understand fully. I have struggled a lot with hypocondria. If you need to ask questions or need someone to talk to, let me know.

 

[Julian of York]

Dear Army Wife,
Your post says you are a future RN. Congratulations on joining the heaalth care field!
As a orthopedic technician with 35 years experience, I can attest that medical folk have a price to pay for being medical folk. You learn a lot about medical things, a lot about human psychology, and a lot about other's symptoms. The problem is, unless you are the exception to the rule, YOU WILL have a tendency to check yourself for symptoms. Everything that feels odd to you will be internally checked against the knowledge that you aquire, and some of it,friend, will convince you that YOU have that disease/malformation/syndrome/malady. If you have an anxious parent, as I do, it will not help matters. And there is NO STRESS like MEDICAL STRESS! That will play a big factor in your hypochondria.
So,what's a nurse to do?
What I do when symptoms catch me unawares, which is not TOO often, I "Google" up the symptom under "stress" or "anxiety". So far, that catchall has covered almost all of my symptoms.
Also, I ,as a Christian, will not rely wholly on people knowledge. I check with God in prayer and meditation to see if there is something I need to fix or yield to Him about. I also ask Jesus to open my eyes to Scriptures that will help me understand my mind and body.

A wise man wrote: anxiety will not harm you, no matter how it feels. However, some earthly cures and therapy will prove to be very helpful. in adjusting to your self.

Julian of York
"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." Isaiah 32:17