There are no specific medications to treat hypochondria, which is the fear of having a serious medical illness. Medications, such as antidepressants, can be helpful to treat any concurrent depression or anxiety disorder you may have. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is the treatment of choice for hypochondria. CBT can help you to understand the triggers of your hypochondria, and the irrational thoughts which induce the anxiety, which then lead you to maladaptive behaviors that occur in response to the anxiety, which includes overeducation, overchecking, multiple doctor visits, and multiple medical tests.
The most important 1st step is to have insight that you may have hypochondria. Only until then are you going to find a solution to your problem, because if you continue with your quest to find what is 'wrong,' you will not stop until you find that you have a serious medical illness. After you consider that you may have hypochondria, then you should have a discussion with your family physician about this. Certainly, if your family physician is judgmental and only invalidates you, then find a family doctor who will listen to you. A good physician will listen to your concerns, and will objectively find out through history, physical, and medical investigation if you indeed have a medical problem. If nothing is found, then your doctor can reassure and educate you that you are indeed healthy, and your doctor will follow you closely until you are rest-assured that you indeed are healthy. Certainly, if your doctor is not able to convince you that you are healthy despite adequate medical investigations, then your doctor may recommend that you start CBT with a therapist.
For more information on hypochondria, click here.
