No- a hypochondriac does not know that they are a hypochondriac. If you have hypochondria, then you have constant fears and worries that you may have a serious illness. Even if you go to your doctor, and the doctor does a full history, physical examination, and laboratory studies, and the doctor tells you that nothing […]
What is the best antidepressant for hypochondria?
Hello I’m Dr. Carlo Carandang, and I’m a psychiatrist. Today, I will answer a question about: What is the best antidepressant for hypochondria? The answer is: unfortunately, there are no medications that help for hypochondria. Hypochondria, also known as health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder, is the fear of having a serious medical condition despite […]
Worrying About Health Increases Risk For Heart Disease
A recent study has found that people with health anxiety, also known as hypochondria and illness anxiety disorder, have an increased risk of developing heart disease. This presents a problem for the doctors who have to evaluate a person with unexplained medical symptoms, and have to explain that this is anxiety-based, rather than a medical […]
How Health Anxiety Evolves – The Negative Cycle of Health Anxiety
Today, I will talk about the negative cycle of health anxiety. Health anxiety, also known as hypochondria and illness anxiety disorder, is having intense worry, fears, and preoccupation about the possibility of having an undiagnosed medical illness. So having health anxiety can be highly disruptive to your life, as you spend so much time and […]
What Can I Do to Stop Being a Hypochondriac?
A hypochondriac has persistent beliefs that they are ill. Having hypochondria, or health anxiety, makes you worry constantly that your symptoms could be a sign of some serious medical illness, and you are constantly checking your symptoms and scouring the internet for any information on your possible condition. You may even doctor-shop and have multiple […]