Are you always worrying about the latest health scare? Do you often find yourself fearing that you might be seriously ill? Or are you someone who pooh-poohs the media's latest health scare and believes that life's too short to worry? Find out more about hypochondria and discover the signs and symptoms of this debilitating condition. Then take our quiz and learn just how much of a hypochondriac you are!
A hypochondriac may experience severe anxiety form something as simple as a sneeze or cough, fearing that it is the first sign of severe disease. Hypochondria or health anxiety is a fairly widespread complaint, accounting for 5% of all outpatient appointments in the US every year.
This form of severe health anxiety frequently begins early in adult life. It's often triggered by an individual suffering an illness or losing someone they know to a medical condition. About 60% of hypochondriacs also experience other mental health issues, such as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and panic attacks. Symptoms vary but may include:
Hypochondriacs' continuous anxiety can actually cause physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and fatigue, so if you don't address the condition, it can become very debilitating.
Read the following statements and decided whether you agree or disagree. Write down how much times you agree and disagree. Then add up your scores to find your result below:
1. You never seem to feel normal or well.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
2. When you get a bug that's going around, you always worry if it's something much serious.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
3. You research the symptoms associated with unusual illnesses.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
4. You worry that you might have cancer or a tumour.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
5. You often feel faint.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
6. Even after a doctor has given you a clean bill of health, you are still convinced you're ill.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
7. Whenever you're feeling a little below par, you consult your doctor, just for reassurance. Or do you always avoid the doctor for fear of bad news?
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
8. When a new virus makes an appearance, you are very anxious about catching it.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
9. You take a lot of days off sick from work or school.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
10. You stress about catching infections when you are out and about in public places.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
11. You often suffer from bad headaches.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
12. People frequently remark about you being ill so often.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
13. You are inclined to feel fatigued.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
14. You take at least six tablets a day (including prescribed drugs, supplements and vitamins).
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
15. You regularly self medicate for any minor aches and pains with painkillers or paracetamol.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
16. You sometimes worry that your heartbeat sounds abnormal.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
17. You Google symptoms of various conditions to diagnose yourself.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
18. You can't relax on a walk in the countryside in case you get bitten by a tick carrying Lyme Disease.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
19. You worry about radiation from X-Rays at the dentist.
⚪ Agree
⚪ Disagree
20. When you can't remember something, you worry if it's the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
⚪Agree
⚪Disagree
Add up how many times you ticked Agree:
0 - 5
While you might or might not be in the best of health, you don't worry about it. You aren't a hypochondriac: you understand that you can't control everything about your health, and so there's no point in worrying about it.
6 -15
You are somewhat of a hypochondriac, but it's not too much of a problem (yet!). Even when your doctor reassures you, you may be watching your health a bit more closely than is good for you.
15- 20
You are definitely a hypochondriac, although you might not have been aware of it. If left untreated, hypochondria can become overwhelming and have a significant impact on your quality of life. There are several options for treating hypochondria, including counselling and CBT(cognitive behavioural therapy). Bach Flower Mix 85 also supports you in overcoming health anxiety, whether you're worrying excessively about your own health or that of your partner or child.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20373782
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/health-anxiety/
Headaches can be a real nuisance, especially if you get them frequently. Luckily, there are many natural ways to prevent and relieve headaches without needing to reach for over the counter medication.
Lynn Anderson told it very nicely in her song “I beg your pardon; I never promised you a rose garden”. Life isn’t all roses and everybody experiences something they would rather not once in their life.
Read the complete article
Nowadays, it can sometimes seem almost everyone has a mental health issue or learning disorder. But, are we too quick to label people, or is it that we are more aware of the problems? This article looks at some of the issues surrounding these sensitive questions.
Millions of people furloughed for months are now being recalled to work. Others, who have been working from home throughout the lockdown, are returning to the office. And some jobs have simply disappeared: many people are facing redundancy and will soon have to cope with job hunting. Going back to work after an unprecedented length of time at home is quite a challenge.
Going back to school during a pandemic is a new experience for everyone, and it's understandable if children are feeling anxious about it. We take a look at some of the issues and how you can help your child to get ready for returning to the classroom.
As parents, we often worry about a poor school report as much, if not more, as our kids do! And if your child's grades are slipping, you'll be looking for reasons and if there's anything you can do to help.
Sexual desire is a complex interaction of hormones, emotions and well-being. When your partner is not as interested in sex as you are, it’s rarely a rejection of you as a person. So it’s essential to be as empathetic as you can regarding your differing libidos.
Do you always feel that everything’s always going wrong? Find out how to stop this cycle of bad thoughts in its tracks. When you think positively, things will start to appear positive and you will eventually feel more positive and optimistic.
While you often hear people joking that they have OCD because they like to keep their house clean and tidy, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be a distressing and debilitating mental health condition with a wide range of symptoms.
Children's imaginations know no limits and their dreams are a mix of hopes and fantasies, the real and the magical, the impossible and the achievable.
Are you unsure which Bach flowers can help you? Contact Tom for free advice.
