Hypochondria: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment
Is health anxiety controlling your life? Serenity Grove offers Hypochondria treatment in Athens, GA.
Living with hypochondria means questioning every symptom a person has, real or perceived. Hypochondriacs may sneeze and assume they are developing the flu or have mysterious symptoms that they think mean cancer.
Serenity Grove understands the intense stress and anxiety that living with hypochondria causes. We created a program for hypochondria treatment that helps people learn to see their health more clearly and not jump to frightening conclusions. We offer residential and outpatient levels of care that make a real difference in reducing the stress of constantly assuming the worst about a person’s health.
To learn more about our anxiety disorder treatment in Georgia, call us at 888.448.6861.
What is Hypochondria?
Hypochondria is now known more commonly as health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder (IAD). Approximately 4% to 5% of people have the disorder, although the number may be higher because so many people with it go undiagnosed. Hypochondriacs obsess about their health and focus on every symptom they have, whether real or perceived.
While it’s important for people to be aware of any changes in their physical health and see a doctor when necessary, hypochondriacs take it to the extreme. They often have multiple doctor’s appointments and do not trust the results if they indicate nothing is wrong. Being a hypochondriac causes tremendous anxiety and often keeps a person from fully participating in life because of constant fears about their health.
Understanding Health Anxiety Disorders
Hypochondria isn’t the only health anxiety disorder, but it is the most commonly known one. Others include somatic symptom disorder and cyberchondria. The medical symptoms a person has, whether minuscule or big, scare the individual into believing they have a chronic or deadly illness. Having cancer is one of the biggest fears hypochondriacs face.
Causes of Hypochondria
Hypochondria typically develops in early or middle adulthood. Contributing factors that influence a person developing it include:
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- A previous long-term illness
- A loved one who had a long-term illness
- The death of a loved one from illness
- A family history of the disorder
- Obsessive internet searches related to health
Signs and Symptoms of Hypochondria
Someone in need of hypochondria treatment will exhibit signs and symptoms that indicate they have the disorder. These include:
- Constantly in search of any changes in a person’s health and the symptoms they have
- Making excessive doctor appointments
- Preoccupied with the idea that the individual is sick or will be soon
- Experiencing constant anxiety about a person’s health
- Willing to undergo several medical tests, even if a doctor advises they aren’t necessary
- Often visiting sites like WebMD to search for information about a person’s health
- Assuming any health issues present in their family history will happen to them
- Obsessively discussing health issues with others
Our Mental Health Treatment Programs for Hypochondria
Our hypochondria treatment programs include several levels of care. We assess each person before they begin treatment to determine which level will best suit their needs.
Our mental health treatment programs include:
How Do We Treat Hypochondria?
Treating hypochondria involves attending different types of therapy that help people ease symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Each therapy has a unique way of helping people express their fears and identify triggers that may cause hypochondria.
Common Problems People With Hypochondria Face
People in need of hypochondria treatment face a lot of issues as a result of having this disorder. They experience tremendous anxiety on a daily basis and often have depression, too. Their focus is on their health and fear of current or new symptoms that may develop. Their obsession can lead them to do poorly at work or in school and impact their willingness to participate in social functions.
People with hypochondria often spend a lot of money on doctor’s appointments and medical testing. This can happen to the point the individual has financial difficulties. Family members and friends may tire of the constant conversations that center on health and begin to pull away from relationships.
Why Serenity Grove?
Serenity Grove doesn’t view treatment as an assembly line process. Our staff gets to know each person we treat so we can match them with the right therapy modalities for their needs. We make sure to offer compassionate and understanding support so the individual does not feel ashamed of their disorder. Serenity Grove believes in the power of each person to minimize their symptoms and stop being ruled by a fear of declining health.
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