Telling Signs Of A Hypochondriac

A hypochondriac is a person who always thinks he or she is sick. Such people have extreme fear of illnesses. Their symptoms are often imaginary. Hypochondria is a type of mental illness or phobia; it is an extreme fear of illnesses. There are some signs of a hypochondriac that can help to identify such people.

A person who shows the symptoms of hypochondria needs help. Like any other mental illness or phobia, hypochondria need to be cured. And the only way to cure hypochondria is to know its symptoms. If you look carefully, you can distinguish the signs of a hypochondriac. This is especially apt for your family members and close friends.

If you see the symptoms of a hypochondriac in your near and dear ones, act immediately. Such a person may need help from a counsellor or psychiatrist. It is also important to distinguish between genuine health concerns and imaginary ones.

Here are some signs of a hypochondriac that you need to look out for.

Visit doctor many times

People who suffer from hypochondria visit the doctor several times in quick succession. They always want a medical approval for their symptoms.

Talk to family/friends about illnesses

Whenever they talk to their family members or friends, they discuss their imaginary illnesses.

Examine their own bodies

Hypochondriacs often check their body for lumps, rashes or soreness.

Switch doctors often

When a doctor says that there is nothing wrong with them,
hypochondriacs lose faith in that doctor. They switch to another doctor in the hope of finding some validation.

Read up about diseases

They pore over books and the Internet to read about diseases. And as soon as they read about a disease, they start thinking that they have it.

Imagine symptoms

Most of the symptoms that hypochondriacs experience are imaginary. For example, they complain of stomach pain but tests show no cause of pain in the stomach.

Their symptoms often change

When hypochondriacs get bored with the symptoms of one disease, they shift to another one. Their symptoms are always vague and never specific, so no diagnosis is possible.

Do lots of testes

They keep doing blood tests, ultrasound scans and MRI scans urged by their fear to having a disease.

Check their vitals often

Hypochondriacs frequently check their vital health indicators themselves. They check their blood pressure, pulse, blood sugar etc.