All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Hypochondriac MAG
I have a sickness called hypochondria. Well, truthfully, I don’t consider it an illness. I just consider it a burden. When you have hypochondria, life doesn’t seem real. It feels like you’re watching a copy of yourself, who’s watching a copy of a copy.
Hypochondria, or the scientific term hypochondriasis, is a disorder where someone thinks he has every ailment known to man. Some hypochondriacs think they have the “big time” diseases like AIDS or cancer. But I think I have everything – food allergies, cancer, brain tumors, kidney disease, Lyme disease, kidney stones, cataracts, bipolar disorder, the flu, dyslexia, strep throat, appendicitis. Everything.
When I think I have food allergies, I refuse to eat certain things even if I’ve eaten them before. I stay up all night worrying, not sleeping. Right now I haven’t slept in three days. I rarely eat anything but bread, water, and yogurt. I check the labels on everything from candy bars to cereal looking for things I might be allergic to. Believe me, it’s not fun.
As a hypochondriac, simple afflictions of daily life, like stomach pain or tenderness, can make me worry about appendicitis. When my breathing is messed up, I think my throat is closing. If my stomach makes noises, I think I’m going to throw up, even though I’m simply digesting the bread I ate 15 minutes ago.
Hypochondriasis is a type of somatoform disorder, or mental illness. I have had 10 doctors because I never believe they are telling me the truth about my symptoms and what they mean. My mind won’t let me listen to the doctor and understand that I am, in fact, healthy.
Being only 15, I hope that I’ll eventually break out of all this worry and start enjoying life. Many people say that hypochondria stems from depression or a mental ailment. But the truth is, I’m not depressed and I have no mental ailment. I’m a really happy kid, and I enjoy the things I do and the friends I have. I just worry too much.
I know it’s not right to blame someone for my disorder, but sometimes I do blame my father. He told me that he used to worry about having every physical illness known to man too. I found out later that hypochondria can be passed through genes. I believe I will overcome this disorder, but I will need help.
If you are a hypochondriac too, don’t worry. You aren’t sick, and most likely you’re pretty darn healthy. So get out there and be active and have fun.
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 107 comments.
Guys, this is a website where teens can share their work. Let's not cyberbully or fight. It's not nice, and it's not something you want to get reported for abuse for.
Good piece, Tim. Wish you the best of luck in the future, I'm sure you'll be able to deal with this. :D
Hypochondriasis is a mental ailment. Your mind is so preoccupied that you have another type of pathology, that you could even say that your hypochondriasis is just an underlying symptom of OCD.
So I'm not sure where you are getting the idea that you do not have a mental illness. Hypochondriasis is in the DSM IV, the psychologists bible to all things psychological and neurological.
this was very emotional and touching!!!
btw if you get the chance could you take a look at my poems such as A Mirror Image and The Sinners Confession (and comment and rate them????) it would be greatly appreciated!! THANKS!
I've not had hypochondria, but I've had anxiety troubles that are similar. One thing that helps me is deep breathing and prayer. A ritual called the relaxation response is what I use, and it's said to be very healthy for you. Maybe you might enjoy trying it too:
You sit down and try to clear all thoughts from your head. Relax each muscle in your body, starting at your toes and moving up. Focus on one comforting phrase, such as "I am at peace." Mine is "the Lord is my shepherd." Repeat that phrase over and over again in your mind, timed with your breathing. If a thought interrupts, just think "oh, well" and let it pass. Do this for about 10 minutes... it won't make anxiety disappear necessarily, but it relaxes your body so you can focus on relaxing your mind. It is so helpful to me!
I've not had hypochondria, but I've had anxiety troubles that are similar. One thing that helps me is deep breathing and prayer. A ritual called the relaxation response is what I use, and it's said to be very healthy for you. Maybe you might enjoy trying it too:
You sit down and try to clear all thoughts from your head. Relax each muscle in your body, starting at your toes and moving up. Focus on one comforting phrase, such as "I am at peace." Mine is "the Lord is my shepherd." Repeat that phrase over and over again in your mind, timed with your breathing. If a thought interrupts, just think "oh, well" and let it pass. Do this for about 10 minutes... it won't make anxiety disappear necessarily, but it relaxes your body so you can focus on relaxing your mind. It is so helpful to me!
Another thing I've heard that can be helpful is meeting people who actually have the challenges that you fear you're developing. For example, spend time with someone with severe food allergies. Then you can relate to them in two ways: like them, you have an ailment: hypochondria, but also, you can appreciate the ways they are enjoying life, so that if you are worried you have a food allergy, you can feel encouraged that it's possible to manage it and not live life in stress. With my anxiety, I am afraid that something bad will happen. If I talk to people who have actually had my fears happen to them, I realize that it's possible to overcome them, and it really helps!
Prayers and well wishes,
S
I took a pshycology class this past school year, and hypocondriasis is most common in young adults. In fact, many of the young adults that show the behavior likely grow out of it. :)
I wish you well. I'll keep you in my prayers.
I am no doctor, but I think one important thing to do would be to just put the worry to the back of your mind and try to enjoy what life brings. Don't stress over the little things.
Learn to listen to your body, but also to distinguish between your own foolish worries, and what would actually be a legitimate cause to worry.
These worries shouldn't control and dictate how you live your life. Don't let them.
Sarah :)
I am no doctor, but I think one important thing to do would be to just put the worry to the back of your mind and try to enjoy what life brings. Don't stress over the little things. Learn to listen to your body, but also learn to distinguish between your own foolish worries and what would actually be a legitimate cause to worry.
These worries shouldn't control and dictate how you live your life. Don't let them.
~Sarah :)
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments