What is hypochondria?
Illness anxiety disorder, sometimes called hypochondriasis or health anxiety, is worrying excessively that you are or may become seriously ill.
You may have no physical symptoms. Or you may believe that normal body sensations or minor symptoms are signs of severe illness, even though a thorough medical exam doesn't reveal a serious medical condition.
You may experience extreme anxiety that body sensations, such as muscle twitching or fatigue, are associated with a specific, serious illness.
This excessive anxiety — rather than the physical symptom itself — results in severe distress that can disrupt your life.
It may increase with age or during times of stress.
Psychological counseling (psychotherapy) and sometimes medication can help ease your worries.
Signs and symptoms of hypochondria may include:
- Being preoccupied with having or getting a serious disease or health condition
- Worrying that minor symptoms or body sensations mean you have a serious illness
- Being easily alarmed about your health status
- Finding little or no reassurance from doctor visits or negative test results
- Having so much distress about possible illnesses that it's hard for you to function
- Avoiding people, places or activities for fear of health risks
- Constantly talking about your health and possible illnesses
- Frequently searching the internet for causes of symptoms or possible illnesses
- Frequently making medical appointments for reassurance
The exact cause of illness anxiety disorder isn't clear, but these factors may play a role: family history, past experience, mood etc.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-
disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20373782
