HOW TO LIV E WITH A hypochondriac
There’s more to this mental health problem than man flu and checking in with Dr Google. So how can you help someone with health anxiety?
WORDS KATHRYN BLUNDELL
It’s pretty sensible to take note of and care about our health, but sufferers of health anxiety (the new name for hypochondriasis) can shoot it to another level. ‘A person with this condition can misinterpret everyday niggles, such as a headache, as a sign of something serious like cancer,’ says psychologist and psychotherapist, Kasia Szymanska (kszymanska.com). ‘The key point here is the misinterpretation or worry that leads to stress and anxiety.’
As with any other mental illness, people who surround the sufferer can be affected as well. Apart from having to listen to hour-long rambles about how a cough is definitely a sign of bronchitis (even though you have it too and know it’s not), those with health anxiety can have insecure attachment styles, so can be less confident in their relationships and either be ‘clingy’ or less likely to lean on others – making attempts at reassurance challenging. Unsurprisingly, sufferers can also be critical of their GP, when they’re the one person with a chance of offering them informed advice. So what should you do if you live with a hypochondriac?
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