I look at the Facebook status updates of friends who have the stomach flu and I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. I’m around someone with a cough or a sore throat and I immediately assume I will be afflicted with their ailment. My husband sometimes rolls his eyes at me when I “diagnose” myself with some new possible illness. Even more so when I’m trying some new “hippy” cure to tackle the non-existent ailment I have diagnosed myself with.
I thought I would write this post to be funny… to officially bow out and say, “Yes dear, you were right about me being a bit of a hypochondriac”. Then I thought, why not be all scientific and stuff? Why not include a definition for hypochondriac in my posting? So here it is according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:
Hypochondriac {noun}
a person who is often or always worried about being ill
Oh my goodness! That’s totally me! Hey, wait a minute… does that make me even more of a hypochondriac? I’ve read the definition and now I’ve diagnosed myself as a hypochondriac?
Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?
According to Wikipedia, Hypochondria is:
excessive preoccupancy or worry about having a serious illness. This debilitating condition is the result of an inaccurate perception of the condition of body or mind despite the absence of an actual medical condition.
Okay, it’s not debilitating but sometimes I freak out over a pain or a funny mole and my brain doesn’t go: “Hmmm, let’s go get that checked out” but rather it jumps to: “I don’t want to go to the doctor because what if it’s a serious disease?” I obsess for a while and then I chill out until there’s a new pain or a new mole.
As I said, I wrote this post to be funny but it turns out my husband is right. I am a bit of a hypochondriac. I think it’s time to pray about this one… because little did I know, I let this fear of illness creep into my life. It’s time to put an end to it.
Do you ever fear the worst with your health?
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Normally, I’m pretty even keeled, but when one of my children get sick with the stomach flu, game over! I’m pretty much ready to douse them entirely in Lysol and remove myself to the neighboring state.
Oh Robin, I distinctly remember how you shared how much you freak when there’s a stomach virus. Quite frankly, I would be the same way. In fact, I’m a terrible “nurse” with my children. I plunk them in front of the TV in a nest of blankets and do everything I can to avoid the passing of germs from them to me. Yup, I’m no Florence Nightingale.
I’m always afraid of people thinking I’m a hypochondriac that I won’t go to the doc. I almost didn’t go a few weeks ago when I was having some major abdominal pain, but I’m glad I did because they found something. It is unfortunate they did, but I’m glad I wasn’t overreacting and there was actually a reason for all the pain.
I am so glad you went to the doctor! I think I overreact 80% of the time. I’m pretty sure it drives my hubby crazy.
Haha!!!! This is 100% completely me! :-)
Yay! You know what they say, “misery loves company”. I really thought my husband was off-base when he said I was a bit of a hypochondriac, but after reading the definition, yeah… it’s me.
no.. I’m actually the other way.. thinking if I ignore something long enough it will go away. :) It’s hubby who pushes me to go to the doctor…. and he’s not quick about it. He waits it out with me for a bit and then will say “hey.. this has gone on long enough… GO TO THE DOCTOR”. :)
I think my hubby would prefer it if I were this way. However, despite being a bit of a hypochondriac… I rarely go to the doctor. In fact, I HATE going to the doctor.
Thanks for stopping by Annette!
Im like this too! Especially with my kids! The moment they cough Im taking them to the doctor! I think it comes from experiencing having my child in the hospital! But now Im like obsessed with it! I dread having my kid go through that again!
I can imagine how having a child in the hospital would make you extra vigilant/wary of illness. I’m relieved to hear I’m not the only hypochondriac though. Wishing you a lovely day my dear!
I think I might be a little bit hypochondriac too when I read the definition…
What a relief to know I’m not the only one! Thanks for sharing Valerie.
This only proves how powerful is your mind! You will be alright :)
Thanks Remy! Praying I can stop doing this to myself. Wishing you a lovely day.
Hahaha, loved this post. My husband constantly thinks he has a tumor or cancer or something drastic, he’s constantly annoying me lol. I’m like you though as far as thinking someone is going to get me sick, etc. And I get scared to go to the doctor because I always feel like they’re going to tell me something horrible. I guess I AM a hypochondriac…lol!
I can’t tell you what a relief it is to hear that I’m not alone in this. I’ve got a bit of your husband’s syndrome too… drives my hubby nuts! Thanks for sharing Jessica!
Ha! I used to be more like you, and deep down I think I still am, but now I feel too busy and tired to worry much–and I don’t want to spend my hard earned bucks on my co-pay at the MD. ; )
Aha! A cure for being a hypochondriac… get busy! Thanks Doc Cordelia… I’m going to jump on that advice asap *wink*. Thanks for stopping by.
At 70 something is always falling out, down, or in but I am too busy with my 8 yr old and my 12 yr old to notice. Jody, The Medicare Mom
It’s good to be busy in that way. Keeps you from focusing on the aches and pains doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing Jody!
I do this all the time. Any mark on my body in my head automatically translates to cancer. Any lump, cancer. Anything! It’s very bad- especially because I feel thinking something can result in something so I quickly try to rid my mind of thinking those things. Ugh. I feel for you- I want to end it too!
I’m certainly going to try to rid myself of this habit. Like you said, it can’t be good for your health to be always envisioning the worst. At least I have comfort in knowing I’m not the only one who does this.
Ha! This makes me smile! After becoming a mother I am very aware of my health and I often get frightened at a bump or lump or whatever it may be that ails me. However, I am not an alarmist in that I don’t seek antibiotics until I have been ill for at least 7 days and I try to hold off until 10 (because I know what the studies say…)
Glad this made you smile Sanz and I’m glad I’m not alone in this. Perhaps it’s a common thing for us moms?!
I haven’t been on antibiotics for ages! I try to fight everything off naturally.
That’s so funny I do the same thing with my kids. As soon as one of them throws up I tell my husband, “I think i feel sick.” And then I stop eating so I won’t have anything to throw up. I usually never really get it though. Glad I’m not the only one!
Just by you mentioning throw up, I feel sick. Seriously terrible!
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