According to the definition of hypochondriasis, which is also known as illness anxiety disorder, it is a persistent preoccupation with a fear or belief that one or more serious diseases are present in the body.
Other significant hypochondriasis characteristics include:
Investigations and a thorough physical examination do not reveal the presence of any noteworthy abnormalities.
Despite being shown normal reports and being told otherwise, the patient’s fear or belief persists.
The patient may agree regarding the possibility of his exaggerating the seriousness of the situation at that time, but the fear or belief is not a delusion, but rather is an example of an overvalued idea.
The patient has a propensity to frequently switch doctors in order to be reevaluated, which is quite common, and to become preoccupied with medical terminology and syndromes.
Obsessive personality traits and narcissistic personality features are frequently seen, along with related anxiety and depression, and the typical age of onset is in the late third decade. The course is typically chronic with remissions and relapses.
Causes
The key hypotheses are outlined below. Hypochondria is not known to have a specific cause.
Psychodynamic theory:It is important to keep in mind that this is only a theoretical psychodynamic construct. It is thought that hypochondriasis is based on a narcissistic personality, caused by a narcissistic libido, where other parts of the body become erotogenic zones, which act as substitutes for genitals.
As a symptom of depression:Therefore, hypochondriasis has been conceptualized as a masked depression or depressive equivalent, though not everyone concurs with this view. Hypochondriacal symptoms are frequently present in major depression, and some claim that hypochondriasis is almost always a part of another psychiatric syndrome, most commonly a mood disorder.
There are some elements that could make hypochondriasis more likely to occur.
· Major life stress.
A serious symptom that is thought to be life-threatening, such as chest pain or memory problems.
A history of neglect or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood.
· History of childhood illness
• Suffering from a different mental illness, such as major depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or psychotic disorders.
Symptoms
Hypochondriasis symptoms could include:
Excessive worry that one will contract or already possess a serious illness.
If another illness is present or there is a high risk of contracting another illness, the person’s concern is exaggerated. There are no physical symptoms, or if there are, they are mild.
a significant amount of worry and anxiety regarding one’s health.
Abnormal avoidance, such as skipping doctor’s appointments and visiting hospitals, or excessive health-related behaviors, such as frequently checking the body for symptoms of illness.
The worry about getting sick has persisted for at least six months, though the disease it is worried about may have changed by then.
There is no other mental illness that causes fear of getting sick.
Management
· Supportive psychotherapy
If depression, anxiety, or both are present, treat them.
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
In terms of HYPOCHONDRIASIS, there are many effective medicines available in homoeopathy, but the choice depends on the individuality of the patient, taking their mental and physical health into account. Homoeopathy is currently a rapidly expanding system that is used throughout the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual by promoting inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical levels.
ALUMINA:Laziness and indifference to labor or work, an hour seems to them to be half a day, back pain as if hot iron were thrust into the spine, apprehension and fear that he will go insane, tendency to commit suicide when he sees blood, a knife, or something similar. Low spirits and prone to weeping, worse on awakening.
ANACARDIUM ORIENTALE:Mental depression, silly and clumsy behavior, an overwhelming desire to be alone, fear of the future, an overwhelming urge to curse and swear, an insatiable desire to be alone, piles of waste, and an insatiable desire to be hungry are all symptoms.
ARGENTUM NITRICUM:Thoughts of having an incurable disease drive him almost to despair; he does not work because he believes it will harm him and that he will not be able to stand it; he thinks himself neglected and despised by his family; he wakes them up at night to talk to them; he sets the time when he will die; he has a general appearance of being an idiot and talks in a very childish manner; he frequently experiences anxiety attacks; he is nervous and
AURUM METALLICUM: GreatQuarrelsome nature. Suicidal tendencies. Hypochondriasis in pining, low spirited boys, whose testicles are mere pendent shreds, on the verge of atrophy, or from hepatic or syphilitic disorders. Poor digestion, worse after eating. Painful, anxious state of mind; inability to reflect; headache after making the slightest mental exertion; as if the brain were dashed to pieces.
CALCAREA CARBONICUM:Despair about one’s health. Fear of illness, misfortune, infectious diseases, insanity, etc. Dread of death. Excessive sensitivity of all the sense organs. Malaise, aversion to work, inability to think or perform any mental labor, etc. Low spirits with a tendency to cry. Paroxysms of anguish with orgasmus sanguinis, palpitations of the heart. Shocks in the region of the heart.
CONIUM MACULATUM:Spermatorrhoea from long-term abuse of genital organs. Face pale and sunken, with blue rings around eyes. Dreads company but does not want to be alone. Hypochondriasis beginning from sexual organs, frequently in connection with forced abstinence from sexual activity. Weakness with great sexual erethism, amorous thoughts occurring and even emissions by the mere presence of women.
MEZEREUM:He has no regard for anyone or anything, spends hours staring out of windows without noticing anything around him, feels queasy in the pit of his stomach when he expects to learn something unpleasant, and finds talking difficult.
NATRUM CARBONICUM:The degree of hypochondriasis can be determined by the stage of digestion. Averse to society, even that of his own family. Groping colic right after a meal. Depressed and extremely irritable, especially after a meal. Worse on a vegetable diet, especially starchy food.
NATRUM MURIATICUM:Chronic constipation with hard stools, foul breath, a depressing, hopeless sense of the future, dry mouth, itchy mucous membranes, a sore and slightly ulcerated tongue, dyspepsia, and constipation make hypochondria worse; it gets better when bowels are moving freely.
NUX VOMICA:Dullness of the head, with aching pains, or a sensation as if a pin were sticking in the brain. Aversion to open air. Constant desire to lie down, with great exhaustion after walking. Painfulness and distress in the region of the hypochondrium. Ill-humor, despondency, aversion to life, disposition to vehemence. Indisposition to work or to perform any mental labor. Fatigue of the mind after the least mental exertion. Un
PHOSPHORUS:Anguish when alone, especially at night or in bad weather, with a timorous demeanor; apathy and sluggishness that alternated with mirth and laughter; unease regarding his health; hepatic or renal affections.
SEPIA:Extremely irritable and sour eructations, the formation of gas in the abdomen, a gone, sinking feeling in the epigastrium that food does not fill up, except perhaps at supper, a dislike of society, apathy toward business, and indifference toward one’s own family. Despondent, weary of life, often brought on by an indigestion attack.
STAPHYSAGRIA:Aversion to mental and physical labor, incapacity to think, oversensitivity to the smallest word, a listless, depressed state of dreaming of impending evils, fear for his health and the possibility of incurable diseases
SULPHUR:Low spirits, excruciating mental anxiety, solace regarding one’s affairs, health, and salvation, a fixed idea, paroxysms of worry, along with impatience, restlessness, and a vehement disposition. Bodily and mentally unable to perform any mental labor. Exhausted after the slightest mental exertion. Headache, especially on the vertex. Fullness and pressure in the pit of the stomach. Constipation. Haemorrhoidal disposition. Disposition to
ZINCUM METALLICUM:Testicles drawn firmly up against external ring, excessive irritability, and sexual hypochondria due to spermatorrhoea following long-term abuse of the sexual organs.
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