Mark has always been very annoyed: he has no appetite for food, his stomach is still full of flatulence, sometimes his chest is still painful, and he is weak and listless all day long. He often went to a nearby hospital for a comprehensive examination N times, but there was still no problem. This is nothing, more exasperating, and a doctor told him to go to a mental hospital to have a look! Mark couldn’t help scolding in his heart: “To a mental hospital? You are sick, your whole family is sick! ]
Is Mark suffering from what?
There was a group of people, They pay special attention to their health, For example, they will check the color of tongue coating, the size of their fingers and crescent teeth repeatedly every day. I will also observe the color of urine every day, whether there is foam, or whether the urine is what color and what shape… Once I find some insignificant physical changes in the eyes of ordinary people, this group of people will seem to have caught the basis of serious illness, then go to the hospital and ask for various examinations.
In fact, anxiety about [illness] is beneficial in itself. It allows us to detect signs of illness in time and receive timely treatment. However, some people still believe that there is something wrong with their bodies even after repeated examinations and different doctors tell them that they are fine.
Mark is one of them. Even if the test result is negative, the doctor ruled out the possible disease and made a full explanation, but Mark still did not buy it. He firmly believed that he was seriously ill and took out his mobile phone to confront the doctor: “You see, it is written on the Internet that my disease is exactly the same as this, how can it not be?” You must be mistaken! ? ]
In fact, the doctor’s advice is correct. Mark is not physically ill, but mentally ill. This disease is called hypochondriasis.
What are the characteristics of people with hypochondria?
Hypochondriac people believe in themselves [congenital deficiency, acquired imbalance], but [empty but not supplemented], and from an early age weak and sickly, since childhood they think they are a living [medicine jar], so they worry too much about their health.
Based on this, from an early age, they have made small supplements for three days and big supplements for five days, keeping in mind all kinds of [ways to preserve one’s health] for fear that they will get sick.
In addition, they are particularly interested in [medicine] and [health] things. It is easy to be influenced by doctors and medical books. Sometimes, when I hear or see someone else has a certain disease, I am easy to contact myself with similar symptoms. Then I start to make some changes on the Internet or medical books. Finally, I find out one that is similar to myself. I immediately scared myself to death and rushed to the hospital to ask for examination and treatment.
But when you get to the hospital, the results of the examination will show that there is no problem.
Doctors have also made many reasonable and sufficient explanations, but they still cannot dispel their worries. They still change hospitals, doctors and continue to ask for examinations. Finally, even the work or study that takes pains, pains, damages money, cannot concentrate on, and seriously, the family relationship has broken down.
In addition, such people are not good at expressing their feelings accurately in words, nor are they good at distinguishing their [emotions] from [physical feelings]. They often only describe their physical discomfort but avoid talking about their emotional problems. They are often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Is it hypochondria or is it really sick?
In order to diagnose hypochondria, the diagnosis can only be considered after a comprehensive examination by a doctor and confirmation that the patient has no physical diseases related to symptoms.
However, this does not mean that with [heart disease] [kidney disease] [diabetes] and other [somatic diseases], one cannot be diagnosed as hypochondriasis. It can only be said that the somatic diseases do not directly lead to hypochondriasis. Or diagnosed with hypochondriasis, is not [without physical disease], because people will get sick later.
Generally speaking, patients are over 40 years old, with single somatic symptoms, fixed parts and a tendency to worsen. First of all, patients should be considered to have real somatic diseases, conduct comprehensive examination, and closely observe to find somatic diseases. If it is a difficult and complicated disease, the doctor will invite each department for consultation, fully consider the characteristics of the disease, and make further examination in a targeted way, so as not to easily diagnose [hypochondria].
The hypochondriac, It is obvious that, At ordinary times, I worry too much about my body, It has been more than half a year since they reported this situation, but they cannot provide doctors with sufficient and effective information. They frequently go to various hospitals for examinations and constantly change doctors. However, the results of various examinations and the real health status are not as bad as they say, but they are still convinced that they are seriously ill.
When they went to the hospital, Often as soon as they come up, Haven’t spoken yet, He threw a thick folder in front of the doctor. There are laboratory tests from different hospitals and departments, There was nothing unusual about the results–in fact, Innocent [abnormalities] always exist, because diet, drinking water, fatigue, etc., will always affect the blood test results, resulting in some signs of abnormalities on the test form. This excited them, caught the clues of their [serious illness], and felt that the doctors they met were all [quacks].
How should this heart disease be treated?
Hypochondria is mainly psychotherapy. For some patients with obvious anxiety, depression and compulsion, some antidepressant drugs will be used.
Psychiatrists have their own way of receiving such patients. Among experienced doctors, patients may even feel that they have met [quacks] before, and only this is [magic doctor].
Why?
Before making a definite diagnosis, the psychiatrist should conduct a systematic examination for the patient, fully consider all possible diseases, and make a positive, comprehensive and full explanation of the examination results, that is to say, to confirm to the patient that he is indeed ill, and to admit that the painful feelings he has suffered are real, not on the opposite side of him.
When necessary, psychiatrists will invite colleagues from the same department/doctors from other departments to discuss the patient’s condition together to ensure that the patient’s absence from the disease is a conclusion drawn through careful and careful identification.
At the same time, patients should be prevented from receiving various examinations excessively and frequently.
Can you still live a good life with this disease?
Clearly recognizing the nature of this disease is a challenge to many patients.
In fact, everyone has a slight [physical disease], and the current [symptoms] often lack physical disease examination, will not become more and more serious, and is not fatal at all.
If you can realize that the current symptoms are related to psychological problems, then it is easier to live in peace with these symptoms. You don’t have to pay attention to them deliberately. It is good to learn to study, work or live with the symptoms.
It is very important for everyone to establish a correct understanding of disease and health: although it is necessary to be alert to changes in the body, there is no need to deliberately worry about one’s health.
You know, inappropriate thoughts can magnify your body feelings and mistake you for [illness]. If you are really worried, you may as well have a physical examination every six months or every year.
If you have such family or friends around you, please give them full support and encouragement. Put away negative, indifferent and discriminatory attitudes, often communicate with patients about correct health views, urge them to seek medical treatment, and you can also witness their changes.
Responsible Editor: Ding Ruoshui