Hypochondriasis refers to a condition where patients overly focus on their own health, suspecting abnormalities in certain parts of the body or specific organs. Despite clinical examinations showing no objective basis for these suspicions, patients still believe they are suffering from some illness and often experience symptoms of anxiety and restlessness. Patients usually exhibit traits such as sensitivity, suspicion, subjective stubbornness, excessive caution, over-concern for their physical state, and a desire for perfection.
Experts warn: Hypochondriasis should not be ignored as it severely affects the patient's physical and mental health. Therefore, timely treatment at a reputable hospital is necessary to avoid irreversible consequences. The Shenyang Tianqiao Mental Health Research and Treatment Center offers special online consultation services where authoritative experts provide answers to questions about related diseases, offer professional personalized guidance based on the condition, propose effective treatment plans, and ensure confidentiality regarding your medical information.
Individuals with hypochondriasis typically display prominent characteristics in the following areas:
(1) Adherence to health preservation principles. They follow dietary discipline, maintain regular sleep schedules, practice sexual restraint, emphasize nutrition, value various folk fitness methods and secrets, prefer taking tonics, and easily trust secret remedies.
(2) Excessive attention to sensations from internal organs and limbs. Patients often have abnormal sensory experiences and are highly concerned about complexion, tongue coating, pulse, weight, bowel movements, etc. They are sensitive to lifestyle changes and weather variations and tend to suffer from water and soil intolerance.
(3) A strong interest in medical knowledge, making them susceptible to influence from doctors and medical books. Hearing or seeing others fall ill easily leads them to believe they have similar symptoms. When sick, they excessively worry and fear; for example, mistaking heat rash for syphilis sores. Their symptoms often last longer and are more severe compared to others with the same condition. They believe medications either have significant side effects or easily lead to drug resistance, concluding that treatment is difficult and results unsatisfactory.
(4) Belief in being born with deficiencies and having an unbalanced constitution since childhood, despite being weak and prone to illness, they do not benefit from supplements. This belief is deeply ingrained.
(5) Extreme fear of biological dangers, such as snake bites, dog attacks, drowning, fire accidents, traffic incidents, darkness, and death.