Disease, loss of health, is something that no one wants, the fear of getting sick is in everyone, it is one of the most universal fears, linked to the fear of death or the fear of madness.
A healthy somatic and psychic person does not want to die, because he keeps intact his instinct for self-preservation, however, this fear of disease and death sometimes acquires exaggerated proportions, hindering the existential process.
- It can be very difficult to live when our existence is flooded by fear of disease.
- Pain or death.
- Even the fear of death can become so intense that it causes unbearable suffering.
- Leading to suicide in the most extreme cases.
Especially hypochondriacs are the ones who most identify with this fear. A fear that, as a rule, worries them and makes them pessimistic. They imagine a future full of pain, viruses, discomfort, incurable diseases, etc. Thus, it is not uncommon to end up adopting compulsive hygiene behaviors, such as bathing several times a day, to regain a sense of control.
Another characteristic of hypochondriac is the continuous self-preservation to which your body undergoes, interpret a small discomfort, a body sensation, a spot on the skin, etc. , as a symptom of a serious or fatal illness. to continuous examination, observing it with an imaginary magnifying glass that amplifies any detected signal.
This generates great anxiety, so they usually go to the doctor, however, they are attacked by persistent doubts that come from a background of insecurity in their personality, so they are not calm when the doctor tells them that they have nothing. On the other hand, they understand that their behavior is unusual, but they also think that it is logical and consistent, imagining that it is actually happening.
In fact, it’s not that hypochondriac have nothing, their disorder, far from belonging to the organic sphere, is psychological, yet they refuse to accept that what they need is treatment in that direction.
Instead, they often ask their doctor to perform the most complicated follow-up tests, which can consist of tests of all kinds, x-rays, ultrasounds, electrocardiograms, etc.
After these tests, in general, they are dissatisfied because they continue to believe that their discomfort must necessarily come from an organic injury and that what is happening is that no one can discover this injury; on the other hand, they distrust the prescribed remedies for any injury. Reason. Read the packaging instructions carefully, scared by the possibility of suffering the side effects described in them.
If they decide to take medication, which only happens on certain occasions, they suffer these side effects by simple suggestion, which leads them to continually switch doctors or consult several doctors to check their opinions before deciding to start treatment.
Hypochondriacos also buy and read medical encyclopedias, health websites, and even attend medical conferences, etc. , check them every time they notice any symptoms or when someone talks about a condition that has contracted an acquaintance.
Talking about diseases generates a lot of anxiety, but on the other hand, it’s also your favorite topic of conversation, because that’s what interests you most, somehow your whole life revolves around the problem of disease and death.
Today’s society, in which pain is becoming less and less important, favors the presentation of obviously increasingly frequent hypochondriac conditions, we live in a society that cares mainly about comfort, technique and, in part, dehumanization.
Other times, the fear of illness has a real basis, so the fear of dying can be really intense. In cases where this situation lasts a long time, it is also common for a depressive syndrome to appear, as in the case of terminal patients.
In short, people who are afraid to get sick revolve around the same subject all their lives, which does not allow them to live fully and quietly, quite the opposite, the most serious cases of fear of the disease involve a psychological disorder called hypochondria. .
The person who suffers the most is the patient himself, but it is possible to find relief through the treatment provided by a good mental health professional.