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Advice on handling a hypochondriac?
Posted on 7/30/21 at 8:46 am
Posted on 7/30/21 at 8:46 am
Anyone have any experience with this?
It feels like an impossible situation. You obviously can't feed into their fear or they'll panic even more. But at the same time if you tell them they'll be fine they'll accuse you of not believing them or supporting them.
Then you also have the girl who cried wolf phenomenon at play. At a certain point you become numb to all the false alarms but at the same time you're afraid you might actually misinterpret an actual medical emergency one day.
Therapy seems like the best bet but actually getting them there is another story.
I'm pretty lost right now. Any ideas would be appreciated.
It feels like an impossible situation. You obviously can't feed into their fear or they'll panic even more. But at the same time if you tell them they'll be fine they'll accuse you of not believing them or supporting them.
Then you also have the girl who cried wolf phenomenon at play. At a certain point you become numb to all the false alarms but at the same time you're afraid you might actually misinterpret an actual medical emergency one day.
Therapy seems like the best bet but actually getting them there is another story.
I'm pretty lost right now. Any ideas would be appreciated.
This post was edited on 7/30/21 at 8:47 am
9
Posted on 7/30/21 at 10:02 am to SM1010
When you figure it out, let me know. I think hypochondriac and General Anxiety Disorder usually go hand-in-hand which SSRI's helped but the negative side effects of them take a toll on a relationship.
I know exactly what you mean. I get the "you don't understand" nearly daily. I'm still trying to figure out what to do. I try to encourage a better diet, exercise, therapy, and try my best to not get red in the face frustrated.
quote:
You obviously can't feed into their fear or they'll panic even more. But at the same time if you tell them they'll be fine they'll accuse you of not believing them or supporting them.
I know exactly what you mean. I get the "you don't understand" nearly daily. I'm still trying to figure out what to do. I try to encourage a better diet, exercise, therapy, and try my best to not get red in the face frustrated.
This post was edited on 7/30/21 at 10:08 am
Posted on 7/30/21 at 8:10 pm to SM1010
I'm a hypochondriac. Big time.
Thousands in ER bills, unnecessary scans, etc.
Ive pretty much gotten over it but only due to years of experience. When I start having an episode I just take a deep breath and ask myself "why would this time actually be the time?"
I also remind myself that im not special. I went through about a 6 month period where I was SURE that I either had rabies or was going to contract it. I looked up the likelihood of contracting rabies in the United States and adopted the mantra of "what makes me so special that Id be the exception?"
Of course, all of this is moot if the person wont admit they have an issue. I know I have a problem so I can take a step back and assess if I am spiraling.
What helped me from my wife was she never made me feel silly. Never yelled at me. Never told me I was crazy. She let me figure it out on my own. Her reasoning as why she put up with it for so long was that she didnt know what was going on and even though she thought I was fine, it wasnt her job to tell me that.
EDIT - I am proud to say that I havent unecessarily been to the emergency room in over 3 years. But from 2014 - 2018 I went at least once every 3 months, sometimes multiple times a month. It was hell.
Thousands in ER bills, unnecessary scans, etc.
Ive pretty much gotten over it but only due to years of experience. When I start having an episode I just take a deep breath and ask myself "why would this time actually be the time?"
I also remind myself that im not special. I went through about a 6 month period where I was SURE that I either had rabies or was going to contract it. I looked up the likelihood of contracting rabies in the United States and adopted the mantra of "what makes me so special that Id be the exception?"
Of course, all of this is moot if the person wont admit they have an issue. I know I have a problem so I can take a step back and assess if I am spiraling.
What helped me from my wife was she never made me feel silly. Never yelled at me. Never told me I was crazy. She let me figure it out on my own. Her reasoning as why she put up with it for so long was that she didnt know what was going on and even though she thought I was fine, it wasnt her job to tell me that.
EDIT - I am proud to say that I havent unecessarily been to the emergency room in over 3 years. But from 2014 - 2018 I went at least once every 3 months, sometimes multiple times a month. It was hell.
This post was edited on 7/30/21 at 8:49 pm
Posted on 7/30/21 at 8:20 pm to SM1010
They are suffering with anxiety.
Posted on 7/31/21 at 6:06 am to SM1010
It is a miserable way of life. Every little sensation or feeling gets your mind racing on what it could be.
About 5 years ago I went to my GP 5 times in 60 days with what I thought were serious issues. He figured it out and talked me through it. I also got a low dose prescription of Valium. Finally, counseling sessions once every two week.
It took time but I got over it.
About 5 years ago I went to my GP 5 times in 60 days with what I thought were serious issues. He figured it out and talked me through it. I also got a low dose prescription of Valium. Finally, counseling sessions once every two week.
It took time but I got over it.
Posted on 7/31/21 at 11:59 am to SM1010
Not a bullshite story here. I knew a co-worker, real name Don R., who often left his job to run by the ER or doc in the box because someone in the office mentioned they might have sore throat or some other malady and he would immediately think he may have it too. It could be someone complained to him about their back hurting pretty badly and boom, he was out the door to get his aching back checked out.
I knew his supervisor well and we would talk about this strange deal. It wasn’t that he wanted to skip out of work because he was a very valuable and high performing employee and loved his job. It was this fear he had that, merely by suggestion, would trigger him to think he might have whatever health issue someone complained about.
I knew his supervisor well and we would talk about this strange deal. It wasn’t that he wanted to skip out of work because he was a very valuable and high performing employee and loved his job. It was this fear he had that, merely by suggestion, would trigger him to think he might have whatever health issue someone complained about.
Posted on 7/31/21 at 10:54 pm to SM1010
Post this on the OT board.
Posted on 8/2/21 at 1:32 pm to SM1010
Also, please tell her to stay off of the internet. So many people Google search their symptoms..... and their searches
inform them that they are dying.
inform them that they are dying.
This post was edited on 8/2/21 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 8/2/21 at 1:34 pm to SM1010
Need professional therapy. /end
Posted on 8/6/21 at 8:55 am to SM1010
Good luck.
My S.O. is a hypochondriac. We've been together 15 years. Fake allergies, phantom skin problems.
Then real anxiety attacks and other things. Doctor visits, ER visits, urgent care visits. "I'm HAVING A HEART ATTACK!" Thousands of dollars on this, tests run, "You're having an anxiety attack."
Ultimately hypochondria *is* an anxiety issue. I have begged him to get therapy and he refuses. It drives me crazy.
My S.O. is a hypochondriac. We've been together 15 years. Fake allergies, phantom skin problems.
Then real anxiety attacks and other things. Doctor visits, ER visits, urgent care visits. "I'm HAVING A HEART ATTACK!" Thousands of dollars on this, tests run, "You're having an anxiety attack."
Ultimately hypochondria *is* an anxiety issue. I have begged him to get therapy and he refuses. It drives me crazy.
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