There are some classic signs that may indicate that someone is suffering from this disorder.
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Fear of getting sick, also known as hypochondriasis or illness anxiety disorder, is characterized by an excessive fear of contracting a serious illness. It is a disorder that causes exacerbated and out-of-control concern about one’s health, often leading to excessive use of medications and damage to one’s social life.
“In addition to genetic issues, each patient’s life history can lead to the development of the disorder,” explains Filipe Colombini, psychologist and CEO of the AT Team.
“Among the factors that can cause the problem are trauma, neglect during childhood and episodes of illness in oneself or in the family and also the presence of other disorders such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic syndrome,” complete.
The problem begins in adulthood
The disorder tends to begin in early adulthood, but can also appear in people of advanced age (after the age of sixty). Among the main symptoms are the presence of permanent anxiety about one’s health and the misleading belief of having a serious illness.
“For these people, any bodily signal can be a trigger that causes a lot of worry and suffering, which leads to increasing isolation,” comments the expert.
In general, people with this disorder spend a lot of time thinking about the future, in a context in which they imagine contracting diseases, being hospitalized, receiving treatment, among other unpleasant scenarios.
The constant state of alert harms the individual’s social life, distancing him from entertainment and leisure activities and, often, making it difficult to live with them.
“The whirlwind of bad thoughts surrounding illness anxiety disorder usually leads the patient to paralyze their life, a situation that tends to worsen over time if the problem is left untreated,” Colombini says.
Important signs of the disorder
Filipe Colombini warns that there are some classic signs that may indicate that someone suffers from the disorder, such as the need to undergo frequent tests to ensure that they are not ill, self-medication, constantly searching for symptoms, diseases and treatments, habitual habits, complaints for pain and discomfort, as well as the fear of consulting doctors and discovering a serious condition.
The first step in treating illness anxiety disorder is a careful health evaluation with doctors and psychiatrists to rule out other illnesses or disorders.
“After this assessment, a systematic follow-up with a psychiatrist and a psychologist will help the person to develop ways of understanding and contextualising their thoughts surrounding illnesses and therefore to be able to develop strategies to deal with these compulsive behaviors,” he says Filipe.
“Psychotherapeutic support in these cases is essential to help the patient seek quality of life and also prevent the onset of more serious disorders,” he concludes.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
