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Understanding Hypochondria or Health Anxiety (Lifestyle Therapy)
Susan Leigh is Counsellor and Hypnotherapist who works with clients suffering from stress and anxiety related issues. This article is the notes from a BBC Radio interview on January 26 2010. For more information www.lifestyletherapy.net
Many people have times in their lives when their health becomes an area of concern. Some people do not want to know anything further and ignore it, sometimes to their detriment. Other people focus in on every twinge and symptom, fearful that some deadly disease is lurking to imminently take a hold. The truth is, if any of us read the first page of a book of medical symptoms we would probably relate to many of them. Good health is being able to find a sense of balance and proportion in these matters.
Many people have heard of someone who waited too long for treatment or was mis-diagnosed and became seriously ill. The fear of this happening to us can, in some people, become a major pre-occupation. This reaction tends to happen more often with people who have responsibilities, like a young family or older people who rely on them. The fear of leaving dependant people uncared for and vulnerable can weigh heavily on their minds and they may well become obsessed with their own health. The readiness of internet access for these people exacerbates the problem, as typing in symptoms and health issues is now the second most researched area on the internet, the first being pornography.
Hypochondria is now known as Health Anxiety. Its roots are often deep seated. Maybe insecurity as a child, or being surrounded by a lot of illness and feeling that that was an inevitable part of becoming an adult featured. Other people may have had a lot of attention as a child because of fears and concerns over their own health status. They may continue to seek that attention for reassurance.
These underlying issues can then be triggered into an anxiety state in adulthood by stressful situations. The need to be in control of a situation and the fear of not having full control can cause the fears to surface and so begins constant doubt and checking to ensure that everything is okay.
This situation is often compounded by the shame, self-disgust and reproaching that occurs when everything is constantly revealed to be fine physically. Many hypochondriacs are ashamed at being so self absorbed when others in the world are having far greater 'real' problems. The fact is, they cannot help having their fears and anxieties. It is not a choice, but an anxiety condition. Here are some effective treatment options:
- Counselling and Hypnotherapy are an effective combination in dealing with the original causes of the problem, healing them and then reinforcing confidence, control and a positive outlook for the future.
- Self hypnosis and visualisation techniques teach skills that can be used in stressful situations to support good health and coping strategies.
- Emotional Freedom Technique is a meridian therapy that works by tapping parts of the body to free blockages and break patterns and cycles of negative behaviour and conditioning.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps in understanding the triggers, behaviours and patterns and teaches more productive ways of managing anxiety, rather than repeating the unwanted behaviour.
- Anti-depressants can help elevate a persons' mood and raise them out of a depressive state into a healthier more balanced state of mind. From there they can use counselling to address the underlying issues behind the problem.
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming has many different techniques to help break patterns and chains of behaviour.
I have outlined only a few different ways of treating this problem. There is certainly help out there and finding the most effective way for each person is a personal choice. Suffice to say, this problem has its roots in trying to take good care of the sufferer, trying to look after them and keep them well. There is help that can achieve that result in a more constructive way and help the person achieve a better quality of life.
For further information:
Understanding Hypochondria or Health Anxiety
Lifestyle Therapy
3 Alstone Drive
Oldfield Brow
Altrincham
Cheshire
WA14 4LD
United Kingdom
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