Comments on: Hypochondria and Health Anxiety in the 21st Century

By: OCD Center of Los Angeles

OCD Center of Los Angeles — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:10:19 +0000

Hi Jane,

Thank you for your comment.

Unfortunately, there is no simple thing to say to your partner that will alleviate his anxiety. And if he is unwilling to seek treatment, there is not much you can do. I suggest you contact a CBT therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders in order to discuss treatment for yourself to help you learn how to best cope with his anxiety. Good luck.

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:34:03 +0000

My boyfriend has recently started displaying signs of cyberchondria… following the Japan earthquake attacks he had a panic attack and fled our home. Since then he has been highly concerned about symptoms he thinks derive from radiation poisoning and/or heavy metal toxins (he is also worried about corexit) and has been taking many herbal supplements and detox agents (clay, charcoal, kelp, vitamins, etc)that he reads about online. He is resistant to the idea of seeing a doctor about these things, unfortunately. I am wondering what sorts of things family members can say and do to help assuage worries and decrease some of these activities without making the person angry or defensive… if there is any way to do so.

By: ocdla

ocdla — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:58:39 +0000

Ros,

Thank you for your comment.

While it may be possible that some symptoms experienced in hypochondria could be a reaction to medications, vaccines, etc., my clinical experience over 15 years has been that none of the clients I have treated with hypochondria have had any of the diseases they fear. I believe Hypochondria is best conceptualized as a sub-type of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Recent research studies have shown that the most effective treatment for Hypochondria is Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), similar to the approach used to treat OCD.

By: Ros Rodriguez

Ros Rodriguez — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:45:25 +0000

Hypochondria is for the mind what pain is for the body; it is a signal that something may not be right so need attention. Thanks God the media is letting people to know how harmful is for the brain some of the technologies, medications, vaccines, food, etc, available out there. That produces anxiety on those with health consciousness. Unfortunately anxiety is harmful itself and generates the brain energy imbalances called hypochondria. 90% of us have brain energy imbalances due to the explosion of the technology, contamination of the environment and medications. We have to live with it and accept that we need to have brain balance training as we need to go to the dentist.

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:08:07 +0000

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