So, you have a hypochondriac friend. Maybe your friend constantly worries about contracting COVID-19. Or, they might think every headache is the sign of a serious brain tumor. Alternatively, they could worry that every thirst signal is a sign of diabetes. No matter what your friend is worried about, chances are you have heard about their concerns more than once. Luckily, there are several ways that you can support your hypochondriac friend. Here are some of our favorite ways to do so:
Listen to their concerns and take them seriously.
If you have a hypochondriac friend, you may find yourself being the sounding board for their health concerns. While it can be tempting to tune them out, it’s important to remember your friend’s anxiety is real to them. They need your support! The best way to show your support is to listen to their concerns and offer reassurance. Try to avoid making light of your hypochondriac friend’s fears or dismissing them outright. Instead, show that you understand how they’re feeling and offer to help them find solutions. For example, if they’re worried about a particular health symptom? You could offer to research it with them or help them make an appointment with their doctor. By taking their concerns seriously and offering your support, you can help your friend manage their anxiety and live a happier, healthier life.
Offer reassurance.
While it may be tempting to brush off your hypochondriac friend’s concerns, it’s important to offer them reassurance. One of the best ways to do so is to listen to them and try to understand their perspective. Once your friend has had a chance to express their concerns, offer them reassurance. Let them know that you’re there for them. Reassure them that you’ll help them through their health concerns, whatever those concerns may end up being (or not being).
Help them research their symptoms and possible causes.
There’s a good chance your hypochondriac friend spends a lot of time researching their symptoms and possible causes of said symptoms. One way to support your hypochondriac friend is to actually help them with that research. This way, you can provide them with accurate information and help to put their mind at ease. Start by looking up their symptoms online. Try to find reputable sources when you are researching, such as medical websites or journals. Once you narrow down their symptoms, present them with a list of possible causes for these symptoms. In the case of a hypochondriac, many symptoms can actually be attributed to anxiety and/or hypochondria itself. However, having a list of possible causes can help a hypochondriac feel like they are in control of their health. They can use it as a resource when they go to the doctor to rule out any serious conditions.
Encourage your hypochondriac friend to see a doctor or other medical professional.
The definition of a hypochondriac is somebody who believes they are sick when they aren’t. However, it’s still important to encourage them to have a regular relationship with a doctor. There are several reasons for this. First of all, a doctor will be able to keep track of your friend’s health and will be able to determine if there is ever actually a serious medical condition that arises for your friend. Secondly, a doctor will be able to keep an eye on your friend’s hypochondria and will be able to assess whether or not it’s improving or worsening. Hypochondria is a mental condition that requires monitoring, so it is always a good idea to have a medical professional involved in a hypochondriac’s treatment.
Help them make lifestyle changes to improve their health.
One of the easiest ways to support your hypochondriac friend is to help them make lifestyle changes to improve their health. This has two distinct benefits: the first benefit is that healthy lifestyle changes actually help reduce anxiety, which in turn, could help reduce hypochondria! The second benefit is that healthy lifestyle changes can actually improve your health, which will be music to your hypochondriac friend’s ears!
Some of the healthy lifestyle choices we suggest most often for hypochondriacs are to eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise, and to prioritize sleep. Even better – you can do these things with them! For example, you could offer to go on regular walks with your hypochondriac friend or have “healthy meal prep parties” where you cook healthy foods together.
Help them manage their stress and anxiety.
The first thing to do when trying to help your hypochondriac friend is to encourage them to see a doctor on a regular basis. This will help them to get any necessary tests and check-ups, and it will also give them some peace of mind knowing that a professional is keeping an eye on their health.
Aside from that, there are several stress and anxiety management techniques that are good for hypochondriacs. One of our favorite stress and anxiety management techniques for hypochondria is meditation. If you practice meditation regularly, try inviting your hypochondriac friend to do a meditation session with you. They may feel some resistance at first, but they should eventually start to feel the benefits of meditation. Some other ways to help your friend manage their stress and anxiety is to go on a walk with them, watch a funny movie with them, or listen to calming music together. Your hypochondriac friend will appreciate all of the effort you are putting in, and they will appreciate the fact that you are doing these things with them in an effort to show your support.
Be patient with your hypochondriac friend.
Let’s be honest – sometimes, it can be frustrating to have a hypochondriac friend. It’s important that you remain patient with them whenever possible so they can feel supported by you. The easiest way to be patient with your hypochondriac friend is to try to understand where they are coming from with their worries. Even if you don’t have hypochondria, you can still empathize with the universal experience of being scared that you may have a serious health condition. In order to fully understand your hypochondriac friend, you need to understand that they are driven by fear. They may have had a bad experience in the past or they may have seen someone close to them get sick. This can make them very anxious about their own health. Whether you know or do not know the reason behind your friend’s hypochondria, it still remains so that you need to be patient with them and understand that they are not choosing to make themselves believe that they are sick.
Encourage them to stay positive.
It can be very hard to stay positive in the midst of a health anxiety battle; your hypochondriac friend undoubtedly knows this. However, it doesn’t hurt to have positivity reminders every now and then. Hypochondriacs tend to catastrophize their health ailments and symptoms – this is a very negative way of looking at things. Instead, you could encourage them to look at their health ailments and symptoms in a positive light. What if their headache isn’t a brain tumor, but in fact, a symptom of changing weather patterns? What if their aching leg isn’t the sign of arthritis, but rather, the sign that they have been exercising their muscles well? The more you start to throw these ideas out for your friend, the more that these positive thoughts will start to pop into their heads whenever they have a negative thought.
Help your hypochondriac friend find a support group or counselor.
Many hypochondriacs benefit from attending a regular support group or seeing a counselor. However, finding a support group or a counselor whom specializes in hypochondria can often be a daunting task for a hypochondriac. One way you can support your hypochondriac friend is to aid them in the process of finding a support group to attend or a counselor to meet with for the first time. The first place to turn is to your primary care doctor. They may be able to make recommendations for hypochondriac support groups or for a counselor who specializes in hypochondriac issues. If that option is not available to you or your hypochondriac friend, there’s always good old-fashioned Google! There are several online directories that allow you to search for a therapist by location, specialty, or other keywords that may be helpful to your hypochondriac friend. Taking on this task for your hypochondriac friend could be especially helpful since the Internet can be a triggering place for somebody suffering with hypochondria.
Be there for them.
This one is simple – just be there for your friend. Sometimes, just having a supportive friend or person nearby will help ease somebody’s anxiety. Or, if they need to, they can talk to you about the worries they are currently facing. Many people underestimate the power of just being there for somebody – you can be that person for your hypochondriac friend!
Love your hypochondriac friend.
Your hypochondriac friend can’t control the fact that they have hypochondria (trust us – if they could, they would!) So, sometimes the best way to support your hypochondriac friend is to love them regardless of where they are in their hypochondria journey.
Disclaimer: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.
If you are currently experiencing medical concerns, it’s important to talk to a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. HypochondriacHQ does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this website.
