If you’re a hypochondriac, you may be wondering if the hypochondriac anxiety you’re experiencing is normal. In a nutshell: maybe or maybe not. While that may be a frustrating answer for some, the answer really depends on several different factors. These factors can range from a person’s medical history, lifestyle, previous traumas, and mental health history. We do know that hypochondria is normal to experience, to a certain extent. But, there are some ways to determine whether what you are specifically experiencing or not is normal. Here are some thoughts:
Hypochondriac anxiety may be normal if the person has a medical condition that warrants worry.
If you’ve experienced health problems, it’s very normal to worry about that medical condition and what could come from it. For example, if you have been told that you are pre-diabetic, you may worry about being diagnosed with diabetes someday. You may be preoccupied with signs and symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst and blurry vision. In this case, the hypochondriac anxiety would be normal. Why? Well, this is a disease that you are currently at risk of contracting. If you were to start worrying about something completely unrelated, such as breaking your arm, this would not be considered normal hypochondriac anxiety.
Hypochondriac anxiety may be normal if the person is a caretaker for someone with a medical condition.
If you’re a caretaker for somebody with a medical condition, hypochondriac anxiety may be normal. This could be that you’re constantly surrounded by somebody who is ill or is otherwise struggling with their health. As that person’s caretaker, you are the firsthand witness to how much pain and suffering their ailments cause them. Of course, then, it’s completely normal to worry about someday developing that condition or illness.
Hypochondriac anxiety may be normal if the person has a family history of medical conditions.
For example, if someone has a family history of heart disease, they may be more anxious about their heart health. They may also constantly worry that they are having a heart attack. While this may seem like an irrational worry to someone without a family history of heart disease, it is actually a very real concern for the person with the family history.
If the person with the family history of heart disease goes to the doctor and is told that they are healthy, then their anxiety is likely to lessen. However, if the person with the family history of heart disease is not told that they are healthy, then their anxiety is likely to increase.
Hypochondriac anxiety may be normal if the person has experienced a previous traumatic medical event.
If you have experienced a traumatic medical event, hypochondriac anxiety may be normal. For example, if you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, you may become anxious about your health overall. You may also lose your ability to cope with that illness.
This anxiety can be normal and may even be helpful, as it can motivate the person to take care of themselves and to seek medical help if they need it. Or, this anxiety can be debilitating. There is no correct way (or ways) to experience trauma, so don’t be hard on yourself for whatever way you experience anxiety.
Hypochondriac anxiety may not be normal if the person is fixated on a single symptom or body part.
Are you focused on one single symptom or body part without any history of illness or injury to that specific body part? Well, this type of hypochondriac anxiety be not be normal. It’s normal to be concerned and mildly vigilant about your health overall. However, honing in on one symptom or body part is often out of proportion to the actual risk. Additionally, if you’ve already received a medical opinion about that particular symptom or body part and have received medical reassurance that you are okay, this is more evidence that the hypochondriac anxiety you are experiencing is not normal.
Hypochondriac anxiety may not be normal if the person is constantly seeking reassurance from others.
If you are constantly seeking reassurance from others, your hypochondriac anxiety might not be normal. Seeking reassurance, even though you have already received answers, may mean that your brain is stuck in a loop. This may mean that you are unable to move on from your worries and concerns. At this point, the hypochondriac anxiety becomes more about the feedback loop of getting reassurance, feeling temporarily relieved, and then feeling nervous and needing reassurance again. If this is the case, a course of cognitive-behavioral therapy will be instrumental in helping you break up these thoughts.
Hypochondriac anxiety may not be normal if the person is unable to function normally due to their anxiety.
Look, you know when something is wrong. If you’re unable to function normally due to your hypochondriac anxiety, it’s not normal. Some examples of this would be avoiding leaving the house, struggles at work or school, and being unable or unwilling to socialize with friends and family. This may happen if you’re so fixated on your health and the possible illnesses and injuries you may contract to the point where you are unable to concentrate on anything else. If you are at this point, the hypochondriac anxiety you are experiencing is not normal. You should seek out professional help. Talking to a therapist who specializes in hypochondria and who can help you with some cognitive-behavioral therapy would be a good first step to remedy this.
Hypochondriac anxiety can be normal or not normal. Hopefully, by reading this article, you have a better sense of which one you are experiencing. Then, you can figure out the next steps to take in remedying your hypochondriac anxiety.
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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.
