If you’ve heard of hypochondria, you know that it’s anxiety centered around a person’s health and dealing with the fear that they are seriously ill or sick. Typically, a hypochondriac is very fixated on their own symptoms and bodily sensations. They constantly worry what their symptoms may mean in terms of their health. Hypochondria can be a very isolating condition, especially when a hypochondriac feels like they have nobody to talk to.
But, what if somebody’s fears revolve around other people as opposed to themselves? What if, instead of being worried about their own symptoms and bodily sensations, they worry about the symptoms and bodily sensations of others? Well, this may be indicative of somebody being a hypochondriac for others.
But wait – is it even possible to be a hypochondriac for others?
Well, the answer is sort of – hypochondria refers to an individual person suffering from their own health anxiety thoughts. When somebody is suffering from health anxiety thoughts relating to other people, this could be categorized as several different things. For example: extension of their own hypochondria, generalized anxiety, or hypochondriasis by proxy. While hypochondriasis by proxy isn’t a term that’s widely recognized, it could be considered related to Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. While Munchausen by Proxy typically involves some level of abuse (such as making up fake symptoms or causing real symptoms), Hypochondriasis by Proxy would involve genuine concern and anxiety about that person’s health.
So, the terminology of being a “hypochondriac for others” doesn’t currently exist in a medical sense. But, we can use it as a loose term to describe when somebody struggles with anxiety about the health of other people. So, without further ado, here are some tell-tale signs that you are a hypochondriac for others:
You are always asking your loved ones if they are feeling okay.
If you are always asking your loved ones if they are feeling okay, you may be a hypochondriac for others. These questions may be centered around physical or mental symptoms that a loved one is experiencing, or they may be centered around no particular indicators. Whichever reason for your questions, you should consider the fact that you may actually be making your loved ones anxious. While your concern is likely well-meaning, your constant questions can be overwhelming.
If you are concerned about your loved ones, wait until they come to you about a particular health condition. At that point, you can ask them if they feel okay. Or, you can do any other designated follow-up with them to let them know that you care about them.
You are always worried about your loved ones getting sick.
While it is normal to be concerned about the health of loved ones, a hypochondriac worries to an extreme. If you are always worried about your loved ones getting sick, you may be a hypochondriac for others. This is especially true if your loved ones are generally healthy or don’t have history of major sicknesses or illnesses.
Another variation of this is if you hear about somebody contracting a new illness or disease and you immediately worry whether or not your loved ones will contract that illness or disease. There are some diseases that are very contagious (like the stomach flu or COVID-19). But, there are some diseases and illnesses that are not contagious (such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, hip pain, etc.)
As a hypochondriac for others, it would behoove you to remember that correlation does not equal causation, in this case. Just because you hear about a celebrity being diagnosed with colon cancer does not mean your loved ones are immediately at risk for colon cancer.
You are always checking your loved ones for signs of illness.
If you are constantly checking up on your loved ones to make sure they are not sick, this may be a sign that you are a hypochondriac for others. This could be done, either by physically inspecting your loved ones, or by looking for other physical indicators of illness. It’s important to remember that some common “signs” of illness can actually be indicators of mild or non-concerning conditions.
For an example, if you spot bruises on your loved one. You may jump to thinking that they have a serious disease such as leukemia. However, bruises can happen in the most innocent of ways! Somebody could bump into something, or their clothes could be too tight, or some other form of collision.
When you are checking your loved ones for signs of illness, remember to think about all possibilities. Even the non-harmful ones! We know, we know…this can be incredibly challenging as somebody who is a hypochondriac for others.
You are always asking your loved ones about their symptoms.
If you are always asking your loved ones about your symptoms, you may be a hypochondriac for others. This can be a bit annoying for those around you. They may not always want to hear about your theories regarding what their symptoms mean or indicate. If they ask you about their symptoms, instead of the other way around, then it is perfectly fine to engage in that conversation with them.
It is important to remember that not every little ache and pain is a sign of a serious illness. It is okay to relax and not worry about the health of your loved ones all the time.
You are always telling your loved ones to see a doctor.
If you’re always telling your loved ones to see a doctor, you may be a hypochondriac for others. Look, it’s good to go to the doctor at least once a year. It’s even better to go to the doctor if you have symptoms of concern or other areas of concern that only a medical professional would be able to diagnose.
But, if you are the person who is constantly telling your loved ones to see a doctor, this could become quite annoying and repetitive for them. If they decide that they want to go to the doctor – great! You can offer to help them find a reputable doctor if they do not yet have one. Also, you could talk to them about their appointment, or offer to accompany them if they would find that helpful.
You are always buying your loved ones health-related products.
If you find yourself constantly buying your loved ones health-related products, you may be a hypochondriac for others. There’s a whole world of health-related products out there, from supplements to vitamins to food and beverage products to wearables to digital diagnostic devices.
It can get pretty overwhelming (and expensive) to keep up with all of these health-related products, which is why people generally don’t buy them unless they have a specific need for them. For example, somebody who doesn’t have diabetes or problems with their blood sugar would not need to have a blood sugar monitoring device. In the same respect, somebody who regularly suffers tennis elbow would not need to have an ankle brace on hand unless they ever had ankle problems.
You are always researching your loved ones’ health conditions.
If you find yourself constantly researching your friends’ health conditions, you may be a hypochondriac for others. It’s perfectly normal for people to get sick and have various health conditions over the years. As their loved one, you don’t need to research their conditions. You can leave that up to their medical professionals, or, if your loved ones directly ask you to do research.
What your loved ones need from you is your support. Though this is hard to do if you’re a hypochondriac for others, try focusing less on the clinical aspects of your loved ones’ health conditions and focus more on emotionally supporting your loved ones and letting them know that you are there for them through anything.
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.
