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, constantly worrying what they 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 about their condition.
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 about 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 generalized anxiety or hypochondriasis by proxy. While hypochondriasis by proxy is not a term that is widely recognized yet by the medical or mental health community, it could be considered as closely 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 about others” doesn’t currently exist in a medical sense. However, we can use it as a loose term to describe when somebody who is either a hypochondriac or generalized anxiety sufferer struggles with anxiety about the health of other people. So, without further ado, here are some tell-tale signs that you are a hypochondriac about others:
You constantly check on them to make sure they are okay.
A hypochondriac overly worries about their own health. This is often to the point where it interferes with their daily life. A hypochondriac about others may constantly check in on their loved ones to make sure they are okay. This can be a sign that they are projecting their own anxiety onto these people. Are you constantly checking in on your loved ones to make sure they are okay? You may be a hypochondriac about them.
You are always asking them how they are feeling.
So, you may be a hypochondriac about others if you are constantly asking other people how they are feeling. This is especially true if you have no reason to believe otherwise that they are not healthy! You may not realize it, but you could be making others feel uncomfortable with your constant questioning. It’s important to be aware of how your actions might be affecting others. If you think you may be a hypochondriac, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor or therapist. These professionals can help you understand your behavior and how to manage it.
You get anxious when they don’t answer your calls or texts right away.
Are you the type of person who gets anxious when other people don’t answer your calls or texts right away? Well, you may be a hypochondriac about others. This means that you tend to think something is wrong with the other person. For example: when they don’t respond to you right away, even if there’s nothing actually wrong. Somebody not answering their phone right away doesn’t automatically mean that they were in a car crash or that they’ve been kidnapped.
More often, there are far more innocent explanations! Such as, maybe your loved one turned off their cell phone. Or, maybe your loved one doesn’t have service. Or, maybe your loved one simply just doesn’t want to talk at the moment.
There are so many reasons!
Before you jump to the worst-case scenario, consider this. It can tough to be friends or family members with someone who is a hypochondriac about others. They worry about something happening to the other person and can be very clingy. If you think you might be a hypochondriac about others, try to take a step back and relax. Remind yourself that it’s okay to give people some space and time to respond to you.
You always want to know what they are eating and make sure they are taking care of themselves.
Are you constantly making sure that other people are taking care of themselves by way of examining their diet? Well, you may be a hypochondriac about others. We will be the first to say it – this can get old very, very fast. Nobody likes to feel like somebody is looking over their shoulder when they are eating.
Does somebody you love struggle with a known medical condition that is directly affected by their diet? For example: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity? It’s only natural that you would be concerned about what foods and drinks they are putting into their body. After all, these things matter!
But, it’s not your place to always know what they are eating. What you can do, instead, is ask them if they need any support with their health condition. That way, they can decide if they want to open up to you about what they are eating.
If somebody that you love does not struggle with a known medical condition that is directly affected by their diet, wanting to know what they are eating in case they are making themselves sick is not appropriate. In the event that you are nervous about what they are eating and how they are taking care of themselves, you can simply let them know that you are there for them if they ever need any kind of support. Leave it at that, and your relationship will be all the better for it!
You are always asking about their medical history and if they have any conditions.
If you are always asking others about their medical history, you may be a hypochondriac about others. This means that you are constantly worrying about their health and whether or not they are going to get sick. This can be such a burden for others. They may feel like they have to constantly reassure you that they are healthy. This may even cause them to think that they’re unhealthy if you are so preoccupied with their health!
If you constantly ask your loved ones about their medical history, they may get annoyed. This is especially true if you already know what their medical history is! There also may be some situations where people would be uncomfortable sharing certain aspects of their medical history.
If you are a hypochondriac about others, it is important to manage your anxiety so it doesn’t become a burden for your loved ones. If they come to you regarding their health issues, you can assure them that you will be the first person there to support them!
You worry when they don’t come home on time.
You may be a hypochondriac about others if you worry when they don’t come home on time. Look, there are so many reasons why somebody wouldn’t come home on time! For example: traffic, wanting to stay somewhere longer, getting lost, being a poor communicator.
These are the most common reasons why somebody may not come home on time. Before you worry that something bad happened to them (like them getting kidnapped or getting into a car crash), think about other possible explanations. Your next step would be to reach out to this person to see where they are and what their new arrival time would be.
You always feel like something bad is going to happen to them.
If you are always feeling like something bad is going to happen to other people, you may be a hypochondriac about others. These feelings are usually exacerbated after a hypochondriac hears about something bad happening, either to somebody they knew or somebody they didn’t know. These feelings usually center around a hypochondriac’s loved ones, as they are the ones that they are most afraid of something bad happening to.
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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.
