Hypochondriasis: Hypochondriac Help

Hypochondriasis, sometimes reffered to as hypochondria or health phobia, is an excessive preoccupation with the thought of having a serious disease or illness. Hypochondriacs have so much anxiety over having a serious illness that even the consolation of a doctor will often not ease their discomfort.

About 3% of all people are shown to have some level of hypochondria, making it a relatively common disorder.

Hypochondria can also apply to a person that believes they are healthy, despite actually having a serious illness.

Symptoms of Hypochondriasis:

• Constant Self Diagnosis
• Preoccupation with one's body
• Disbelief in doctor's diagnosis
• Belief that small symptoms are signs of serious health issues

Hypochondria treatment:

A comprehensive treatment plan is required when attempting to treat hypochondriasis.

A supportive and close relationship with a health care provider is paramount to treating the disorder - the patient must fully trust in the professional opinion of the doctor of their choice. The doctor should be aware of the patient's hypochondriasis - this will help avoid unnecessary testing and diagnostic procedures.

Seratonin reuptake inhibitors, a variety of anti-depressant drugs, has been shown to decrease symptoms of hypochondriasis.

Take a fish oil supplement, like Bio Krill 500 or Salmega ; An issue of Archives of General Psychiatry reported that Stoll and Colleagues found large doses of fish oil to significantly reduce the symptoms of severe bi-polar disorder, severe anxiety and severe depression.

In some of Stoll and Colleagues' studies symptoms were reduced in more than 85% of patients tested in a double-blind study; symptoms were even reduced in patients who didn't react favorably to traditional prescription treatment.