Lets admit it, we all worry about our health. Some of us are more interested in our health than others, even perhaps to an obsessive compulsive extent.
Its shocking how often people blame others for their own flaws or illnesses, with genetics being the key target for blame. In some cases, it is obviously the fault of someone else, for example my iron deficiency is clearly my mums fault (these things are often genetic), and my slight weight problem is surely caused by my boyfriend, who naively thinks that I don’t secretly resent him for buying me lots of dinners, desserts and cupcakes!
With my ailments being the clear exception, it is so apparent to everyone around when people try to pass the blame for their problems, which are often the result of their own unhealthy lifestyle, off to someone else. For example, heart patients often blame work or family life for not allowing them time to exercise.
Similarly, we are able to justify our own actions one way or another. I know having a cigarette may cause cancer, but if I don’t have it, I’ll probably eat more, and may consequently get a heart attack, at some stage in the distant future.
Despite our ability to blame others and justify our own actions, we do still worry about our health.
Some of us worry so much that we are often preoccupied by the chances of getting some newsworthy virus, even going to the extent of researching and diagnosing ourselves with numerous peculiar and unlikely diseases, with our worries not easing even when dismissed by a doctor. In some cases, a trivializing wave of a doctor can alleviate our concerns in one of 2 possible ways. (1) We are terrified that we may have something so unusual that even the doctor hasn’t heard of it; or (2) We have to get a second opinion, given that our current doctor is clueless.
Perhaps this phenomenon is a result of unrealistic television shows, like ‘House’, where the patient is perfectly fine, until something completely horrifying happens to them out of the blue, following which they are informed that they have only 3 days to live. Dr House then solves the mystery illness, which is often a combination of numerous ailments, viruses, genetic issues, diseases or allergies.
Regardless of the cause, being a Hypochondriac (ie over-worrying about ones health) is a seemingly common illness in itself. Click here for more information.
You may be interested in the following, I know I am! The book by Dennis DiClaudio ‘The Hypochondriac’s Pocket Guide to Horrible Diseases that you probably already have’ that is available here; or the ‘Confessions of a Hypochondriac’ blog that can be found here.
To me, it all seems a question of degree. Being a minor hypochondriac and googling your apparent symptoms every now and then in search for sympathy, doesn’t seem to be particularly harmful. But if you take lots of pills based on a self-assessment of your health, it could be time to see a doctor (or two). Just some of my random thoughts.
I can relate.
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