Medical term hypochondriasis relates to diagnosis. They give it to those patients who do not release obsessions availability at relatively heavy incurable disease. This term refers to the characteristics of the individual or the symptom of mental disorders. Net hypochondriasis is characterized by the perception of personal feelings as unpleasant and abnormal. In this case, a hypochondriac mistakenly "knows" what kind of disease he had, but the extent of his conviction often is constantly changing because of the suspiciousness, inherent in this state.
What it is?
Hypochondria - the human condition, which manifests itself in a constant anxiety over the possibility of ill one or more somatic illnesses or complaints concern for their physical health, their perception of the ordinary feelings as abnormal and unpleasant, the assumption that, in addition to the underlying disease, there are some additional.
This person may think that he knows what he "really" a disease, but the degree of conviction usually just by changing times, and he believes it is more likely that a single disease, more.
Reasons hypochondriac syndrome
Hypochondria, in most cases accompanied by existing mental changes on the background of the underlying disease. Most often, in this case we are talking about neurosis. This specific form of mental diseases, so-called "small" psychiatry. The main difference between the "border" of psychiatry great is that it is suffering from neurosis are critical both to himself and to their existing changes.
Important: The understanding of the disease is the main factor for the proper treatment. The patient himself begins to actively participate in the process of therapy, helping the doctor.
Hypochondriasis may accompany organic pathology - brain pathology (inflammation, injury, neoplasm). Often hypochondriasis -Right satellite senile diseases associated with developing dementia (dementia).
A role played by genetic predisposition. Hypochondriacal experiences also occur in children. Family problems, problems at work, in educational institutions, fears in anxious individuals can serve as the impetus of the painful feelings and experiences.
Classification
Hypochondria is divided into the following types, depending on the mental disorders:
- Overvalued - in which human complaints seem to be strangers reasonable and understandable. Once these patients visit doctors, which, of course, do not reveal their health problems, decide to treat yourself at home, with the help of public money;
- Obsession - as a consequence of sensibility. Often occurs in students of medical universities, which are very often hear about the new disease and we are confident that each of them has in their body;
- Astenoipohondricheskih syndrome - can occur for several years. The distinguishing feature is that it can be made on the bases to the actual body disease;
- Crazy - patients are confident that the doctors hide them from disease because they do not want to treat her. All attempts to convince a man regarded as a fraud, and refusal to treat it take for the hopeless and deadly disease. Often these people see hallucinations. This type of hypochondria usually happens in schizophrenia or prolonged depression. It can result in suicide.
The symptoms of hypochondria
Hidden hypochondriac in different periods of life can occur in any person at all there are times when it seems that the body is faltering. But, true hypochondriacs it becomes painful obsession.
There are three conventional forms of the disease:
- obsession,
- overvalued,
- delusional.
People with obsessive type can be described like this:
- Constantly analyze all processes in the body (and normally I go to the toilet; and it is then pricked; Oh, my head hurts - probably cancer there!).
- Prone to anxiety and suspiciousness.
- Often they experience anxiety and fear for their health.
- If no symptoms can be detected, are beginning to listen to yourself, feel yourself and panic (ooh even ceased to ache, probably - this is the end!).
Attack of hypochondria may be viewing ads medical, doctor of ambiguous phrases.
When overvalued form manifestations are similar, but there are very specific behavioral and psychological reactions:
- Man is making tremendous efforts to achieve perfect health, uses a variety of diets, quenched, taking a lot of medication, vitamins or dietary supplements. Such people often feel that they are treated properly or do not want to treat from the "existing illness", often instigate litigation with clinics and doctors.
- Patients acute and emotionally react to any signs of physical discomfort or defect. Even light health problems like colds, are regarded as very serious.
This type hypochondria may signal impending schizophrenia or psychopathy.
The most serious form of hypochondria - a crazy, if it can be:
- Frequent suicide attempts.
- There are all sorts of delusions and hallucinations, depression.
- Confidence in the presence of disease is incurable.
- Attempts dissuasion interpreted as "to me even doctors have a cross."
This kind of hypochondria usually requires immediate treatment.
Diagnostics
If a person has no complaints in the first place you need to see a doctor (most reasonable, to the therapist). Only a specialist can tell whether there are grounds for concern about the health of the body, or it is a syndrome of hypochondria. To clarify the status of the patient the doctor will prescribe a blood test, urinalysis, electrocardiogram. These simple surveys show overall health.
If necessary, ultrasound or x-ray studies, consultation of various experts may be appointed to rule out certain diseases. If in the internal organs of pathology it is not revealed, and the patient continues to disturb the alarm for the health, it is advisable to come to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. This doctor read the results of the survey clinics may refer the patient to a psychologist to determine personality characteristics.
You can not put off visits to the doctor, if the thought of serious illness or anxiety about health, without apparent reason, lasting several days. Firstly, you need to really make sure that people are physically healthy. Secondly, hypochondria, left unchecked, can lead to tragic consequences. So, hypochondria and depression - a rather dangerous condition. Such a patient who has decided that he is terminally ill, such as cancer, can take their own lives, not to be a burden to the family or not suffer torment. With hypochondriacal symptoms may begin serious diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, and it is very important not to lose time: the sooner treatment is started - the better the prognosis for patient.
treatment of hypochondria
Effective treatment for hypochondria is impossible without the participation of relatives of the patient, as soon as they can help to change his lifestyle. That positive changes are put in the basis of psychotherapy: the patient is recommended to temporarily change the place residence (vacation, travel, family and friendly visits to other cities and countries), work, circle communication. A positive result gives new hobbies, especially those associated with physical exercise - lessons in swimming and other sports, cycling, hiking, yoga. New hobby should be based on the patient's age.
In the treatment of hypochondriasis in the home should be categorically excluded reading medical literature review of relevant programs, chat on forums, one way or another related to the medicine. In general, all media products upstaged - the basis of life hypochondriac should be lively and positive communication with family, friends, nature. There are regular discussions with a psychotherapist.
As a rule, in the early stages of hypochondria these measures are sufficient. If a patient is diagnosed second or third degree of disease, hypochondria treatment is advantageously carried out with the use of medicines.
Symptomatic treatment hypochondria includes:
- Receiving sedatives - valerian extract, Leonurus, peony and derivatives thereof, Percy Fitosed, New Pass Dormiplant, Validol, Sedariston and others;
- Receiving hypnotic drugs - taken only by prescription and under medical supervision: Donormil, melaxen, Giposed, barbamyl, bromisoval and others;
- Antidepressants - amitriptyline, sertraline, fluoxetine. These drugs are not addictive, but the effect of their use comes only after 2-3 weeks from the beginning of the reception;
- Antipsychotics - used in case of severe mental disorders and behavioral disorders: Rispolept, Hloprotiksen, Sonapaks, Grandaxinum.
Treatment of a therapist includes a plurality of methods, therapy chosen individually depending on the state and form of the disease. When used hypochondria:
- individual psychotherapy;
- family therapy;
- group psychotherapy;
- rational psychotherapy;
- cognitive-behavioral therapy
All of these techniques can be very effective, provided the therapist to establish contact with the patient.
How to get rid of their own hypochondria?
Independent work on the patient his illness is a prerequisite for successful treatment.
To self-help to be effective, it must deal with every day. At the same time we should not forget that the treatment of hypochondria, like any other disease, should be under the supervision of a specialist.
Work on yourself and your fears
Experts note that some traits are common factors that go along with hypochondria. Therefore, to increase the effectiveness of treatment must be traversed to pay attention to work on himself. Mistrust is one of the features of the person who contributes to the development and hinders the treatment of hypochondriacal disorder.
Measures that will help you reduce the level of mistrust, are:
- Keep a journal in which to write unpleasant situation occurred because of the suspiciousness, and the thoughts and feelings that you have while accompanied;
- exclude the desire to speak bad about you or your body;
- develop their positive qualities and skills;
- try to draw or describe in verse all of your fears, using silly words and images;
- write down on a sheet of paper fears that you visit, and try to make fun of them;
- remove the film in the imagination of your ideal life and through it daily for 5 - 10 minutes.
Other traits, which represent a favorable environment for the manifestation of hypochondria, a tendency to a negative assessment of the world and uncertainty in itself. In the treatment of this disorder may experience both successes and failures. Emphasis must be placed on even the smallest achievements and not to focus on failure. It is useful to record and analyze all the positive experiences that accumulate will increase your self-esteem and confidence in the victory over the disease.
The fight against terror
Anxiety - a feeling which accompanies and enhances the symptoms of hypochondria. At the slightest physical discomfort arises fear, which inhibits the ability to think rationally. To control this feeling will help special techniques that help achieve both muscular and emotional relaxation.
Relaxation methods are:
- breathing exercises;
- physical exercise;
- yoga, meditation;
- progressive relaxation of Jacobson.
Help yourself during a panic attack can be remembered that the fear and anger automatically block laughter. You commented ironically on the situation, which turned out to be, remember the anecdote, or translate everything into a joke. If it turns out not to laugh, try to express anger. Angry at the same time is not necessarily on the people or the circumstances of real life. Express aggression can be against a fictional character or the disease itself.
Confronting social exclusion
The symptoms of hypochondria often provoke patients to limit their contact with the outside world. Fear of contracting any disease or be at the necessary moment without medication gradually leads to complete or partial exclusion. To prevent this, you need to find a strong incentive to ensure that as the contact with the outside world often as possible.
This should be an activity that is fun and allows you to realize the goals or desires. Excuses that you will be forced to leave the comfort zone are dancing or playing sports, learning a new activity (eg, driving), refresher courses. Increase your motivation when you visit your chosen occupation will allow the involvement of friends or relatives.
Conducting independent training
There are many different exercises, the implementation of which will have a positive influence on the therapy. One of the training involves role-playing game, in which during the week you have to play different roles. Make a list of 7 characters, the maximum shown thus fantasy and imagination. It may be animals, characters of fairy tales, inanimate objects. Specify the circumstances that affect the behavior and feelings of the characters.
If the spelling list causes you trouble, try these examples.
Examples of characters for the training are:
- tree in the forest, the branches of which the bird had built a nest;
- known director, who is preparing for the shooting of the film;
- wall of the old mansion, which rebuilt;
- expensive car in the showroom, which no one buys;
- the man who first saw his companion without makeup;
- middle-aged woman, who made the proposal.
Complete the image of the heroes of the various parts. This will allow better get into character and keep it throughout the day. Keep a journal in which you must specify all the events that took place during the period of training both physically and emotionally. Within a week, waking up in the morning, start to play the characters in the list. The game should be over within you. Think and think as it would make your characters, while trying not to change their usual demeanor. Watch as you change the attitude of others, depending on the character played.
Performed training will allow you to escape from the usual image and gain new experience. Playing every day a new role, you will be able to distance themselves from anxiety and easier to cope with the disease.
