Do you constantly think about your health and find a variety of things wrong that you believe a doctor needs to treat?

Do you find that time and again, the doctors don’t find anything wrong, and you feel unheard and invalidated? Robles Ranch explores the world of hypochondria and how to determine whether you have it. The good news is that it’s a treatable disorder that often responds well to treatment by licensed mental health experts. Our luxurious treatment center provides round-the-clock care for those who need help realigning how their minds respond to imagined illnesses.

Contact Robles Ranch today to find out how we can help you or someone you love who has hypochondria.

What is Hypochondria?

Hypochondria, now known as illness anxiety disorder, is a mental health disorder that causes a person to become obsessed with their physical health and experience obsessive fears about being sick. The person will spend an inordinate amount of time thinking and talking about illnesses they suspect they have, even if they have not been diagnosed by a doctor. The individual often attends several doctor appointments, seeking proof that they are sick, even going so far as to undergo multiple tests, X-rays, bloodwork, and procedures.

Approximately 5.7% of the population has hypochondria, but it is still often misunderstood. Constant reassurance that the person is physically healthy does not help because they are certain they have an ongoing list of issues that are not being taken seriously. Living with hypochondria causes tremendous stress and a burden to a person in their personal and professional lives.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypochondria

It can be difficult for others to recognize hypochondria because people tend to believe someone when they say they have an illness.

Common signs and symptoms of hypochondria include:

• Obsessed with their physical health
• Obsessively watching or reading about various health concerns because they are concerned they have it
• Constantly checking their vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, and more
• Talking a lot about their symptoms
• Having a higher than usual amount of doctor appointments
• Spending a lot of money on medical appointments, tests, or procedures
• Catastrophizing: Assuming a simple symptom, such as a sneeze, means they have pneumonia
• Difficult time accepting the news that they are not sick
• Missing a lot of work, school, or personal responsibilities due to health obsession
• Avoiding doctors when the person feels they aren’t being listened to or treated the right way

Why Do People Become Hypochondriacs?

Hypochondria can develop for different reasons, often ones that can benefit from the person attending therapy to find out the underlying issues.

Some common reasons a person might become a hypochondriac include:

• History of a serious illness or poor health
• Adverse childhood experience
• Death of a loved one
• Out of control anxiety
• Other mental health disorders
• Parents who encourage their child to be sick and avoid certain things in life
• Repeatedly using online searches to look up symptoms and believing that every “answer” they get means the worst possible situation. For example, taking a tiny symptom and believing it must mean cancer or another serious and sometimes fatal disease.

What Complications Come From Having Hypochondria?

A person with hypochondria will suffer tremendously and often without anyone truly understanding the emotional toll this disorder takes. If the individual already suffers from anxiety or depression, hypochondria may occur. Carrying the burden of constantly being afraid that a person is really sick or dying can drastically affect all other aspects of their life. In fact, anxiety and depression can both cause mysterious medical symptoms, which keep the person looped into a devastating cycle.

Hypochondriacs tend to spend excessive amounts of money on doctor appointments and procedures, which can drain them financially. This disorder can also cause conflict between the person who has it and their partners, family, friends, and co-workers. Last of all, if a hypochondriac feels the medical community does not take them seriously, they may be less likely to seek medical help when they need it.

Can Hypochondria Be Treated?

Hypochondria can be treated by attending different types of therapy that help the person understand their diagnosis and symptoms and work to minimize them.

Many therapies can help tremendously, including:

• Animal-Assisted Therapy
• Holistic Therapy
• Psychiatry
• Somatic Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Individual Psychotherapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Biosound Therapy

The individual will also be assessed to determine if using a prescription medication can help. Often, a person who experiences less anxiety and depression feels more capable of addressing and controlling their hypochondria symptoms. 

Begin Treatment at Robles Ranch

Robles Ranch offers treatment from skilled and compassionate mental health experts who understand how to treat hypochondria. Our intimate facility offers luxurious care from people with the skills to help people get past the obsessive thoughts about their physical health. We offer a multitude of therapies and any necessary prescription medications to help the person ease their thoughts and actions and see their health in a whole new light.

Contact us now, and let’s discuss how we can give you the focused care you need. Ask about our free insurance verifications to help you understand your full coverage.