Hypochondriasis / Hypochondria (Intense Illness Concern)
============================================================================ Hypochondriasis, also known as Intense Illness Concern, and Hypochondria, involves a preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease such as heart disease, cancer or multiple sclerosis, based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms. The fear persists despite reassurance to the contrary from physicians. Illness fears can be triggered by bothersome physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach problems. In addition, fears can be made worse by stories about illness either in the media, Internet discussion lists, or from friends and family. Many quacks live off of these people. Some people fear one specific illness while others fear many different illnesses. Because of their illness fears, some individuals go to the doctor frequently, see many specialists, and have extensive medical tests. Others avoid going to the doctor because of their illness fears. They may subconsciously fear that their doctor may suspect that they are deluded or even malingering. They may well risk being mistaken for being a factitious liar. Many people who worry about their health find that they check their bodies routinely for signs of disease and often ask others for reassurance that they are healthy. They are easy marks for so-called "self-health" ideas, where medical science and doctors are scoffed at, their own perceptions are considered superior, and quacks with a little knowledge are looked up to. About 3% to 5% of the Canadian population suffers from intense illness concern. Up to 20% of the population experience intermittent or milder fears about disease. This is a relatively common problem and one that can cause significant interference in an individual’s life because of distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. It can also be costly to the health care system when it results in high levels of medical services utilization. This diagnosis may help to explain the behavior of some people who are overly interested (obsessed) with such things as cleansings (bowel, liver, gall bladder), parasites, diet, etc. Some of those on bowel cleansing lists admit to having (or having had) eating disorders. Now they have just changed the focus of attention to the other end of the digestive system. They are not healed, nor do they really seek healing. They are often seeking a lifestyle, not a solution. Those who really do have problems risk getting caught up in their delusions and getting stuck in the same lifestyle, never arriving at a solution. Thus they continue to cleanse and use regular enemas, without stopping. Quacks like not-a-medical-doctor HuldaClark sucker these people into being customers and patients. On the DrClark list, these types of people find themselves in good company. Their delusions are confirmed and spread to others who read about them. These patients are being manufactured in droves there! Her books are creating this very delusion, and she, her family, and henchmen are profitting from it. ============================================================================ Some links: Homeopathy Found Effective For Hypochondriasis (medical humor!)  Homeopathy http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001236.htm http://www.library.utoronto.ca/calss/hypochondriasis.htm http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/hypochondriasis.htm http://www.mhsource.com/expert/exp1111797c.html ============================================================================
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