Health Anxiety, Hypochondria, and Somatic disorder

I have suffered from health anxiety, or hypochondria for many years.  My problem is under control, due to the fact that I'm on prozac.  A lot of people don't realize that hypochondria is a real and serious problem.  Before I got help, my life was in ruins because I was obsessed with symptoms and I thought I had any number of serious diseases, such as multiple schlerosis and cancer.  I had been to a lot of doctors, and they said I was OK but I never really believed them.  

I think Hypochondria is like obsessive compulsive disorder.  You are compulsively checking yourself for symptoms and obsessed with disease.  If anyone is interested in learning more about this disorder, please visit my site at www.healthanxiety.com

Melissa

[HFHS.MD-AJ]

Melissa,

I am glad that your hypochondriasis has responded to treatment.

Hypochondriasis and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are two separate disorders, with some similarities and differences. Hypochondriasis is a somatoform disorder, whereas OCD is an anxiety disorder.

Hypochondriasis is characterized by preoccupation with ideas of having a serious medical disease based on misinterpretation of bodily symptoms, despite appropriate medical evaluation and reassurance, with resulting distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

OCD is characterized by obsessions and/or compulsions, that the person recognizes as being excessive or unreasonable, causing marked distress or impairment in social, occupational, or academic functioning. Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images, that are experienced as being intrussive and inappropriate, causing marked anxiety or distress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors (e.g. handwashing, checking) or mental acts (e.g. counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession.