am i a hypochondriac???????????

i have 2 health problems that i know of,but every time someone is sick around me like especialy with the stomach flu,i will think i have it to.or when i am watching tv and they say symptoms of something,i will have those symptoms.it is really frusturating for my family because i am always sick with something.could you please help me with this mystery?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

The answer is yes, you have some form of hypochondriasis.  But the label is not important, it simply tells us that you have a high degree of "free-floating" anxiety.  The treatment is for anxiety...you should consult a therapist or psychiatrist for medication and consultation.

[al1]

It sounds like you have vomit phobia.  I have vomit phobia.  Am terrified of being sick myself & of others around me being sick.

[Emily S]

Vomit phobia is called emetophobia and is actually surprisingly common. I'm emetophobic and would love to get the word out about it--if anyone reads this and is interested do a google search on emetophobia. You'd be surprised at the number of results. Thanks.

[mylime]

I don't know if I'm just having a really bad year heath wise or if some of my health issues could be just mental. On Jan 1 of 2007 I got in a really bad car accident and ended up in the hospital. As far as my health I had damage to the muscle around my phemure, back pain, and the expected pain felt after rolling my car down a steep hill. Since then I have been to the doctor to get two ulcers coterised, pollups removed, pre-cancerous cells on my cervix coterised, a misscarige, migranes (migraines), and issues with my blatter. As far as my blatter goes they sent it in to be cultured and found nothing, but I constantly have the urge to go to the bathroom and have been urinating 8-10 times a day wich is not normal for me. I also have been having pains in my side and sever cramps following my four week menstral cycle. My boyfriend and I wonder if there is really just a lot of health issues arrising or if some of it is just in my head.