Mental-illness hypochondria????

I think I have mental-illness hypochondria. I have many of the symptoms of hypochondria, except they are applied to mental, not physical disorders. For example, I'll read or hear something about schizophrenia or some other mental illness and start worrying that I could have it or develop it and I'll researach it to prove to myself that I don't have it. I know it is irrational and that in all actuallity I most likely have just regular anxiety. Does anyone think it exists or has anyone heard of mental illness hypochondria?

Hi i am shocking when it comes to mental illnessess! I am so worried that i am going to get one, i pretty much talk myself into having schizophrenia and it is driving me mad!!
At uni at the moment we are doing a big thing on mental illnessess so i am a nervous wreck!! Talk mysel into thinking there is something seriously wrong with my brain!!

I can relate all too well.

I sought out psychiatric help for many years, sometimes for help in alleviating (a very real) depression, but in several instances I set out to confirm / deny imagined / real symptoms of schizophrenia.

I'd never met other hypochondriacs who worry about mental illness until I happened upon this forum, but I've always had a suspicion that there were others, and that they, too, focused on schizophrenia.

I think, in many ways, it makes much sense. Hypochondriacs tend to focus on very debilitating and catosrophic illnesses, and schizophrenia certainly fits the bill. It's a disease that, like certain types of cancer, has a very poor prognosis and represents a complete loss of control for the sufferer. In it's most extreme manifestations, it *represents* a kind of death. And, let's face it, death is the currency of hypochondria.

But to address more practical matters, it's important to realize that a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia is a denial of the disease. Those impaired with it do not recognize their own cognitive disfunctions as disease. So, more likely than not, if you had it, you would not worry that you had it. You would actually deny that you had it, generally speaking.

Also, other symptoms of schizophrenia are difficult (if not impossible) to emulate psychosomatically. These would include auditory / visual hallucinations, catatonia, abstract speech, etc. To further complicate matters, some of these symptoms mirror symptoms of other psychiatric illnesses, including depression and manic-depression.

All in all, I'd suggest you seek out counseling with - and this is VERY important - a counselor you trust and respect. I couldn't be convinced I wasn't heading for a total psychotic breakdown (eventually, anyway) until I found a psychiatrist who, when I asked what my diagnosis was, refused to make a diagnosis. He said he found my immediate anxieties and insecurities to be much more important than a diagnosis, and, very sagely, suggested that a diagnosis would, in and of itself, only exacerbate my anxieties. So, instead of trading symptoms of illnesses back and forth, we talked about the difficulties and problems I experienced in my real life, the mundane ones. It was a very simple, and extraordinarily useful, trick.

In fact, when first seeking a counselor - I'd suggest you avoid discussing these fears of schizophrenia immediately. Because all that they'll do is run through the generic list of symptoms that you're undoubtedly already too aware of. Tell them, in plain language, what is bothering you. Don't get hung up on the clinical language you've researched. Eventually, when you've established a rapport with him / her, open up about your insecurities. Mind you, even the best psychologists I've consulted have been unaware that a "mental illness hypochondria" exists, but a broad-minded and patient practicioner will not rush to diagnosis. In fact - refer them to this forum. There are, as of this posting, at least three of us who've experienced this problem.

Lastly, I'd urge you to not let hypochondria entangle you to the point that you can't enjoy life. That's easier said than done, I know. But I'd like you to know that life CAN, and usually DOES, get easier, with some patience and practice. If nothing else, think of what a person with an incurable disease *would* do if facing a fatal diagnosis: They'd focus on the joys of the present, and not the hardships of the future. That's something everybody, even the non-hypochondriacs, should learn. This time, right now, is a blessing and an oppurtunity.

Good luck to you. And as corny as it sounds, it's still true: You are definitely not alone.

thats quite amazing.
i was sure i was the only one who freaks out about mental illnesses. i have managaed to convince myself a few times that i am falling into a psychotic break. i literally sit on the net for hours researching illnesses like schizophrenia and biploar and all these other drastic things. i keep reminding myself that schizophrenia cannot be self diagnosed - its a paradox, a crazy person doesnt know they're crazy...the think they are normal and truely believe everyone else to be crazy.
also i remind myself time and time again that schizophreniahas an onset age of late teens/early twenties and i am too old for this now.
another important thing is that psychotic breaks are rarely noticed by the sufferer. they are usually noticed by friends/family/colleagues...

mark twain once said "i've lived a terrible life, although most of it didnt happen"...i relate to this so well, i mean all i do is worry about $#%^ that never ends up happening.

take care all

billy

Yeah i am trying to convince myself of schitzophrenia even though my psychologist and a few other professionals told me there is no way i have it........I DON'T EVEN SEE OR HEAR THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!but for some reason i can't shake the thought.........I also have regular Hypochondria too.IT SUCKS but i am gonna start working on it because i am getting depression from it.

billybaxter wrote:thats quite amazing.
i was sure i was the only one who freaks out about mental illnesses. i have managaed to convince myself a few times that i am falling into a psychotic break. i literally sit on the net for hours researching illnesses like schizophrenia and biploar and all these other drastic things. i keep reminding myself that schizophrenia cannot be self diagnosed - its a paradox, a crazy person doesnt know they're crazy...the think they are normal and truely believe everyone else to be crazy.
also i remind myself time and time again that schizophreniahas an onset age of late teens/early twenties and i am too old for this now.
another important thing is that psychotic breaks are rarely noticed by the sufferer. they are usually noticed by friends/family/colleagues...

mark twain once said "i've lived a terrible life, although most of it didnt happen"...i relate to this so well, i mean all i do is worry about $#%^ that never ends up happening.

take care all

billy

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

allow me to ellaborate more on my situation..........I read up on schitzophrenia to see if i can find symptoms i have..........I even sat around for an hour to see if i would hear a voice or see a figure(i didn't). I even had to go to the er with the thoughts i was having about having it......I got into and still am into serious depression about it......I am just glad that my psychologist and the lady at the er told me that you can't think yourself skitzo because it is a chemical problem.....you can think you have it forever but it won't happen.....THANK GOD because i would be skitzo by now if it was possible to do that........I also suffer from regular hypochondria and i am getting a bad depression from it........I have to go to a psychiatrist and keep going to a psychologist......I ain't gonna lie i still right now am thinking i am gonna go skitzo.......I am also thinking about multiple personalities.......I KNOW I AM DUSTIN AND I DON"T AT ANY TIME BECOME SOMEONE ELSE....everyone around me says i am ok i just need to stop worrying, and that's everyone around me if i was really psychotic like that wouldn't people tell me i need help? I need help getting over this because it is really bothering me....I just quit my job of four years because i couldn't take all the pressure on my mind...........but yeah that is what i went through about worrying about this problem.

yay this is just what i was looking for. except, what's the fixation w/ schizophrenia? i mean, i worry about that too but my main fixation is autism and asperger's syndrome. is there anyone else that worries about that? man i'm so happy to have found this forum. i feel like i'm finally home. misery loves company and now i damn sure have a lot of both!!!

me15 wrote:Hi i am shocking when it comes to mental illnessess! I am so worried that i am going to get one, i pretty much talk myself into having schizophrenia and it is driving me mad!!
At uni at the moment we are doing a big thing on mental illnessess so i am a nervous wreck!! Talk mysel into thinking there is something seriously wrong with my brain!!

Nobody with Hypochondrias would try to talk them selfs into having an illness. This whole thread was aimed at me.

nobhead wrote:

me15 wrote:Hi i am shocking when it comes to mental illnessess! I am so worried that i am going to get one, i pretty much talk myself into having schizophrenia and it is driving me mad!!
At uni at the moment we are doing a big thing on mental illnessess so i am a nervous wreck!! Talk mysel into thinking there is something seriously wrong with my brain!!

Nobody with Hypochondrias would try to talk them selfs into having an illness. This whole thread was aimed at me.

There, the proof that people with schizophrenia are unaware of their symptoms comes walking right into this thread.

So this is what it's like to be delusional.