Hypochondria (or hypochondriasis, sometimes referred to as health anxiety or health phobia) is a somatoform disorder in which one has the unfounded belief that he or she is suffering from a serious illness. Hypochondria is often characterized by irrational fears of being diseased/dying, obsessions over minor bodily symptoms or imperfections, doubt and disbelief in doctors' diagnosis, constant self-examination and self-diagnosis and preoccupation with one's body. Hypochondriacs often require constant reassurance, sometimes from multiple doctors, family and friends.

Hypochondria is often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety, and can also be brought on by stress.

Etymology

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The term hypochondria comes from the Greek hypo- (below) and chondros (cartilage - of the breast bone). The term was originally used to describe unidentifiable stomach pains. It was thought by ancient Greek physicians that such pains were caused by the movement of the spleen, an organ located near the hypochondrium (the upper region of the abdomen just below the ribs on either side of the epigastrium).

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Don't get the webmd app if you have a predisposition to hypochondria- just saying - :) ok back to cam- much healthier for me :)
devonmichaelsx (Devon Michaels) Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:26:45 -0000
Don't get the webmd app if you have a predisposition to hypochondria- just saying - :) ok back to cam- much healthier for me :)
hypochondria strikes again. toink! toink! toink!
mitz0210 (Michelle Robles) Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:44:27 -0000
hypochondria strikes again. toink! toink! toink!
is hypochondria an illness? and can it be treated...?
pintandadrop (Cian O Neill) Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:55:14 -0000
is hypochondria an illness? and can it be treated...?
It sucks being sick and being a hypochondriac. Yay for my bff telling me I'm not dying. Srsly. Hypochondria sucks.
canyon_of_light (Molly Wobbles) Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:48:04 -0000
It sucks being sick and being a hypochondriac. Yay for my bff telling me I'm not dying. Srsly. Hypochondria sucks.
Had this happened in the spring, my hypochondria would be off the frigging chart - be having the doctor paged and everything. Not now, tho.
zaren (Jim Schmidt) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:13:13 -0000
Had this happened in the spring, my hypochondria would be off the frigging chart - be having the doctor paged and everything. Not now, tho.
my fleeting bouts with hypochondria would be offensive to people with real health problems
Uhsaidthelady (Lauren Santorso) Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:37:14 -0000
my fleeting bouts with hypochondria would be offensive to people with real health problems

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