Hypochondria
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North of England
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Hypochondria
As an older child I developed an over-sensitivity to the everyday aches and pains that all us humans seem to suffer. At one stage I got so worked up about it at the age of 12 or so that my parents took me to our doctor for a check-up and reassurance that all was well - which it was.
Despite that as an adult I have always it seems to me, been overly worried about my health and the aches, pains, gurgles and rumbles of my body seem to cause me more alarm than is healthy..as it were. It didn't stop me drinking of course and in fact alcohol deadened the anxiety that accompanies that sort of hypochondria - it actually relieved it.
I'm not hugely obsessive about it, but it is an issue for me in sobriety. As with most hypochondriacs, along with the anxiety goes the fear of going to a doctor and checking things out - in case 'this time' there actually is something seriously wrong!
I am wondering if this is at all common with other people with drinking problems or if it is just a particular neurosis I am unlucky to suffer from.
Despite that as an adult I have always it seems to me, been overly worried about my health and the aches, pains, gurgles and rumbles of my body seem to cause me more alarm than is healthy..as it were. It didn't stop me drinking of course and in fact alcohol deadened the anxiety that accompanies that sort of hypochondria - it actually relieved it.
I'm not hugely obsessive about it, but it is an issue for me in sobriety. As with most hypochondriacs, along with the anxiety goes the fear of going to a doctor and checking things out - in case 'this time' there actually is something seriously wrong!
I am wondering if this is at all common with other people with drinking problems or if it is just a particular neurosis I am unlucky to suffer from.
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1,506
Originally Posted by Mentium 
As an older child I developed an over-sensitivity to the everyday aches and pains that all us humans seem to suffer. At one stage I got so worked up about it at the age of 12 or so that my parents took me to our doctor for a check-up and reassurance that all was well - which it was.
Despite that as an adult I have always it seems to me, been overly worried about my health and the aches, pains, gurgles and rumbles of my body seem to cause me more alarm than is healthy..as it were. It didn't stop me drinking of course and in fact alcohol deadened the anxiety that accompanies that sort of hypochondria - it actually relieved it.
I'm not hugely obsessive about it, but it is an issue for me in sobriety. As with most hypochondriacs, along with the anxiety goes the fear of going to a doctor and checking things out - in case 'this time' there actually is something seriously wrong!
I am wondering if this is at all common with other people with drinking problems or if it is just a particular neurosis I am unlucky to suffer from.
Despite that as an adult I have always it seems to me, been overly worried about my health and the aches, pains, gurgles and rumbles of my body seem to cause me more alarm than is healthy..as it were. It didn't stop me drinking of course and in fact alcohol deadened the anxiety that accompanies that sort of hypochondria - it actually relieved it.
I'm not hugely obsessive about it, but it is an issue for me in sobriety. As with most hypochondriacs, along with the anxiety goes the fear of going to a doctor and checking things out - in case 'this time' there actually is something seriously wrong!
I am wondering if this is at all common with other people with drinking problems or if it is just a particular neurosis I am unlucky to suffer from.
If in doubt you really should get a check up if only for your peace of mind, but like I said I think many of us feel similar thoughts.
The worst thing you can ever do is ask DR Google!
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I was a hypchondriac for most of my first year.
I don't think I quite believed I got out of my addiction with 'only' the level of damage I did - it was significant but not life threatening.
It was one of the reasons I saw a counsellor.
That helped - we talked a lot about likely events versus unlikely ones...a lot like the lines presented in this article.
What is Catastrophizing? - Cognitive Distortions | Psychology Today
If your hypochondria preceded your drinking I definitely think some counselling could help Mentium?
I'm seven years sober and I'm in reasonable health. I'm not worried anymore - I've lived a dissolute life and now a focused 'good' one...
I hope I have many more years here but I'm making the most of it in any case
oh and stay off Dr Google, that guy has no bedside manner
D
I don't think I quite believed I got out of my addiction with 'only' the level of damage I did - it was significant but not life threatening.
It was one of the reasons I saw a counsellor.
That helped - we talked a lot about likely events versus unlikely ones...a lot like the lines presented in this article.
What is Catastrophizing? - Cognitive Distortions | Psychology Today
If your hypochondria preceded your drinking I definitely think some counselling could help Mentium?
I'm seven years sober and I'm in reasonable health. I'm not worried anymore - I've lived a dissolute life and now a focused 'good' one...
I hope I have many more years here but I'm making the most of it in any case
oh and stay off Dr Google, that guy has no bedside manner
D
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Central Massachusetts
Posts: 2,051
Elaine Aron has done a lot of research on highly sensitive people. You might find that interesting. The Highly Sensitive Person
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