Causes, symptoms and treatment for hypochondriacal neurosis

Every person periodically faces various diseases that force him to see a doctor and take medications.

After recovery, he can return to his usual rhythm of life. However, there are people who pay increased attention to their health.

Many of them believe that they suffer from serious diseases that in reality do not exist.

The presence of such symptoms gives grounds to judge the development of hypochondriacal neurosis in a person.

general information

Hypochondriacal neurosis is a person’s inadequate attitude towards his body and is a psychological disorder.
The disease can develop against the background of any somatic pathologies and emerging negative thoughts. This is the type of neurosis when a person begins to especially attribute non-existent diseases to himself and is anxious about his well-being.
The group includes teenage children and the elderly. Women suffer from this disease much more often than men, so you need to urgently contact a specialist to get the necessary help.

Causes of the disease

Men rarely suffer from this disease, unlike women. This can be explained by the specific structure of the brain and the difference in the perception of the surrounding world.

The development of hypochondriacal neurosis is promoted by:

• The appropriate age for the development of the disease has arrived.
• Cerebral pathologies in childhood.
• Focusing on the experienced problem or situation.
• Past experience associated with some kind of illness.
• Overprotection of parents and relatives, which contributes to the development of hypochondria in a child in later life.
• Genetics.
• Lack of attention from relatives and surrounding people.
• The illness of a loved one, whose suffering a person sees, he copies his behavior, fearing to get sick too.

Hypochondriacal neurosis - symptoms and signs of the disease

Symptoms of hypochondria:

• feeling of panic attacks, unpredictable anxiety;
• constantly rapid heartbeat, sweating, body tremors, vomiting, headache;
• disturbance of the sleep system;
• decreased concentration;
• irritability, tendency to depressive thoughts;
• friends notice changes in behavior;
• excessive suspiciousness;
• the person begins to behave nervously;
• lack of appetite;
• the usual work is performed with difficulty;
• heart diseases;
• fear for your life.

Signs and symptoms of hypochondriacal disease are news. They worsen the patient’s life and can manifest themselves in the formation of mental disorders. A qualified specialist can make a diagnosis; the doctor chooses the method. If such manifestations occur, we recommend that you make an appointment. You can read comments from patients who have already been treated for neuroses in our clinic on the website.

Varieties

Modern medicine distinguishes several hypochondriacal varieties, among which the following can be noted:

• obsessive hypochondria;
• asthenic syndrome;
• depressive syndrome;
• senestopathic syndrome.

Hypochondria of the obsessive type is characteristic of individuals with a high degree of anxiety. These patients are constantly worried about their health. At the same time, they conduct a deep analysis of every process that happens to them. People suffering from the obsessive type of hypochondria very often realize that their fears are groundless, but they cannot cope with this condition.

Very impressionable people are susceptible to astheno-hypochondriacal syndrome, especially those suffering from low self-esteem. Such patients suffer from constant dizziness and ailments, which lead to nausea and vomiting. Patients of the asthenohypochondriacal type tend to attribute incurable illnesses to themselves.

Those people diagnosed with depressive hypochondria suffer from various mental disorders. In such a situation, their set of obsessions will prevail over common sense.

Patients will not be concerned about the symptoms of the emerging disease, but about the consequences that it can cause. People with this diagnosis are always depressed and depressed.

Moreover, the severe consequences to come may cause the patient to have thoughts of suicide.

People with an anxious and suspicious character are characterized by obsessive hypochondria, which is manifested by constant analysis of any process in their body, the only type of hypochondria in which the patient is aware that his fears are unfounded.

People suffering from low self-esteem are characterized by astheno-hypochondriacal syndrome, characterized by a persistent belief in the existence of an incurable, deadly disease that causes a constant feeling of physical weakness, dizziness, nausea and other general symptoms.

Another type of hypochondria is depressive-hypochondriacal syndrome, in which the patient is not so much worried about the symptoms of his supposedly existing disease, but rather draws terrifying pictures of the future development of the imagined disease, which leads to suicidal thoughts, avoidance of society and any contact with others, a tendency to privacy.

Senesto-hypochondriacal syndrome is one of the forms of hypochondriacal neurosis, in which the patient is absolutely convinced that he has a particularly life-threatening disease. This type of hypochondria is characterized by seeking out one’s “diagnosis” from several narrow specialists of the same profile, who spend a lot of effort searching for the most highly qualified doctor who can correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Depending on the degree of development of the disease, three types of hypochondriacal neurosis are distinguished.

Anxious

This type of hypochondria is characterized by an anxious state of a person, in which he is constantly looking for any diseases. Such a person constantly studies medical literature and tries in every possible way to find information about all diseases on earth.

Then, he begins to try on all the symptoms of these diseases on himself. Suddenly, pain appears in different places, it seems that the organs are malfunctioning, the tests that are taken are incorrect, and the doctors are incompetent.

Depressive

This type of neurosis is combined with a person’s depressive state. The constant feeling of illness makes a person depressed. It seems that an acquired disease cannot be cured, and if a miracle does happen, then a new disease will definitely come and strike more powerfully than the previous one. Out of hopelessness, a person becomes depressed and becomes indifferent to the world around him.

Phobiotic

This is perhaps the most severe type of hypochondria. In this case, a person is afraid not only of diseases that can affect him, but also of death.

A person constantly experiences fear of fatal diseases. At this moment, the heart begins to beat faster and, sometimes, even hurt.

The person takes this for a heart attack and becomes even more afraid. Only a doctor can bring him out of this state by resorting to the use of medications.

Such people cannot be alone for a long time, fearing that the disease may come unexpectedly and that help will not come on time.

How to deal with neuroses?

First of all, you must understand that treating this syndrome with sedatives is useless, especially in severe stages. If the disease appears, it will not disappear on its own; we recommend that you seek help from a qualified neurologist.

A good specialist will be able to identify the symptoms of neurosis and make an accurate diagnosis. If you have complaints, you need to call the phone number and make an appointment for a consultation to undergo an examination.

Such individuals often lie about their illnesses, so even the doctor may not believe them again. This is a pitfall in treatment. Many do not go to the hospital, they are afraid of publicity, and as a result various health problems arise. We offer help anonymously. Don’t delay, hypochondria is a disease that you can get rid of forever. Contact your doctor right now, start your life from scratch.

We have experience in the treatment of neurological disorders, including hypochondriacal syndrome. The doctor’s individual approach and comprehensive examination will help you gain confidence in the future.

Prevention

Preventive measures for neurosis should begin in early childhood. They consist in the right approach to raising a child, introducing him to sports and a healthy lifestyle. If stressful situations, anxiety, or hypochondriacal problems arise, you should contact a psychologist or pediatric neurologist.

It is important for an adult to find something to do, set a goal in life, and meet more often with people who have a common range of interests. If the job does not bring satisfaction, then it is better to change it.

It’s a good idea to keep a diary, writing down your feelings and thoughts, and also take more frequent walks in the fresh air, visiting places with picturesque landscapes, which will help you find peace of mind.

Diagnosis of the syndrome

Diagnosing the disease is not so easy because patients are actually convinced that they have physical abnormalities. We will help eliminate this destructive obsessive factor. If necessary, the patient may be referred for consultation to a highly qualified psychologist or psychiatrist. It is necessary to exclude the physical component of the disease and look at the patient’s reaction. To confirm the diagnosis, testing is used and there is a need to consult with colleagues

Specificity of occurrence. Drug addiction

Various vitamins are taken as a general strengthening treatment. Tranquilizers are the most common choice of psychotropic drugs.

Treatment of symptoms is based on restoring sleep patterns. Therefore, the patient may be prescribed anxiolytics (mezapam, nozepam). Prescribed medications may not contain sedative effects. For psychosomatic disorders, adrenergic blockers are effective. Tranquilizers with mild psychotropic activity (beta-blockers, calcium antagonists - nifedipine, verapamil) can be used.

How is the disease treated?

Treatment of the disease hypochondriacal neurosis is to help a person return to normal life, even if the causative syndrome is not completely cured. Hypochondria is a disease that is difficult to treat. The problem with the question is that the patient simply does not believe that he does not have physical abnormalities, and this is just an effect of his psyche. It is very difficult to treat the disease at the initial stage; the patient does not believe the diagnosis and goes for help from other specialists. The support of loved ones is important.

Techniques

Doctors usually choose a comprehensive method for treating neuroses.

Supportive care

This means communicating with a doctor whom the patient trusts. The specialist should be aware of any symptoms that begin to appear in the patient. It consists of support, instilling faith in a person, reassurance and control of the patient’s condition. Effective painkillers may be prescribed to relieve pain.

Medications

Antidepressants are prescribed to reduce the client's anxiety levels. Tranquilizers are used extremely rarely by doctors.

Preventive measures

To ensure that the chances of getting sick in the future are very low, you need to raise your child correctly and give him a lot of attention. It is important to instill in him a love of a healthy lifestyle, sports, and healthy food. Teach your child to adequately relate to the events of the world around him and not to take insults and failures to heart.

Children who, despite their small age, have already experienced stress or loss, need increased attention. The impact on the psyche has already been exerted; the development of pathologies must not be allowed. Spend more time with them, communicate, be in their circle of trust, do not let them withdraw into themselves, make them believe in themselves.

As soon as you notice suspicious signs appearing in your child’s behavior, do not be lazy to contact a child psychologist or neurologist.

He will be able to identify the disease at an early stage, prescribe therapy and cure it immediately, or simply tell parents the reason for the anxiety. Those people who have recently overcome the disease also need to be under the supervision of a specialist. Their psycho-emotional state has not yet strengthened, so sometimes it requires adjustments and the help of a specialist.

Forecasts

Hypochondria syndrome is a condition that can last for several years. In most cases, the symptoms are no different. A small percentage of people are completely cured.

Do not self-medicate! This can negatively affect human health and life! When treating neurological diseases, it is important to take into account the individual characteristics of each patient, the development and history of the disease. You can make an appointment at our Respect clinic by calling the phone number around the clock and anonymously, which is listed on the website. We work without holidays and weekends. Call. The treatment methods used are effective!

Only a qualified psychotherapist can provide assistance. The doctor’s task is first of all to identify the traumatic factor and only then look for a method of elimination. We will help you cope with hypochondria, but also form a new view of the beautiful world, which will no longer allow you to return to a traumatic situation and ruin your life! You can be sure of a positive result!

The goal of our work is a comfortable life without illness!

About treatment

In order to start therapy, you need to visit a doctor. Only in this case can different drugs and other treatment methods be prescribed. If a person realizes what is happening to him, then he can try to help himself.

The following steps will help with this:

1. Finding a hobby, a hobby that will really be interesting.
2. Communication with other people. Only in this case you will not have time for bad thoughts.
3. Leading a healthy lifestyle, refusing to constantly visit hospitals, then you will not be afraid of any illness.
4. Contact a specialist only. It is not recommended to visit forums and discuss your health status on them.
5. Relaxation, sports. This is a good distraction from bad thoughts.
6. Making efforts to heal. It is advisable to use the services of loved ones who can support and help you.

Treatment of hypochondria is often carried out using psychological methods of influence. In this case, drugs are rarely used. They are prescribed to relieve any symptoms, headaches or poor sleep.

Diagnosis of hypochondriacal neurosis in a patient is carried out by a psychotherapist. First, he directs the patient to undergo a head tomography and electroencephalography.

This will give accurate information about the state of the cerebral cortex. It is important that the doctor is able to identify hypochondriacal neurosis among other types of neurotic diseases or even schizophrenia; listens to his patient and understands him.

It is necessary to find out in detail what could have caused the illness, what illnesses the patient suffered in the past, what kind of stress and fears he experienced. This is the only way to determine how to deal with the disease.

In such a situation, an individual approach is needed; it is impossible to cure the patient according to the standard.

The doctor should become a sick friend whom he can trust. An experienced specialist convinces the person seeking help that he is completely healthy, there is no real threat to life, and the problem lies in his self-hypnosis. It is necessary for the person suffering from hypochondria to understand what the essence of the problem is, and he himself wants to fight the disease, side with the doctor and follow all his instructions.

After making a diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe the necessary symptomatic treatment.

The process of treating hypochondria is complex and requires an integrated approach in several stages. Measures to combat this disease are divided into psychotherapeutic and medicinal.

The first includes a consultation with a psychotherapist, aimed at correcting the patient’s perception of his health and reprogramming it from negative to positive. In addition, with the help of psychotherapy, the optimal way to deal with constant stress, which often causes the development of hypochondria, is selected.

Working with a psychologist helps ease the patient's fears and help him regain self-confidence. When obsessive fears appear, the patient is recommended to undergo hypnosis sessions.

Drug treatment is carried out using antidepressants, sedatives and tranquilizers. These drugs are used when neurosis occurs with accompanying dysphoria and anxiety disorders. The development of these mental pathologies cannot be ignored, since in this situation the disease can transform into severe hypochondriacal syndrome.

The main goal of psychotherapy is to direct the patient's perceptions in a positive direction. Through regular conversations with a doctor, a person should understand that his fears are completely absurd.

Psychotherapeutic treatment is aimed at a positive perception of the surrounding reality. The result of such a consultation is considered to be the meaninglessness of anxiety and fear.

Therapeutic measures for this neurosis must be comprehensive, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Psychotherapeutic measures include:

• detailed study of psychotraumatic factors;
• clarification of the real root causes of the disease;
• the use of autogenic training to reduce anxiety;
• hypnosis if fears are too intrusive;
• therapeutic psychoanalysis, which helps to understand the internal struggle and complexes of the patient.

In order for the treatment to be effective, medications are prescribed. As a rule, the doctor treats with nootropics and, if necessary, prescribes tranquilizers. Vitamin preparations, physiotherapeutic procedures, including classical massage, acupuncture, will not be superfluous.

Treatment for hypochondriacal neurosis should be comprehensive and take into account the individual, personal characteristics of a person. Various methods of psychotherapy are most effective:

• analysis of a traumatic situation and helping the patient to get rid of being in a traumatic experience;
• explanatory work aimed at explaining to the patient the real causes of his illness;
• autogenic training (which is also taught by a doctor) is usually used in cases of high anxiety and the presence of vegetative symptoms;
• hypnosis (used for obsessive fears);
• psychoanalytic therapy allows us to identify internal personality conflicts and hidden complexes of the patient (this is especially true if the disease has developed, for example, in a child or teenager, due to excessive concern of parents about his health, etc.).

To make the treatment as effective as possible, medications (nootropics, less often tranquilizers), vitamin complexes, a course of physiotherapy, reflexology and acupuncture can be used. The patient himself, observing simple methods of mental hygiene, can provide significant assistance to doctors (this includes a certain daily and nutritional regimen, dosed exercise, relaxation methods, etc.

etc.).

You can read more about this in the “Psychoprophylaxis” section.

When treating this syndrome, it must necessarily have a cumulative structure and be calculated taking into account the personal qualities and habits of the person.

The main goal of treatment by a psychotherapist is to direct a person’s perceptions in a positive direction. As a result of lengthy conversations, the patient comes to the conclusion that his fears are absurd.

Treatment of hypochondriacal neurosis must necessarily be comprehensive and take into account the individual characteristics of the person.

• analysis of a traumatic situation;
• explanatory work - shows a person the real reasons for his illness;
• autogenic training – gives good results in case of increased anxiety of the patient;
• hypnosis – effective in cases of obsessive fears;
• psychoanalytic therapy - makes it possible to detect internal conflicts and complexes of a person.

Medicines may be used to make treatment more effective. Usually the doctor prescribes nootropic drugs; in some cases, tranquilizers may be indicated. A person also needs to take vitamin complexes.

Physiotherapy, reflexology and acupuncture sessions are quite useful.

Hypochondriacal neurosis is a rather complex disorder, which is characterized by the appearance of fears of serious illnesses.

People with this disease are constantly in a state of depression and depression. To cope with this pathology, it is very important to contact a psychotherapist as early as possible, who will select effective treatment.

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Psychotherapy is of great importance in the treatment of this type of neurosis. In this matter, the personality of the doctor who is able to listen to the patient, take his side, and sincerely empathize with him is of great importance.

The doctor’s tactics consist of extreme care and caution. In a conversation with the patient, the neurologist convinces that there is no threat to his life and health, explains the essence of the problem and tries to entice the patient to the opposite side of the disease.

Psychotherapeutic influence is exerted on the causative psychogenic factor, relying on more important components of the patient’s life - family, work, friends, love, faith, etc.

Symptomatic treatment consists of normalizing sleep; for this purpose, anxiolytics are prescribed (benzodiazepines - medazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam). These drugs may not have a sedative effect. For autonomic disorders, adrenergic blockers work well. Tranquilizers with mild psychotropic activity (beta-blockers, calcium antagonists - nifedipine, verapamil) can be used.

Identification of the disease most often occurs during an examination by specialized specialists, and if no somatic pathologies are detected, then a consultation with a psychotherapist is necessary, who, as a rule, establishes a diagnosis of hypochondriacal neurosis.

Treatment of the disease begins with a conversation with a psychotherapist. First of all, he must listen and understand the reason for the development of the phobia. Next, together with the person, the doctor begins to understand the causes and symptoms of the disease. Talks about illnesses imaginary by a person and their symptoms. Helps compare true symptoms with a person’s feelings.

A doctor guides a person towards the positive side of life. He tries to switch him to family, relaxation, entertainment or some useful activities during which he would not remember his problems.

In a conversation with the patient, he is taught that there is no danger from imaginary diseases. Next, the doctor resorts to medications.

Thus, the treatment of hypochondriacal neurosis can be divided into the following stages:

• Conversation with an experienced psychologist;
• Identification of the causes of the disease and analysis of its characteristics;
• Using sedatives to ensure the patient gets a good night's sleep;
• Tranquilizers are drugs that have a sedative effect;
• Drugs for temporary use (for example, if there is severe pain or increased blood pressure);
• The use of vitamin complexes to maintain and restore the body.

To treat such diseases, it would be nice if a person attends some thematic trainings or physical procedures. It would be a good idea to include regular physical exercise in your life.