Hypochondriacs over the net

Ever heard of a ‘cyberchondriac’? It’s a term coined for those hypochondriacs who search online for information about their supposed medical woes.Hypochondriacs, as we all know, are over-obsessed with their health and keep on worrying that they are susceptible to a variety of common as well as deadly diseases.
Am I a hypochondriac?







You are a pretty serious hypochondriac, and you probably don't know it.
A lot of those aches and pains you are feeling are all in your head!

Even a mild cough, a pain in the arm, a headache - just about any minor symptom is enough to drive them crazy. Even after the doctor’s reassurances about their well-being, they are not convinced and continue to lose sleep over their health. Are you a hypochondriac? Then take this test to find out. If you are one, then this is the site for you.



hypochondriac
The new-found interest of hypochondriacs these days is to surf the internet for all kinds of medical information and their numbers are increasing. Just read this:

The number of so-called cyberchondriacs seeking health information on the Web has soared to about 160 million in 2006 — a 37% rise over two years, according a new poll. "Cyberchondriacs now represent 84% of all online adults, up from last year's 80%, and 72% in 2005," Harris Interactive, the market research firm that conducted the poll, said.


The nationwide telephone poll of 1,010 adults conducted earlier this month showed cyberchondriacs on average search the Internet almost six times per month and the majority find what they are looking for. Cyberchondriacs are not only using the Internet to educate themselves, many are also using it to assist in their conversation with their physicians.
[Source]
Pic credits:fotosearch.com

See also: Googling for your symptoms is not a bad idea.

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8 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:05 AM

    I think it is important to make a distinction between those that are seriously hypochondriacs and those that are not, but who use the net as a wonderful resource to complement professional care. I have suffered from an undiagnosed condition for many years and was 'diagnosed' by friends and family as simply being a hypochondriac because the doctors I had seen could not find anything wrong, and a couple were too full of themselves to send me to someone else.

    I didn't give up, though. I read about people with similar problems that had also had trouble finding a doctor knowledgeable in their disease and it gave me hope that maybe I, too, would be among those that eventually found an answer.

    I have since been properly diagnosed by a wonderful doctor who actually encourages me to be proactive in my healthcare. I am getting better with treatment, some of which I brought to her attention through my own research (valid treatments that have been found through scientific medical studies, not just the herb of the week). However, I am still trying to get over years of being labeled as a hypochondriac by people close to me, as well as strangers. To say that it was hurtful would be a major understatement.

    So, please, be careful about labeling people as hypochondriacs. That should be up to a mental health professional to decide.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aparna4:32 PM

    Neither did I claim to be a certified mental health professional nor did I suggest any herbal or a home remedy for hypochondria. In fact, I have quoted from a news item that hypochondriacs are getting tremendous help from authentic medical sources over the net and that they are also consulting their physicians online. I am not labeling anyone as a hypochondriac, there is no reason for you to get so agitated over this. I was only hinting that they should seek proper medical help. However, I'm glad to know that you have found useful resources for your problem over the net along with suitable help from a capable, knowledgeable doctor.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous12:56 PM

    Ha! That's totally me!!! I've had all sorts of ailments that doctors couldn't figure out, but with my internet research, I was able to cure myself! So I don't mind being a cyberchondriac!
    Jeni

    ReplyDelete
  4. CG Walters6:24 AM

    A little information makes us dangerous, but absence of information puts us in danger...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aparna3:50 PM

    Thanks for dropping by and adding your views.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:30 PM

    haha ummm.. a hypochondriac is someone who starts having symptoms of something they think they have even if they dont have it....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous10:21 AM

    Take a deep breath,
    count down from 85,
    then sit in a spinning chair and spin 8 times to the left, then 8 times to the right.
    Then stand up.
    That should do it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jenny8:45 PM

    interesting post.

    ReplyDelete

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