Transcript having a serious disease

Rachel Morello
P.2
• A preoccupation that physical symptoms are signs of a
serious illness, even when there is no medical evidence
to support the presence of an illness
• Having a long-term intense fear or anxiety about
having a serious disease or health condition
• Worrying that minor symptoms or bodily
sensations mean you have a serious illness
• Seeing doctors repeated times or having involved
medical exams such as MRI, echocardiograms, or
exploratory surgery
• Frequently switching doctors — if one doctor tells
you that you aren't sick, you may not believe it and
seek out other opinions
• Continuously talking about your symptoms or suspected
diseases with family and friends
• Obsessively doing health research
• Frequently checking your body and vital signs
• Thinking you have a disease after reading or hearing
about it
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History of physical or sexual abuse
History of having a serious illness as a child
Poor ability to express emotions
Parent or close relative with the disorder
Inherited susceptibility for the disorder
• Supportive care: In most cases, the best course of action is for the
person to stay in regular contact with a trusted health care provider,
who focuses on reassuring and supporting the person, and preventing
unnecessary tests and treatments
• Medications: Antidepressant or anti-anxiety drugs are sometimes
used if a person with somatic symptom disorder also has a mood
disorder or anxiety disorder
• Psychotherapy: (a type of cognitive counseling) may help the thinking
and behavior that contribute to the symptoms and help them learn
better ways to deal with stress, and improve his or her social and
work functioning
• Unfortunately, most people with somatic symptom disorder deny there are
any mental or emotional problems, making them fairly resistant to
psychotherapy.
• http://mental.healthguru.com/vide
o/what-is-hypochondria
• What is Hypochondria?
• (2:37)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=V-Jr7ewKHY4
• SCRUBS
• (1:11)
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001236.htm
• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/hypochondria/basics/symptoms/con-20028314
• http://www.webmd.com/mentalhealth/somatic_symptom_disorder#1