Are you a hypochondriac? Quiz!

Are you always worrying about the latest health scare? Do you often find yourself fearing that you might be seriously ill? Or are you someone who pooh-poohs the media's latest health scare and believes that life's too short to worry? Find out more about hypochondria and discover the signs and symptoms of this debilitating condition. Then take our quiz and learn just how much of a hypochondriac you are!

What is hypochondria?

A hypochondriac may experience severe anxiety form something as simple as a sneeze or cough, fearing that it is the first sign of severe disease. Hypochondria or health anxiety is a fairly widespread complaint, accounting for 5% of all outpatient appointments in the US every year.

This form of severe health anxiety frequently begins early in adult life. It's often triggered by an individual suffering an illness or losing someone they know to a medical condition. About 60% of hypochondriacs also experience other mental health issues, such as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and panic attacks. Symptoms vary but may include:

• Worrying that everyday stuff such as a cough, a sneeze or a tummy rumble is the first sign of a serious condition
• Visiting the doctor often
• Researching symptoms online
• After negative medical tests, still not being convinced that you are healthy
• Talking about their health obsessively
• Avoiding activities, places or people in case you get ill

Hypochondriacs' continuous anxiety can actually cause physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and fatigue, so if you don't address the condition, it can become very debilitating.

How much of a hypochondriac are you? Take our quiz and find out!

Read the following statements and decided whether you agree or disagree. Write down how much times you agree and disagree. Then add up your scores to find your result below:

1. You never seem to feel normal or well.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

2. When you get a bug that's going around, you always worry if it's something much serious.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

3. You research the symptoms associated with unusual illnesses.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

4. You worry that you might have cancer or a tumour.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

5. You often feel faint.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

6. Even after a doctor has given you a clean bill of health, you are still convinced you're ill.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

7. Whenever you're feeling a little below par, you consult your doctor, just for reassurance. Or do you always avoid the doctor for fear of bad news?

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

8. When a new virus makes an appearance, you are very anxious about catching it.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

9. You take a lot of days off sick from work or school.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

10. You stress about catching infections when you are out and about in public places.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

11. You often suffer from bad headaches.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

12. People frequently remark about you being ill so often.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

13. You are inclined to feel fatigued.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

14. You take at least six tablets a day (including prescribed drugs, supplements and vitamins).

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

15. You regularly self medicate for any minor aches and pains with painkillers or paracetamol.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

 16. You sometimes worry that your heartbeat sounds abnormal.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

17. You Google symptoms of various conditions to diagnose yourself.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

18. You can't relax on a walk in the countryside in case you get bitten by a tick carrying Lyme Disease.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

19. You worry about radiation from X-Rays at the dentist.

⚪ Agree

⚪ Disagree

20. When you can't remember something, you worry if it's the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

⚪Agree

⚪Disagree

Your results:

Add up how many times you ticked Agree:

0 - 5

While you might or might not be in the best of health, you don't worry about it. You aren't a hypochondriac: you understand that you can't control everything about your health, and so there's no point in worrying about it.

6 -15

You are somewhat of a hypochondriac, but it's not too much of a problem (yet!). Even when your doctor reassures you, you may be watching your health a bit more closely than is good for you.

15- 20

You are definitely a hypochondriac, although you might not have been aware of it. If left untreated, hypochondria can become overwhelming and have a significant impact on your quality of life. There are several options for treating hypochondria, including counselling and CBT(cognitive behavioural therapy). Bach Flower Mix 85 also supports you in overcoming health anxiety, whether you're worrying excessively about your own health or that of your partner or child.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20373782

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/health-anxiety/

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