Other Hypochondriasis?

[Lost Pup]

Did anyone else with early childhood trauma (CSA, especially) respond by becoming a hypochondriac?

I developed acute hypochondria and fear of being poisoned when I was 8 years old. Every year when flu season comes around and I hear about how it is affecting younger people most strongly, I get really, unduly and disproportionately terrified. I noticed today, after an intense therapy session, that the old hypochondriasis reared its head up very strongly.

Curious if others have similar experiences?

 

[macca]

Not entirely, but there was stuff as a kid. My trauma originates from early CSA too, but I had a lot of "sick days" from school. Yes, I did have legitimate symptoms, like anxiety symptoms (which was likely PTSD), but my mother paid a lot of attention to sickness. She paid more attention to a sneeze than my near drowning episode when I was 11. Still not enough attention, as her way of giving attention still didn't involve much personal attention, more that she would do things for me, like give me Vitamin C, and take me to the doctor. As she barely noticed my existence any other time, I think now that a lot of those symptoms were in fact to try and be acknowledged. That's what it meant for me - but I wonder what it means for you? It sounds like a strong, trigger-like fear? What was happening in your life about 8?

 

[WillowMarie]

I am not sure if you would call this hypochondria, but I know I was paranoid about things.

I remember a presentation done in 6th (?) grade about smoking and how you can die from second hand smoke. My dad smoked in the house and I thought I was going to get cancer and die, this is when I started to keep my door closed in an attempt to protect myself from it. I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma in 7th grade, and by sophomore year of high school my asthma was worse and I had to take everyday medicine to control it. When this was happening, I was convinced that I had cancer and that's why my asthma was worse, even though I never told anyone. I also experienced panic attacks around this time, which were triggered when I felt like I couldn't breath in all the way, or not as well. I still have times when I fear that something is wrong with me when my asthma is acting up.

The worst was also knowing my dad never cared enough to stop smoking in the house, in the car, or around me. And my mum didn't think she had the power to do anything about it, so she let him poison me with his smoking. :cry:

Just last month, when I was sick and my asthma was acting up because of it, I suddenly felt suicidal and that nothing matters that I am going to die anyway, so what is the point in living. That asthma is going to kill me, that something was wrong with me, or I had cancer. It came from out of no where and I was surprised by it.

Okay, maybe I am an undiagnosed hypochondriac thinking about it more... There are times when I have stomach aches and think something is wrong, or maybe I am having contractions (even though there are no reasons I would be pregnant at the time). There are times when I have headaches and think I am dying or my head is going to explode. There was a time when I had a skin rash on my leg and thought I had some disease or skin condition when it was actually an allergy from carrying around a metal key in my pocket at work (allergic to certain metals)... Yea.. I am pretty paranoid.

I am wondering what macca was inquiring about. If anything is behind your fear or influenced it.

 

[Abstract]

Lost pup,

You mentioned elsewhere that you tend towards compulsive thinking. Do you think this could be part of OCD tendencies for you or do you think it fits more snugly into hypochondriasis? Do you find you have a tendency to somatise generally?