Paranoid of death, Hypochondria, and fear of HIV Posted: 05-19-07 07:57am
I have always been a little bit paranoid
of death, since i was about 5 years old i
would imagine the people i love/care about
dying and i would convince myself that it
would actually happen. I also suffer from
anxiety, I am a naturally very nervous
person and whenever i am around someone i
may care about romantically i feel like i
may throw up, sometimes i even do. The
latest problem however is my fear that i
have HIV. (even though i am at a very low
risk) I have felt like this for 5 month so
finally about two weeks ago i got tested,
it was negative. When i found out it was
negative i didnt allow myself to be happy
instead i read up on the procedure &
convinced myself that the test was done
wrong, Yesterday i went back to get
tested, negative again, but now i cant
shake the feeling that when i was at the
docs office the instument i used was
infected with HIV, and that i now have it
from the docs visit. Deep down, i know its
very paranoid but i cant seem to help it.
Please help.
Fear of having a serious disease based on
misinterpretation of physical symptoms or
normal body functions is called
"hypochondriasis". Hypochondria is
nonvolitional, meaning that the exact
cause of the condition is unknown. A
hypochondriac confirms diagnosis when fear
and accompanying symptoms persist for more
than six months despite reassurance after
thorough medical evaluation. Treatment for
hypochondria includes establishing a
consistent, supportive physician-patient
relationship. You can begin this by first
consulting a psychiatrist.
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