Debora
I have no argument there. My doctor says even hypochondriacs get sick. So lets talk about pain and feeling sick. People with my form of Arthritis say it is like having the flu but worse. I have to agree with them even though I no longer feel that sick all the time. In our cases the pain is there, no argument there. The difference between us is that I use CBT techniques to lessen it by taking the focus elsewhere. You worry about it and focus on it.
For instance over the last few days I have been building a deck and getting very sore. I spent eight hours in the hospital this morning on heavy opiate pain killers to get it to where I could come back home. It is still there, but not so bad. I had to sit and rest a lot as I built the deck.
Instead of worrying about the pain and thinking how much I hurt, (very negative) I was looking around and enjoying the nice fall. I was thinking that although I was slow I could still enjoy life and I will enjoy my new deck. Even when I broke my favourite coffee cup I did not let that spoil my mood. (very positive) Even when a friend stopped and criticized my deck I did not let it bother me. Sore I might be but with CBT techniques nothing is going to interfere with my positive attitude. One sad note though and this I will feel. He left my place and went to work and had a heart attack. He died. Life is too short to not be positive as much as you can. Negative robs you of life.
I know hypochondria is a mental condition just like any other mental condition and just as big of a heart ache as GAD. But it can be cured with CBT. You can turn your thinking around. That is all it takes. Find something positive in every situation no matter how small and you will get to live again. You will still have pain, you will still get sick but you will be happier and it won't rule your life.
Although the pain was real bad at two in the morning I did the proper thing. I phoned the hospital to see who was on call. I then tried to go back to sleep. (positive) Two hours later I accepted that I had to go in and called to let them know I was coming. (small town hospital)
I accepted this is what I had to do. (worry here is a waste of time) Eight hours later I came home with pain killers and a small amount of concern. There is absolutely nothing I can do but take the pills and wait. (is the curse any worse than this, and is there any more you can do for it than this) I'll ride it out with a smile and I think if you try you can too because if you don't it will just get worse. Look at it this way we are alive and have lots to look forward too. My friend is not.
Please for all of us try to find something good in each day, they go by too fast. See if you can make us laugh with something funny that happened to you. Turn some tragedy around and make us smile. Only you can do this, and if you do you will get your life back.
Davit.
