Re: Dealing With Hypochondriacs

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

For some people, it’s a cry out for attention. Sad that they need to invent sicknesses, symptoms, etc. A friend of 20 yrs. became guilty of this. Her husband traveled a lot for business and her kids left for college. Friends were the only ones to fill her time. She could have just suggested lunch, but instead, she always talked about back pain, sinus trouble, stomach issues and many ailments.

None of the others addressed the problem. I came out one day and just asked her if she really had all these symptoms, just needed attention or maybe some company. She admitted she was lonely and bored. That took care of it. I made an effort to include her sometimes in a mall trip or lunch out. If she started listing illnesses, I gave her a reminder wink.

Mj12 · ‎03-09-2010

@Greeneyedlady21 wrote:
Other than ignoring them, what are some tips? Sometimes ignoring isn't an initial option, as in a family member. Eventually you have to ignore, because the stress level is unbearable.

How about someone who is a narcissist in addition to being a hypochondriac? Double whammy.

@Greeneyedlady21 hi - it's very exhausting to deal with, isn't it? My MIL is a hypochondriac (and probably a narcissist). Since she lives several states away, we mostly talk on the phone. Every.Single.Phone call and visit is 150% about her aches and pains, her medical testing, what she Googled and "thinks" she has. On a phone call, we have no choice but to listen to her litany of illnesses, then I say, "Tell me something good. Tell me something nice that happened today, anything." Visits are a lot more difficult to navigate, which is, quite honestly, why our visits are few and far between. I wish you a lot of luck in dealing with this and I wish I had some advice.

OnlyShopsOnline · ‎03-09-2010

As far as hypochondriacs, many doctors thought I was one. Then, I had surgery last year for thyroid cancer and a large parathyroid tumor. I hope my body heals from some of the damage done by the long undiagnosed hyperparathyroidism. It certainly took a toll on my kidneys.

As far as narcissists.....run! My mother was a classic narcissist and I was the one that was "in her radar" my whole life. I think the lifetime of stress of dealing with her abuse caused the autoimmune thyroid disease that eventually lead to thyroid cancer. I cut myself loose from that situation over 13 years ago to save my health, and the sanity of my own family.

"I've been here since October 2006. Wow!"