Understanding Illness Anxiety Disorder in the Context of Nepal

Sushil Kandel PhD
2 min readApr 20, 2024

Illness Anxiety Disorder, commonly known as Hypochondriasis

Hypochondriasis, another name for illness anxiety disorder, is like having an overactive worry button regarding your health. Imagine believing that, even in the absence of solid proof, any minor ache or pain indicates a significant medical condition. It seems as though your thoughts become mired in the worst-case scenario regarding your well-being.

It may be more difficult to manage illness anxiety disorder in Nepal than it is elsewhere. You see, access to healthcare and cultural views might be quite important here. Due to the fact that medical facilities are not always easily accessible, particularly in some places, some people may find it difficult to receive the proper medical care.

Furthermore, there’s this cultural divide in the ways that individuals perceive health and illness. Instead of going to professionals for aid, some people might rely on their religious beliefs or traditional healing methods.

However, it’s not hard to treat illness anxiety disorder in Nepal! All it takes is teamwork. In order to facilitate access to mental health treatments for all patients, we are discussing the possibility of incorporating these services into routine medical care. Not to mention the importance of raising awareness and dispelling the stigma associated with mental health concerns. The more we discuss it, the more effectively we can help one another.

--

--

Sushil Kandel PhD

As a devoted psychologist, I am fueled by an unwavering passion for unraveling the intricacies of the human experience.