To the Real Hypochondriacs — You Are Not Alone
When writing about mental illness, I tend to forget about the many nuances there are when it comes to my brain chemistry. Having been diagnosed with a mix of things, sometimes one burden weighs more than the other. For the last few years, my Bipolar Disorder had taken control of my life with anxiety and OCD haunting me from the backburner. During the shitstorms, I never have time to remember the hypochondriac within me until something physical comes up and consumes my mind. Recently, even the slightest bump on my forehead sets me off like a firework into the sky.
I want to share my experiences with hypochondria because I’m currently having an internal panic attack and want to get it off my chest. At the same time, I want to reach other readers who feel misunderstood and know exactly what I’m talking about.
I’ve Always Been a Hypochondriac Since Childhood
It’s actually really funny because I never knew where my health anxiety came from until I read my childhood IQ assessment. At the bottom of the notes, I read that I was a sensitive kid constantly worrying about mine and my family’s health. Seeing that, I realized that not only am I a generous hypochondriac, but I’ve been one since Barney the Dinosaur was my hero. This has always been something in my hardwiring and realizing it now…
