Do you know someone who is a hypochondriac?
439112
I wish Doctors would tell people, but they definitely just soak up the money! I have a friend who is a definite hypochondriac. Evvvery day it's something new. And sometimes it gets ridiculous..she coughs once and thinks she has bronchitis! Then off to the doctor she goes. If she saved all the money she's dropped into Co-pays & prescriptions...she could buy a house and pay in cash!
1014818
I think that this person needs to get some professional help.  He/she obviously has some serious issues - no one is worth hurting yourself for.
344896
mandi_2037,\n\nMy son was demon possessed in junior high school, and it looked exactly like mental illness. We even took him to a Christian hospital for the mentally ill. One of the orderlies took me aside and told me that my son was demon possessed and that the doctors there couldn’t help him.\n\nOne of the doctors told me that his sister was like my son. He told me that my son would struggle with mental illness all his life and would progressively get worse even with medication. I told him that I was a Christian, and I believed in healing and that my son would lead a normal life. I made them release my son and then made the demon come out. \n\nMy son finished high school and went on to Nuclear Power Training School in the Navy. That schooling was the equivalent of a 4 year degree in a 1 ½ year period.\n\nI hope this helps, although it probably just raises more questions for you. If you have more questions I would be happy to answer them – time permitting.\n\nGod bless.
865034
This is tricky but if you wait until you know the person for a while, maybe you can say something.  It's true that nobody can truly know you w/o knowing bad things that have happened, so it's difficult....im not sure what to say.  Ironically, in psych phd programs, people tend to be the less tolerant of mental illness than you'd expect.
40892
i would say no.. other exclued people include.. people with a diagnosed mental illness.. or people who are prescribed psychiatric medication such as anti depressants..
210541
Certainly many people do have undignosed mental illness  \nThere is a web site I often refer people to for  simple decriptions of  kinds of mental illness art and decription by the late Don Tatro who was both a digital artist and a forensic Psychologist  his Psychopics might possible help give you in sight to the siruation with your father.\nhttp://dontatro.bryce-alive.net/psychopics.htm
715812
Well, hypochondria is when people believe they are sick all the time regardless of whehter or not they actually are. \n\nMunchausen Syndrome is when someone pretends to be sick for the sake of attention. \n\nA malingerer is someone who fakes a sickness to get out of duty or work. \n\nYou don't really supply a motive on why a person would want themselves to be sick. \n\nIf it's for a strange pleasure, the person may be called a masochist (one who enjoys inflicting pain on one's self) although this is not a disease but a psychological condition. \n\nIf someone were purposefully making themselves sick, then the cause should be related to their motive. The motive and motivation is the underlying disease process. \n\nHope this helps.
615572
Some may very well be but I don't think you are medically qualified to diagnose them on Yahoo. Leave that to the professionals to decide. i suspect there are an equal number of non-religious people that are nuttier then a fruit cake as well so as long as you are going to diagnose  you better not forget those folks too.
688410
shrink, best friend, somebody understanding
497507
It would have to be my partner. She went through a lot as a young kid. Losing her father being diagnosed with a very rare medical condition, having a very bad step father. \n\nNow she still has the condition and it is a worry, the last thing was a blood clot. I freaked out but she was so calm. She is so strong about things and I think that is because of her younger life.\n\nI guess naturally you think your partner is interesting but I think she has had more life experiences than I ever will or hope to. Nothing is impossible to her. Not even me hehe
750551
In my work, I do meet people with all sorts of phobias - and they can be extremely phobic. Buttons was a recent one - they were OK if they were on clothing but one on the floor would send them into a total panic - screaming, the lot. Also met fear of ice cubes, fear of vomiting, fear of bouquets, fear of balloons, fear of parsnips to name a few. Having said that, not sure what name each of these has! The trouble with phobias is that they don't make much sense - perhaps we all have irrational bits from time to time.
750444
So funny that you just posted this, my boss and I had the same conversation just yesterday. He's a well read, well spoken man, very intelligent. He THINKS THE SAME THING! He said we could eliminate most mental illness with the power of prayer, my jaw totally dropped! He doesn't believe in meds either......crazy, but true! So, I guess your friend is not alone in this insane (pardon the pun) thought process!
76821
generally yes. however only 2% of people with mental illnesses are violent.. stop watching all those stupid hollywood movies..\n\nalso psychopath is not an appropriate word.. psychosis is a symptom.. not an illness...\n\na personality disorder such as anti-social generally are the more appropriate diagnosis..\n\nnote to question asker.. dr. dee doesnt have the slightest fricking clue what he is talking about.. geez.. quite frankly id call his post a textbook example of "projection".. if you want to learn something about psychology.. see what he says if he returns and reads this paragraph.. ;)\n\nas to your hypothetical.. many serial killers prior to being caught were very well known and liked members of society.. chances are if you knew a serial killer you would have no idea he was in fact one... ted bundy for example was a very charming gentleman.. nobody would have guessed.\n\n\n>>As to bipolar.. aka manic-depressive.. some are known to be violent at times, when they are, it is impulsive. For example... If a person with bipolar attacks or kills somebody its not well planned and would be obvious to authorties who was responsible for it. Because of the nature of bipolar disorder... the person would eventually "come back to reality". Now as to psychopaths who are "serial killers"... by the time somebody had claimed enough victems to be labeled as such, would be experienced and "rational" enough to know not to behave in a way which would indicate their guilt for murder or any other crime. Many people who have a tendancy towards psychosis are very intelligent people, ironically.\n\nlizzie borden is an example of "impulsive".. as I already mentioned.. she killed her parents with an axe.. she wasnt a serial killer.. and from my understanding of the story.. they probably deserved it..\n\nby the way.. Ms. Borden was found "not guilty" of those murders... does it mean she was innocent?.. probably not (think O.J.).. but legally she was...
575542
you are correct...\nsee a good pschychatrist as soon as possible
321318
There is more than one stigma attached to mental health conditions. Yes it is uncomfortable, and the stigma most attached that troubles me the worst, is that because the person can't see what is wrong with you, it's as if you are just making it up. If you walk in on crutches, people are much more empathetic, than if they see someone having a panic attack. Terms like "unbalanced, mentally ill" are tossed around pretty freely, without really understanding what is going on. I have a friend who suffers from severe depression and a very severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and her own family thinks that she could change this, if she would just fight it, get a job, get up in the morning, take a shower, etc... and everything will fall back into place.  I know that mental conditions can do a lot of damage to the person with the illness, but it hurts to have other people trying to diagnose you, and tell you how to get over it, when they really do not have a clue as to what the person with the illness is facing. If you would like to know more info. about a particular illness, or talk about it in greater detail, or if you have more questions, please feel free to e-mail me at brew40fw@msn.com, I hope this helps, and I wish you the best
925171
Hypochondria is obsessive preoccupation with the possibility of becoming ill or with imagined symptoms of an illness (Psychiatry).\n\nHypochondria is a belief that real or imagined physical symptoms are signs of a serious illness, despite medical reassurance and other evidence to the contrary. A person suffering from hypochondria is preoccupied with physical health and has an unrealistic fear of serious disease well out of proportion to the actual risk. There is no specific cause of hypochondria, and it occurs in men and women with equal frequency.\n\nSymptoms\n    * Preoccupation with fear of illness\n    * Persistent fear of having a serious illness despite medical reassurance\n    * Misinterpretation of symptoms\n    * Symptoms that may shift and change\n    * Symptoms that may be vague or specific\n    * No apparent physical disorder that can account for symptoms\n    * Disturbance lasting for at least 6 months (24 weeks)
532790
This could actually be an illness and they need psychological help.  I have had problems in the past with worrying and it was anxiety that needed treatment.  Stress can hurt a person physically.