Hypochondriacs? Munchausen? Munchausen by Proxy? Arrgh!

[LovableGluttons]

Do you know any hypochondriacs?

When they live close, or are even relatives, how do you stand it?

I'm wearing down and worry I'll just BLOW!

Aarrgghh! Listening to them go on and on is exhausting!

I just want them to get a hobby, do something, ANYTHING, just to stop yapping at me about their problems.

I've just hit my limit.



(Whew, thanks. I needed that!)

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, but I keep it to myself (mostly out of fear that someone will tell me I'm right lol ).

 

[momof1princess]

OP, my mother is a hypochondriac, and combine that with her mental illness, and it's not only exhausting, it's completely overwhelming. she's always sick, never feels good, doesn't sleep well, etc. i feel like i'm being swallowed up by her issues, and i'm to the point where i either need to take up drinking or see a doctor for medication, because i can't take much more.
you're not alone

 

[superme80]

Still going strong for the past 10 years or so. It is very frustrating to hear how this person has everything from bronchitis to cancer. It is very irritating. I get all scared and oops sorry mistake! I so feel you pain!

 

[LovableGluttons]

I'm so sorry you all know my frustration.

I'm a nurse and she makes me feel like I HAVE to just sit there and listen to her go on and on and on!

I don't care, I don't believe her any more, she just won't stop!

My husband thinks she does it around me to try to impress me with her medical knowledge about her and her children's tragedies.

No one needs to try to impress me that way or any other way.

No, she isn't the only person I've ever been around like this.

When I worked ER years ago, they drove me up the wall.

When I'm at home, I should be safe from that.

But no.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm so sorry you all know my frustration.

I'm a nurse and she makes me feel like I HAVE to just sit there and listen to her go on and on and on!

I don't care, I don't believe her any more, she just won't stop!

My husband thinks she does it around me to try to impress me with her medical knowledge about her and her children's tragedies.

No one needs to try to impress me that way or any other way.

No, she isn't the only person I've ever been around like this.

When I worked ER years ago, they drove me up the wall.

When I'm at home, I should be safe from that.

But no.

That could be it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

poor you. We had a someone, an exnurse who HATES Dr's but manufactures illnesses and diagnoses themselves and others against all reason call about a stroke yesterday and ambulence visit at 11pm which was really panic attack coupled with malnutrition she worked herself into because she won't see Dr's. what can you even do with this? I would be more tolerant of it if she didn't keep belittleing REAL issues because she thinks illness, and any complaints actually, are part of some sort of contest and if she shows sympathy she's giving up power. Sigh...... There is no graceful way to deal with them so I just avoid the mess as much as I can. Like a hornet swarm in a minefield

 

[KPeveler]

I hate people who do this willingly (not the people who have a legitimate mental health problem/illness - obviously not their choice!)... I actually have a chronic health condition which is quite rare and has been known to be fatal. It has almost every random manifestation and I was accused to making it all up for attention for years before a geneticist told me I am pretty much textbook for what I have!

I am also a full time wheelchair user, so people who choose a wheelchair because it is "cool" or "easier" drive me batty too - these are the people I have to fight against every day!

there is a reason I did not go into the medical field. All of you who did, I owe you major kudos!

Do you know any hypochondriacs?

When they live close, or are even relatives, how do you stand it?

I'm wearing down and worry I'll just BLOW!

Aarrgghh! Listening to them go on and on is exhausting!

I just want them to get a hobby, do something, ANYTHING, just to stop yapping at me about their problems.

I've just hit my limit.



(Whew, thanks. I needed that!)

 

[Jennasis]

I have known someone with Munchausen's by proxy, and I also refer to myself (half-joking) as a mild hypochondriac. While I am often terrified or paralyzed with fear over the possible causes for my various aches/pains, I keep it to myself since talking about it is, in my warped mind, a sure-fire way to make it a reality.

Therapy is a good thing.

 

[JennyDarling]

I suspect my MIL may have some Munchausen by proxy issues. She has told me numerous stories about my BIL having lots of "throat infections" (her words) as a child but none of the doctors she took him to would remove his tonsils. They all told her that his tonsils weren't the issue. She finally took him to Puerto Rico and had them removed.

My DH, 3 at the time, ended up having tubes put in his ears that same trip but has no recollection of having chronic ear infections.

I love her but she's a little wacky.

 

[Rumpus]

All hypochondriacs are annoying but its important to remember that they can get sick and die too. Years ago we lived across the street from one. One morning she called me. She sounded different. I ran across the street and she was on the verge of collapsing. I called 911 and the ambulance took her to the hospital. Diagnosis? Mitral Valve prolapse. She ended up in ICU for 3 days. Of course that didn't do anything to calm her hypochondriasis but it made me more alert to her complaints, even when trivial.

 

[Disney Doll]

There is a difference between someone who had a diagnosable psychiatric illness and someone who is looking for attention.

My neighbor is a therapist and she always says that people behave in a certain way because it "does" something for them....usually that something is getting them attention. I think people who are hypochondriacal do that because they get the attention of people saying "oh how terrible that you're sick" and all the related sympathy. Munchausen's is a different story because it is truly a diagnoisable psychiatric illness.

My mother is a worrier. She worries about the most inane ridiculous things. She'll drive you to distraction with worrying about stuff that could never possibly happen in a million years. For example- I was going to NYC this past summer and she kept telling me to wear pants because someone might come up to me and slash at my legs with aknife if I had on shorts...now when is the last time that happened???? What this behavior "does" for her is:
1. Assures her (to herself) thats he is a good mother because, in her generation, good mothers worried their family...it was part of what they thought "taking care of" their family meant.
2. Saves her from hearing a lot of stuff from us because no one wants to drive her crazy with worry (or have her drive us crazy with worry!) so there is a lot fo stuff she doesn't know.
3. Gives her a certain amount of control over the whole family, since we are always tiptoeing around her so as to not worry her.

Yep...attention and control.....

 

[dejr_8]

My MIL is one. Whatever the disease of the month is in her favorite magazine She has. And what's worse, we she gets treated for legitimate issues, she tends to ignore the Doctor's orders or second guesses them (I don't really need that pill)

 

[WDWBarb]

Yes, unfortunately. There are people in my life that I dread when they watch House. I truly believe that if you are convinced you are I'll then you can become ill. The mind is a powerful thing.

But the medical community needs to quit instantly labeling sick people as hypochondriacs - my DD suffered for years because she was a "sullen teenager.". Their tests all came back negative. Turns out they weren't running the right tests.

 

[JaneBanks]

deleted.

 

[ms.yt]

There is someone in my community like this, and now that she's got Facebook, it's even worse. Her status updates are always about how sick she is or how sick her kids are. Everybody in town knows she's a whackadoo, but people encourage her by commenting on her posts.

 

[njmom47]

Yes, a co-worker.
She is about 35 yrs old, has worked with me for less than 4 years, and has had 4 surgeries in that time period.
She's just one of those people who loves to create drama for herself.
Sigh.

 

[Liberty Belle]

There is a difference between someone who had a diagnosable psychiatric illness and someone who is looking for attention.

My neighbor is a therapist and she always says that people behave in a certain way because it "does" something for them....usually that something is getting them attention. I think people who are hypochondriacal do that because they get the attention of people saying "oh how terrible that you're sick" and all the related sympathy. Munchausen's is a different story because it is truly a diagnoisable psychiatric illness.

My mother is a worrier. She worries about the most inane ridiculous things. She'll drive you to distraction with worrying about stuff that could never possibly happen in a million years. For example- I was going to NYC this past summer and she kept telling me to wear pants because someone might come up to me and slash at my legs with aknife if I had on shorts...now when is the last time that happened???? What this behavior "does" for her is:
1. Assures her (to herself) thats he is a good mother because, in her generation, good mothers worried their family...it was part of what they thought "taking care of" their family meant.
2. Saves her from hearing a lot of stuff from us because no one wants to drive her crazy with worry (or have her drive us crazy with worry!) so there is a lot fo stuff she doesn't know.
3. Gives her a certain amount of control over the whole family, since we are always tiptoeing around her so as to not worry her.

Yep...attention and control.....

That's only those who talk about it. Like I said, I feel like I'm a mild hypochondriac, but I keep it to myself. I think it's all part of my anxiety, which is definitely a real disorder and not created for sympathy or attention.