I'm hypochondriac.

[Guest NGOG]

There's a need in our society to slap a label on everything for some reason. A kid has a problem making friends in school, he's autistic. Someone has a short attention span, they have ADD. Someone else acts like a condescending know it all bitch, and they have OCD.

I'm not saying all diagnosis for many symptoms aren't indeed legitimate, most absolutely are. But there are others that seem to be merely an excuse for bad behavior. It's insulting to the people who have actual problems. To be able to point to something and say "It's not my fault, I act like this because I have (insert disorder here)" can come off like such a weak cop out, when in reality what is happening is an inability to deal with your own human flaws, and the laziness of not trying to change them.

Excellent post.

It's symptomatic of our society. Instead of tackling something head-on, why not go on a drug or use your diagnosis to excuse certain behaviours? The unfortunate reality is that instead of entering a process of determining what's affecting you psychologically; many people are consuming a cycle of drugs that are actually exasperating their problem (and ultimately ruining their prospects as human beings). Like you, I don't deny that there many genuine biological disorders that may require being medicated; but we need to develop stricter diagnosis. It seems that a lot of doctors are willing to catgeorize somebody instead of taking the more difficult option; attempting to resolve their issues naturally.

Nobody has a more firsthand experience of this than myself. Earlier this year I finally sought treatment for a niggling yet very simple health problem. Instead of advocating a basic surgery the specialist insisted my interests would be best served by a cycle of drugs. Trusting my doctor, I obliged. As well as failing to treat my problem, the drug created an array of complications that I would never otherwise experience. I'm an energetic, happy-go-lucky person by nature; yet on this drug I was depressed and lethargic. It affected my mood to the extent that I broke up with my girlfriend and retracted into myself. It made 2013 the worst year of my life.

So as I said, instead of ordering a surgery that would immediately resolve a really basic health problem, the doctor opted for the cheaper option of putting me on drugs. It really opened my eyes as to how modern health systems operate.

[AxlisOld]

Sounds a lot like AIDS if you ask me.

I think he's riddled with it.

[Rustycage]

I have hypochondria when it comes to clothing, if that makes you feel any better. I just CAN'T stand it when someone refers to a piece of clothing in the incorrect form. It makes me extremely anxious and I have a need to correct them regardless of whether it makes them likewise feel uncomfortable or anxious. I just feel like things need to be referred to in the correct manner. My health! Meh, whatever.....I'll be fine.

WTF?