system
Suffer with sickness phobia, hesitation to try new foods. How can I get over the habit?
human
Hi.. I have a big phobia of sickness.. Being sick.. Others being sick... Seeing sick.. Others saying they for feel good! I know what I am doing but I seem to always convince myself that I m going to be sick so I feel sick and get all panicked. I don t sleep well when this happens, I sleep with at least 4 pillows so that I m upright... I ve stopped trying new foods as I m worried they will make me ill, I don t drink alcohol anyway or if I have say 1 glass I m instantly in the panic stage! I just don t know what to do to control this as its really getting me down and upset! I feel like it controls my life.. I was going to try hypnotherapy but didn t know what was best.. Any advice?
gpt
Hello.... Thanks for your query. Recurrent, intrusive thoughts of being sick can occur in various anxiety disorders including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as neurotic disorders like somatoform disorders/ hypochondriasis. Hence you require a thorough psychiatric evaluation for the same prior to initiation of any anti-anxiety or anti-obsessive drugs. Also psychotherapy (eg cognitive behavioural therapy) might be beneficial to you. Hope you found the information useful. Regards Dr Sundar Gnanavel Psychiatrist