The imaginary invalid

Written by    Monday, 02 June 2008

The imaginary invalid. The great French playwright Moliere once wrote a play called Le Malade Imaginaire, which mean "The Imaginary Invalid." We have in the United States a good many people who imagine that they are sick. Doctor have a name for them:hypochandriacs     A hypochondriac worries about his health without cause and to such an extent that he is not able to live a normal, everyday life. Some hypochondriacs are in constant dread of becoming ill. This being the case, they take such extraordinary precautions against illness that they cannot enjoy life.They may be so afraid of catching cold that they refuse to attend public gatherings for fear of"catching something." They are generally dosing themselves with pills. They best way to find out whether you have a physical disorder is to consult your doctor. A hypochondriac may do this, but he usually cannot accept the verdict that he need not worry about his health. Such a person often must change his whole attitude toward himself and toward the world if he is to get over his fears.    Now and then most of us worry too much about our health. But when someone has a fear or dread that interferes seriously with the conduct of his life, we say that he is neurotic. Hypochondria is a neurosis may take the form of other fears and dreads. Most neurotics can be helped by psychiatrists, who are doctors trained in mental ills. Unless they are helped to make adjustments in their personalities, neurotics can become physically ill and their minds can be so disturbed that they are not able to function properly at all. Your body is a hardy mechanism. You must take care of it, but you do not need to pamper it. Once you have acquired good health habits, it is best to forget about yourself and enjoy life. If you are worried about your health, however, the best thing to do is to ask your doctor for his advice.